Classic Crème Brûlée

in Diana's Recipe Book

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Servings: Serves 4

Comments: Crème Brûlée originated in Cambridge, England, according to the book Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. It is an elegant dessert that can be dressed-up in many different ways. You can add fresh fruit on the side or add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger when heating the cream to create a Ginger Creme Brulee. A classic dessert, vanilla crème brûlée should be experienced in its purest form before embellishing it with additional ingredients. You might try steeping lemon or orange peel with the vanilla bean, or adding a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom. Either way, this simple recipe will produce a smooth, velvety custard with a delicate caramel topping. Definition: Pronouned: [krehm broo-LAY] The literal translation of this rich dessert is "burnt cream." It describes a chilled, stirred custard that, just before serving, is sprinkled with brown or granulated sugar. The sugar topping is quickly caramelized under a broiler or with a salamander. The caramelized topping becomes brittle, creating a delicious flavor and textural contrast to the smooth, creamy custard beneath. From The New Food Lover's Companion, Second Edition 1995, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

Ingredients: 1/2 vanilla bean 2 cups heavy cream 3 egg yolks Pinch of salt 1/4 cup plus 4 tbsp. sugar

Instructions: Position a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 300 degrees F/150 degrees C. Have a pot of boiling water ready. Line a shallow baking pan with a small kitchen towel. Using a paring knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise down the middle and scrape the seeds into a 2-quart saucepan. Add the cream, stir to mix and set the pan over medium-low heat. Warm the cream until bubbles form around the edges of the pan and steam begins to rise from the surface. Remove from the heat and set aside to steep, about 15 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, salt and the 1/4 cup sugar until smooth and blended. Gradually add the cream to the egg mixture, whisking until blended. Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl. Divide the custard among four 6-oz. ramekins and place the ramekins in the prepared baking pan. Add boiling water to fill the pan halfway up the side of the ramekins. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and bake until the custard is just set around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the ramekins to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days. Just before serving, sprinkle 1 Tbs. of the sugar evenly over each custard. Using a kitchen torch, melt the sugar according to the manufacturer's instructions. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. Source: Williams-Sonoma

Date: February 16, 2003

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