Burnt Custard Food

BURNT-CARAMEL CUSTARDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Place cream in a medium saucepan; scrape in seeds from vanilla bean and add pod. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat; set aside.
• Bring 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil, swirling pan occasionally and brushing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush, until mixture turns a deep amber color, about 4 minutes; remove caramel from heat.
• Remove vanilla pod from cream; discard. Slowly add cream to caramel (mixture will bubble vigorously). Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks, kosher salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl. Slowly stream in caramel cream, whisking constantly. Divide custard among eight 6-ounce ramekins or ovenproof bowls and place in a kitchen towel-lined large baking dish or roasting pan. Fill pan with water to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake until custard is just set but still jiggly in the center, 60-70 minutes. Remove ramekins from baking dish; place on a wire rack and let cool. Chill custards, uncovered, at least 3 hours.
• Top custards with whipped cream and sprinkle with sea salt.
• DO AHEAD: Custards can be made 2 days ahead; cover and keep chilled.

SCOTT'S ORIGINAL BURNT CREAM

Steps:

• Cream:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat cream over low heat until bubbles form around the edgo of the pan.
• Beat egg yolks and sugar together until thick, about 3 minutes.
• Gradually beat cream into egg yolks, then stir in vanilla.
• Pour mixture into 6 six-ounce custard cups or creme brulee dishes. Place in baking dish that has about 1/2 cup water in the bottom. Bake until set, about 45 minute. Remove custard cups from the water. Refrigerate until chilled.
• Sugar Topping:.
• Stir together both sugars then sprinkle each custard with about 2 teaspoons of the sugar blend.
• Place on the top rack under the broiler, cooking until the topping is medium brown. Chill before serving.

CLINKERDAGGER'S BURNT CREME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350*. Heat cream over low heat til bubbles form around edge of pan. Beat egg yolks and sugar together until thick (about 3 minutes). Gradually beat cream into egg yolks. Stir in vanilla and pour into 6 (6 oz.) custard cups. Place custard cups in baking pan that has about 1/2" of water in the bottom. Bake until set- about 45 minutes. Remove custard cups from water and refrigerate until chilled. Sprinkle each custard cup with 2 teaspoons sugar. Place on top rack under broiler and cook until topping is medium brown. Chill again before serving.

BURNT CARAMEL PUDDING

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oven to 300°F.
• 2. Pour the cream into a small saucepan. Split the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into the cream; toss the scraped pod in there too. Turn the heat to low to gently warm the cream.
• 3. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the sugar. Pour the remaining sugar and the 1 1/2 tablespoons of water into a heavy-bottomed saucepan, set over medium heat, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Then crank the heat to high and let the liquid bubble away-don't stir, just swirl the pan occasionally-until it turns dark amber. This takes about 4 minutes, but watch closely, because it happens fast. Reduce the heat to medium.
• 4. Moving quickly, fish the vanilla pod out of the cream (rinse it and save for another use) and slowly stir the warm cream into the caramel. Once it comes to a boil (this will happen fast), remove from the heat and let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
• 5. Whisk the egg yolks with the reserved sugar and a pinch of sea salt in a medium bowl. Whisk a little of the cream-caramel mixture into the egg yolks, then gradually whisk in the rest until it's all incorporated.
• 6. Strain the mixture into a pitcher or large measuring cup and pour it into four 6-ounce ramekins (see Tips and Techniques). Place the ramekins in a shallow baking pan filled halfway with cold water. If you like your caramel a bit salty, like me, sprinkle a few grains of sea salt on top of each pudding. Cook for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, until just set.
• 7. Chill the puddings for at least 3 hours; but it's best if you can chill them overnight. Serve with freshly whipped cream.