Cinnamon Orange Crème Brûlée Food

CINNAMON AND ORANGE CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a saucepan, combine the cream, half the sugar, the orange zest, thyme and cinnamon stick. Whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and let cool. (This will infuse the cream with all the aromatics.)
• Whisk together the egg yolks, remaining sugar and vanilla in a large bowl until it becomes a homogeneous mixture. Slowly strain the cooled infused cream into the egg mixture and whisk to combine.
• Arrange 4 wide, flat 6-ounce ramekins (with 1-inch sides) in a large baking dish or roasting pan. Carefully fill the ramekins with the custard mixture. Add hot water to the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• CAREFULLY place the pan in the oven and bake until the custard is set around the edges and slightly jiggly in the center but not liquid, about 35 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven, remove the ramekins and chill the custards completely, at least 1 hour.
• Dust the top of each custard with an even layer of sugar and burn the sugar with a blowtorch. The sugar will harden, turn brown and become crunchy. Torch the custards just before serving.

ORANGE CINNAMON CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, take cinnamon stick and roast on medium - low flame for few seconds until aromatic. Turn off the flame and let the pan cool for few minutes.
• Pour milk/heavy cream to pan, throw in orange zest and bring it to just a boil. Do not let it boil. Turn off the flame, cover and let the flavors infuse for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 F.
• In another bowl, whisk egg yolks and ½ cup sugar until mixed and sugar is dissolved.
• Whisking the yolk mixture, gradually add milk/cream until well blended.
• Run the custard through a strainer, pour the custard in individual ramekins or a wide gratin dish. I used four 7 oz
• ramekins and one 20 oz CorningWare bowl.
• Place a kitchen towel or a dish towel in a roasting pan, place the ramekins or gratin dish on the towel in roasting pan, pour hot water until it comes halfway up the ramekins.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 - 40 minutes until a thin layer is formed on top and the custard is set but not firm. When ramekin is shaken, the custard should be little wobbly.
• Remove ramekins from water bath, let cool to room temperature and refrigerate for 3 - 8 hours or until set.
• Before serving, set the oven to broil mode. Evenly sprinkle remaining ½ cup sugar on top of creme/custard ramekins. Wipe off the sugar from the edges before putting under broiler.
• Take some cold water and few ice ice cubes in a roasting pan, place the ramekins in it and put under the broiler, very close to the fire, for 3-5 minutes. Depending on how close the ramekins are to the fire, it could take less than or more than 5 minutes. It took almost 7-8 minutes for me. I put it on the second rack from the fire. I was afraid to put it directly under fire on top most rack..
• Remove from oven, let the caramel set for few minutes and serve. Caramel layer will be firm for at least 2-3 hours at room temperature.

BITTER ORANGE CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• To make the cookies (if using):
• Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/gas 4. Line a baking sheet/tray with parchment/baking paper.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks with the 1/2 cup sugar until the mixture turns pale yellow, about 1 minute. Add the vanilla and beat until the batter gets very thick, about 1 to 2 minutes longer. Using a rubber spatula, add the flour and mix slow and gently into the yolk mixture, just until it's barely incorporated. (It is important not to overmix; some of the flower should still be visible along the edges and in the center of the bowl.)
• In a clean bowl, using the electric mixer and clean beaters, beat the egg whites with the 2 tbsp sugar until soft peaks form. Using the rubber spatula, gently fold the egg white mixture into the batter. Do not stir vigorously.
• Using a ladle, in small batches if necessary, carefully scoop the batter into a pastry/piping bag with a size 4 tip. Pipe thin lines of batter about 3 in/7.5 cm long and 1/4 in/6 mm thick onto the prepared baking sheet/tray, spacing them about 1 in/25 mm apart. Use a sifter or fine-mesh sieve to dust the cookies with the confectioners'/icing sugar.
• Bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for about 1 minute to allow them to firm up a bit. Using a spatula, carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat to use the remaining batter. You should have 25 to 30 cookies.
• To make the crème brûlée:
• Preheat the oven to 300°F/150°C/gas 2.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, milk, and orange zest and heat until steam begins to rise. Do not let boil. Remove from the heat and nestle the pot in an ice bath. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the cream mixture cools to room temperature, 5 to 10 minutes.
• While the cream mixture is cooling, in a large bowl, combine the egg yolks and the 1/2 cup/100 g sugar. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and thoroughly blended with the yolks. Gently whisk in the cream mixture.
• Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large glass measuring pitcher or bowl with a pouring lip to strain out any solids. Divide the custard evenly among six 4-oz/120-ml ramekins. Place in a roasting pan/tray and add water to come 1 in/2.5 cm up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until the custards are firm, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the water bath to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• To serve, remove the plastic wrap/cling film and gently lay a paper towel/absorbent paper on top of each custard. Gently press down on the towel to remove any moisture buildup, being careful not to dent the custard. Sprinkle 1 tbsp sugar evenly over each custard. Using a blowtorch, pass the flame above the sugar until it melts and turns golden brown. (Alternatively, preheat the broiler/grill and slip the custards under the broiler 4 to 6 in/10 to 15 cm from the heat source to melt the sugar; leave the oven door open slightly and watch closely, as the sugar can scorch suddenly.) Let the crème brûlée stand at room temperature until the sugar hardens, 1 to 2 minutes.
• If serving with the sugar cookies, lay 2 cookies over each custard, leaning them on the edge of the ramekins and garnish with mint. Serve at once. Enjoy any extra cookies the following day or with a sweet, dessert wine.