Creme Brulee By The Spoonful Food

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.

THE BEST CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line a large heavy roasting pan (a turkey roasting pan works great) with a clean kitchen towel and place 4 six-ounce ramekins on top of the towel spaced a few inches apart.
• Heat the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Using the back of a paring knife, scrape the vanilla seeds from both halves of the pod. Add the seeds and pod to the cream. Whisk in the salt and 3 tablespoons of the sugar and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat.
• Vigorously whisk the yolks and 3 more tablespoons of the sugar in a large bowl until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer on high speed and beat until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 1 minute.
• Whisking the yolks constantly, add a couple of teaspoons at a time from 1 cup of the hot cream, then increase to a steady stream until the cream is fully incorporated. (Don't pour too much hot cream at once or you'll end up with scrambled eggs.) The yolks are now tempered. Whisk the tempered yolks back into the remaining hot cream until combined. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or medium pitcher for easier pouring; discard the vanilla pods.
• Skim the foam off the top of the custard by placing a clean paper towel on top and lightly pressing down so it touches the surface and absorbs some of the liquid. This will make for a completely smooth and silky custard. Fill the ramekins with the custard, about 3/4 cup per ramekin.
• Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins without getting any water in the custard. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake until the custard is set around the edges but still has a slight jiggle in the center, 35 to 45 minutes. Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and transfer the ramekins to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. Then refrigerate until very cold, about 3 hours.
• Just before serving, evenly spread 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the top of a custard. Hold a kitchen torch 2 inches above the surface. Starting in the center of the ramekin, move the flame in a circular motion and work your way out to the edges to caramelize the sugar. Repeat with the remaining sugar and custards.
• Alternatively, arrange a rack in the top position of the oven and heat the broiler on high. Place the ramekins on a rack set inside a baking sheet and broil until deep golden brown, 15 to 60 seconds, checking every 10 seconds.
• Freeze the custards for 5 minutes before serving (see Cook's Note).

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.

CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and granulated sugar. Add in vanilla.
• While stirring continuously, gradually pour cream mixture into egg mixture until well mixed.
• Pour the mixture through a sieve.
• Evenly pour the mixture into eight 2 oz.sized ramekins.
• Set ramekins into a large pan enough to fit all 8 ramekins. Fill the pan with hot water until it comes up to about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake for 18 minutes or until the sides are set and the center is hardly jiggling.
• Let cool on wire racks then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Before serving, sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar onto each of the ramekins then caramelize with a torch.