Chocolate Guinness Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

8 large egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
1 (15 ounce) can Guinness draught
3 cups heavy cream
7 ounces high-quality bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (70 to 72% cacao)
2 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted

Preparation

In large mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1 cup sugar.
Open can of Guinness and SLOWLY pour into 4-cup measuring cup, pouring down side of cup to reduce foaming. Pour half of Guinness (about 7/8 cup) into heavy-bottomed 3-quart saucepan. Add 2 1/4 cups cream and whisk to combine. Set over medium heat and heat, whisking occasionally, until bubbles just begin to form at edges. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and whisk until smooth.
SLOWLY pour hot chocolate mixture into eggs, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. Return mixture to saucepan and set over moderately low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon(should not run off spoon), at least 15 minutes. (Pudding will look separated.) Pour into blender and blend on high for 1 minute. Divide pudding among glasses, leaving at least 1 inch of space at top of each. Cover with plastic wrap(push the wrap right against top of pudding to keep \"skin\" from forming) and refrigerate until chilled and set.
Meanwhile, pour remaining Guinness into small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to 1 tablespoon, about 20 minutes. Pour syrup into small bowl and let cool.
Beat remaining cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Add Guinness syrup and fold in until combined. Divide cream among 6 glasses of pudding and serve.
~The higher the cacoa content of the chocolate, the more you'll taste it, rather than the Guinness.
~Do NOT substitute half and half for heavy whipping cream--pudding and topping won't set up correctly.
~ You can omit the sugar from the whipped topping, but it will be slightly bitter. The pudding is so rich, some people think the slightly bitter topping compliments it well, but you can decide based on your own tastes. Some folks like just plain whipped cream--no sweetener, no flavoring.
~ because the pudding is so rich, you can use smaller glasses and divide it into 8-10 servings.