Maple Crème Caramel Food

MAPLE SUGAR CREME CARAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Sift the maple sugar and set aside all but 2/3 cup.
• Combine the 2/3 cup maple sugar and the water in a heavy saucepan and bring to the boil. Cook, stirring often, about 4 minutes or until the syrup is thickened and coats a spoon. It will drip threadlike when poured from a spoon. Stir in the butter.
• Pour an equal portion of the syrup into each of 4 1/2-cup molds (small individual souffle dishes are ideal). Let cool.
• Combine the whole eggs, egg yolk, milk and remaining 2/3 cup maple sugar in a mixing bowl and beat to blend thoroughly. Strain the mixture into a glass measuring cup.
• Carefully and slowly pour equal portions of the mixture into the molds.
• Carefully arrange the molds side by side in a heat-proof baking dish and pour boiling water around the molds. Place the molds in the water bath in the oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes or until the custard is set in the center.
• Remove the molds from the water bath and arrange on a rack to cool. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
• The dessert may be unmolded before serving. To unmold, run a sharp knife around the inside of each dish. Unmold onto flat serving dishes.

PUMPKIN FLAN WITH MAPLE CARAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the caramel, combine the sugar, maple syrup, and 1/3 cup water in a small, deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, swirling the pan (don't stir!) to dissolve the sugar. Cook at a low boil without stirring for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture turns a golden brown and registers 230 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Watch it carefully so it doesn't burn! Off the heat, swirl in the fleur de sel, and immediately pour into an 8-by-2-inch round cake pan (not a springform!). Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, and mascarpone in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium-low speed until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla, maple extract, orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently pour the pumpkin mixture into the pan with the caramel so they don't combine.
• Place the pan in a roasting pan large enough to hold the cake pan flat and fill the roasting pan with enough of the hottest tap water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake in the center of the oven for 70 to 75 minutes, until the custard is just set. It will be firm but still jiggle slightly in the middle; a knife inserted into the center of the flan will come out clean. Remove the flan from the water bath, place on a cooling rack, and cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Don't tilt the pan or the caramel will run out!
• Run a small knife around the edge of the flan. Turn a flat serving plate with a slight lip over the cake pan and flip them, turning the flan out onto the plate. The caramel should run out over the flan. Cut into wedges and serve with the caramel spooned over each slice.

MAPLE CRèME CARAMEL

Steps:

• For caramel:
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Lightly butter four 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Combine sugar and water in heavy small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar melts. Increase heat; boil without stirring until deep amber color, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Immediately pour caramel into prepared dishes. Using oven mitts as aid, quickly rotate dishes to coat sides with some of caramel. Set aside.
• For custard:
• Whisk maple syrup, yolks and egg in medium bowl to blend. Combine cream and milk in heavy medium saucepan and bring to boil. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolk mixture. Divide custard among prepared dishes. Set dishes into 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of dishes. Cover baking pan with foil.
• Bake custards until set in center, about 55 minutes. Chill custard uncovered until cold, at least 5 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep refrigerated.)
• To serve, run knife around dish sides to loosen custards. Invert onto plates.

PUMPKIN FLAN WITH MAPLE CARAMEL

Steps:

• For the caramel, combine the sugar, maple syrup and 1/3 cup water in a small deep heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, swirling the pan (don?t stir!) to dissolve the sugar. Cook at a low boil without stirring for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture turns a golden brown and registers 230 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Watch it carefully so it doesn?t burn! Off the heat, swirl in the fleur de sel and immediately pour into an 8-by-2-inch round cake pan (not a springform!). Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, canned pumpkin and mascarpone in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium-low speed until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla, maple extract, orange zest, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gently pour the pumpkin mixture into the pan with the caramel so they don?t combine.
• Place the pan in a roasting pan large enough to hold the cake pan flat and fill the roasting pan with enough of the hottest tap water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake in the center of the oven for 70 to 75 minutes, until the custard is just set. It will be firm but still jiggle slightly in the middle; a knife inserted into the center of the flan will come out clean. Remove the flan from the water bath, place on a cooling rack and cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Don?t tilt the pan or the caramel will run out!
• Run a small knife around the edge of the flan. Turn a flat serving plate with a slight lip over the cake pan and flip them, turning the flan out onto the plate. The caramel should run out over the flan. Cut into wedges and serve with the caramel spooned over each slice.

CREME CARAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepot over low heat. Let the sugar dissolve. Carefully brush the walls of the pot with a little water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing on the sides. Increase the heat to medium-high and boil until the syrup turns golden brown. Remove from the heat promptly and carefully divide the hot caramel among the 6 ramekins. Let cool for at least 2 minutes.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the milk and cream to just below a boil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, mix together the egg yolks, caster sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Place the mixing bowl on top of a towel to keep it from wobbling while whisking in the hot liquid. Gently whisk 2 tablespoons of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture. Slowly whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture 1/3 at a time, trying to prevent excess bubbles. Strain though a sieve.
• Place 6 ramekins evenly spaced in a paper towel-lined baking dish to prevent the ramekins from sliding. Pour 6 ounces into each caramel-coated ramekin. Place on the extended middle rack of the oven. Carefully pour boiling water into the baking dish until 2/3 of the way up the sides of the ramekins. (Be careful not to get any water on the custard mixture.) Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and very gently slide it towards the center of the rack. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the custards are almost fully set. Remove from the oven. Use tongs to remove the ramekins from the hot water bath. Let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes, then refrigerate until well chilled.
• To serve, dip the ramekin in very hot water for 15 to 20 seconds. Run a sharp knife around the sides of the ramekin. Invert the custards onto serving plates. The caramel will pool around the inverted custards. Serve immediately.

MAPLE-SUGAR CREME CARAMEL

Steps:

• Set out 6 6-ounce custard cups or ramekins. Combine 1/2 cup water and 1 cup maple sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 5 minutes or until the syrup looks dark and shiny and is thick enough to coat a spoon. Remove from the heat, and whip in the butter. Spoon evenly into the bottom of each cup. Allow to cool; the syrup will thicken.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bring about 1 quart water to a boil for the water bath (bain-marie). Combine the eggs, egg yolks, milk and maple sugar. Mix very well, so that the sugar dissolves completely.
• Spoon about 2/3 cup of custard into each cup. Place the cups in a baking pan, and fill with enough boiling water to come about halfway up the sides of the cups. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for about 35 minutes, or until set. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
• Chill thoroughly for about 2 hours. Loosen the custards with a small knife, and unmold onto plates. Be sure to serve all the sauce from each cup. Top with sweetened whipped cream, if desired.