Coffee Brulee Spoonfuls Food

COFFEE CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Cut your vanilla beans open in half lengthwise then use the non-sharp side of a knife to scrape out the vanilla beans. If using vanilla bean paste skip this step.
• In a thick-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat cook the heavy cream, vanilla beans or paste, espresso powder, and 50 grams (1/4 cup) of the sugar. Stirring constantly, cook until mixture comes to a boil. Then take off heat and place lid on and let steep for 10 minutes.
• In a large roasting pan place 4-6 (6-8oz) ramekins inside and put the kettle on to boil and preheat the oven to 325F/163C.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or large bowl with a whisk beat the remaining 50 grams (1/4 cup) and egg yolks until fully combined and much lighter in color, a pale yellow.
• Remove vanilla bean pods from the cream mixture and slowly pour the cream into the egg mixture with the whisk attachment on at the lowest speed. Take your time doing this so the eggs do not curdle. Once completely mixed pour the mixture through a sieve to prevent any lumps. Then evenly pour into ramekins. Pour boiling water from the kettle in the roasting pan, pour enough to come up halfway of the ramekins- being careful not to spill.
• Bake for 25-40 minutes*, you want the center of the creme brulee's to be set but a little bit jiggle, around 170F/71C degrees, I use an instant-read thermometer for this my Thermapen MK4. When ready take out of the oven and place the roasting pan on a wire rack. After five minutes remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and let cool for 1 hour on a wire rack. Wrap ramekins in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight to chill before serving.
• When ready to serve sprinkle 1.5 tablespoons of sugar on top of each creme brulee swirling the ramekin so the sugar is spread evenly and using a kitchen torch, torch the top of the creme brulee until the sugar has caramelized and hardened. Serve immediately with berries if desired.

CREME BRULEE SPOONFULS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Heat the cream, half-and-half, vanilla bean, and 5 spice powder in a medium saucepan over medium heat just to a boil. Immediately turn off the heat. Set aside to infuse for 10 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar in a large bowl just until combined. Whisking constantly, gradually pour in the hot cream mixture. Strain the mixture into an 8 by 8-inch ovenproof baking pan and smooth over.
• Place the pan in a hot water bath. Bake in the center of the oven until set but not too firm (it will cook a little more as it cools), 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the water bath and let cool 15 minutes. Tightly cover with plastic wrap, making sure the plastic does not touch the surface of the custard. (The recipe can be made up to this point and kept refrigerated up to 3 days in advance.)
• Up to 4 hours before serving, fill Asian soupspoons with the chilled cooked custard by scooping each spoon into the pan of custard. Round the tops with a small spatula, or a butter knife. Keep cold.
• Right before serving, sprinkle the entire surface with a layer of coarse sugar and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining spoons. Torch or broil the spoons until the sugar is melted and well browned. Let cool 1 minute before serving.

ULTIMATE CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Sit four 175ml ramekins in a deep roasting tin at least 7.5cm deep (or a large deep cake tin), one that will enable a baking tray to sit well above the ramekins when laid across the top of the tin.
• Pour the large and small cartons of double cream into a medium pan with the milk.
• Lay the vanilla pod on a board and slice lengthways through the middle with a sharp knife to split it in two. Use the tip of the knife to scrape out all the tiny seeds into the cream mixture. Drop the vanilla pod in as well, and set aside.
• Put the egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl and whisk for 1 min with an electric hand whisk until paler in colour and a bit fluffy.
• Put the pan with the cream on a medium heat and bring almost to the boil. As soon as you see bubbles appear round the edge, take the pan off the heat.
• Pour the hot cream into the beaten egg yolks, stirring with a wire whisk as you do so, and scraping out the seeds from the pan.
• Set a fine sieve over a large wide jug or bowl and pour the hot mixture through to strain it, encouraging any stray vanilla seeds through at the end.
• Using a big spoon, scoop off all the pale foam that is sitting on the top of the liquid (this will be several spoonfuls) and discard. Give the mixture a stir.
• Pour in enough hot water (from the tap) into the roasting tin to come about 1.5cm up the sides of the ramekins. Pour the hot cream into the ramekins so you fill them up right to the top - it's easier to spoon in the last little bit.
• Put them in the oven and lay a baking sheet over the top of the tin so it sits well above the ramekins and completely covers them, but not the whole tin, leaving a small gap at one side to allow air to circulate.
• Bake for 30-35 mins until the mixture is softly set. To check, gently sway the roasting tin and if the crème brûlées are ready, they will wobble a bit like a jelly in the middle. Don't let them get too firm.
• Lift the ramekins out of the roasting tin with oven gloves and set them on a wire rack to cool for a couple of minutes only, then put in the fridge to cool completely. This can be done overnight without affecting the texture.
• When ready to serve, wipe round the top edge of the dishes, sprinkle 1½ tsp of caster sugar over each ramekin and spread it out with the back of a spoon to completely cover.
• Spray with a little water using a fine spray (the sort you buy in a craft shop) to just dampen the sugar - then use a blow torch to caramelise it. Hold the flame just above the sugar and keep moving it round and round until caramelised. Serve when the brûlée is firm, or within an hour or two.

CREME BRULEE BY THE SPOONFUL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a saucepan, slowly heat the cream and add the vanilla to the warmed cream.
• In a bowl, beat the egg yolks and the sugar.
• Whisk in the hot cream.
• Pour into three 150ml (2/3 cup) ramekins.
• Place the ramekins in a baking dish and add enough hot water to reach 3/4 of the way up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake for about 30 minutes.
• The water should barely simmer, never boil.
• Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
• Just before serving, scoop a small amount of the custard into attractive (miso) soup spoons.
• Sprinkle with sugar and caramelize quickly using a blowtorch.
• Serve immediately with coffee.

CAFé BRULé (COFFEE)

Steps:

• Prepare espresso with premium-grade arabica beans in a long espresso cup. Hold a large spoon containing 1 lump of sugar and 1 tbsp of brandy over each cup and light the brandy. Pour into the coffee when the flames begin to die down and serve with creme brulee.