Desserts

Chestnut Cream

This old-fashioned chestnut cream recipe has been passed down for generations. It’s delicious garnished with chocolate curls.

Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine

Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan

This chestnut cream recipe was a 1959 contribution by a reader named Mrs. Pauline McConnell, who wrote, “I wish someone would revive the chestnut dishes of long ago. We always had baskets of chestnuts in our root cellar at home. One of our favorite dishes was chestnut cream. This dish is approximately 150 years old and is one which has been passed down from generation to generation in my family.”

Note: To save time, you can purchase vacuum-packed, peeled, roasted chestnuts sold in jars. Avoid canned chestnuts, which lack flavor. To roast chestnuts yourself, score an X on the flat side of each nut all the way through the skin. Roast in a shallow pan at 400° for 30 to 40 minutes until tender, shaking the pan several times for even cooking.

Yield:

6 servings

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds peeled, roasted chestnuts (see Note)
1-1/2 cups milk
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream, whipped to firm peaks
Garnish: chocolate shavings

Instructions

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, simmer chestnuts with milk until soft, about 10 minutes. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring to a simmer until the sugar dissolves.

Drain chestnuts and puree in a food processor with sugar syrup until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl and chill in the refrigerator until cool, 30 minutes. When cooled, stir in the vanilla, and fold in the whipped cream. Pile in a dish and chill before serving. If you wish, the cream may be garnished with chocolate curls.

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  1. Im looking for a think Mocha sauce to put over coffee ice scream. Use to get this Mocha Sundae from the Apothacary Hall in North Adams, MA.

    1. Here is a simple recipe for classic Hot Fudge Sauce…I’m thinking you could add a little instant coffee powder to the recipe to get more coffee flavor, or just let the coffee ice cream be complimented by the chocolate fudge.
      Easy Hot Fudge Sauce
      1 stick unsalted butter 3/4 cup cocoa 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
      1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon vanilla
      One 14 oz can sweetened, condensed milk
      Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cocoa, chocolate and salt. Cook, stirring, until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Slowly stir in cream and condensed milk and cook for another minute or two, stirring constantly until sauce is smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla. Serve warm over ice cream. Makes about 2 cups sauce.
      Many New England stores also carry Autocrat Coffee Syrup, which can be used to make coffee milk drinks or used over ice cream. Wonderful stuff!

  2. Sounds good ,but how would you serve this? Is this a pudding that you serve along side your Christmas cookies? Or is it a spread to use on a quick bread?