Silken Creme Brulee With 12 Variations Food

CLASSIC CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Put a rack in the middle of oven and preheat oven to 325°F.
• Pour cream into a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Using tip of a knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean, if using, into cream and add pod (if using vanilla extract, do not add it yet). Heat cream over moderate heat until hot but not boiling; remove from heat and discard pod.
• Whisk together yolks, granulated sugar, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined. Add hot cream in a slow stream, whisking constantly until combined. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and whisk in vanilla extract, if using. Ladle custard into ramekins.
• Arrange ramekins in a roasting pan and add enough boiling water to pan to reach halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake until custards are just set, 25 to 30 minutes. With tongs, transfer custards to a rack to cool, then refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 4 hours.
• Just before serving, sprinkle turbinado sugar evenly over custards. Move blowtorch flame evenly back and forth close to sugar until sugar is caramelized. Let stand until sugar is hardened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Variation:
• Coffee Crème Brûlée: Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder into the hot cream and proceed as directed.

CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the cream, vanilla bean and its pulp into a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and reserve for another use.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and it just starts to lighten in color. Add the cream a little at a time, stirring continually. Pour the liquid into 6 (7 to 8-ounce) ramekins. Place the ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake just until the creme brulee is set, but still trembling in the center, approximately 40 to 45 minutes.
• Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days. Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top. Divide the remaining 1/2 cup vanilla sugar equally among the 6 dishes and spread evenly on top. Using a torch, melt the sugar and form a crispy top. Allow the creme brulee to sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.

SILKEN CREME BRULEE (WITH 12 VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• Whisk together first 4 ingredients until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture evenly into 5 (5"x1") round ramekins or custard cups. Place cups in a large roasting pan or a 15x10" jellyroll pan. Add hot water to pan to a depth of 1/2 inch. (Tip: All baking times are for 5"x1" round baking dishes. Adjust baking time more or less according to your cup size. See test for doneness in next paragraph.) As a general rule, 4 oz. cups yield 10 servings, 6 oz. cups yield 7 servings and 8 oz. cups yield 5 servings.).
• Bake at 300 degrees for 40 - 50 minutes or until almost set. Cool custards in water in pan on a wire rack. Carefully remove from pan; cover and chill 8 hours. (Tip: Baking times may need to be adjusted according to size of the baking cups. The creme brulee is done when the center is slightly liquid and a knife will NOT come out clean.).
• Sprinkle about 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar over each custard then place custards in a jellyroll pan.
• Broil 5 1/2 inches from heat (if using an electric oven, leave door partially open) until sugar melts. (Tip: When you broil the brown sugar, get the creme brulee as close to the heating element as possible. You may need to place an inverted roasting pan on the top shelf of the oven; then place the brulee on a baking sheet on top to elevate. A chef's secret is to nestle the custards in a pan filled with ice; then broil. The ice keeps the custards cold while the sugar melts.) Let stand 5 minutes to allow sugar to harden. Garnish, if desired.
• ALMOND CREME BRULEE:.
• Reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon; add 1 additional egg yolk, 2 tablespoons almond liqueur and 1/4 cup chopped toasted almonds to custard mixture. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 1 hour.
• CHOCOLATE CREME BRULEE:.
• Cook 4 ounces semisweet chocolate squares and 1/2 cup whipping cream from the basic recipe in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups whipping cream; reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 55 minutes.
• BERRY CREME BRULEE:.
• Place 8 - 10 fresh blackberries or raspberries in each baking dish; pour custard mixture over berries. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 45 minutes.
• COFFEE CREME BRULEE:.
• Cook 1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules and 1/4 cup whipping cream from the basic recipe over medium heat, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes or until coffee dissolves. Add remaining 1 3/4 cups whipping cream; reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon. Proceed as directed in the basic recipe; bake 45 - 50 minutes.
• DOUBLE RASPBERRY CREME BRULEE:.
• Reduce vanilla to 1 teaspooon; add 1 additional egg yolk and 1 1/2 tablespoon raspberry liqueur to custard mixture. Place 8 - 10 fresh raspberries in each baking dish; pour custard mixture over berries. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 55 minutes.
• GINGER CREME BRULEE:.
• Reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon; add 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger to custard mixture. Proceed as directed in the basic recipe; bake 1 hour and 5 minutes.
• ORANGE CREME BRULEE:.
• Reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon; add 1 additional egg yolk, 2 tablespoons grated orange rind and 2 tablespoons almond liqueur to custard mixture. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 1 hour.
• PEPPERMINT CREME BRULEE:.
• Reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon; add 1 additional egg yolk and 3 tablespoons peppermint schnapps. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 50 minutes. Substitute 5 hard peppermint candies, crushed (in place of brown sugar); broil as directed.
• WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA CREME BRULEE:.
• Cook 4 ounces white chocolate and 1/2 cup whipping cream froom basic recipe in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups whipping cream; reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon. Proceed as directed in basic recipe. Place 1 tablespoon chopped macadamias, toasted, in each dish then pour custard over nuts. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• ONION CREME BRULEE:.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet over low heat; add 1 cup coarsely chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes or until caramelized. Reduce sugar in basic recipe to 1 tablespoon, omit vanilla and add 1 teaspoon salt and caramelized onion to the custard mixture. Process onion mixture in a blender until smooth. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 50 minutes.
• ROASTED GARLID CREME BRULEE:.
• Cut off the flat end of 2 garlic bulbs and spread apart whole cloves, leaving tight outer covering intact. Trim pointed end so bulb will sit flat. Place garlic bulbs, trimmed ends down, on a sheet of aluminum foil. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons olive oil; wrap in aluminum foil. Bake 350 dgrees for 1 hour; cool. Squeeze out pulp from each garlic clove. Reduce sugar in basic recipe to 1 tablespoon; omit vanilla and add 1 teaspoon salt and garlic pulp to custard mixture. Process mixture in a blender until smooth. Proceed as directed in basic reicpe; bake 40 minutes.
• BLUE CHEESE AND BLACK PEPPER CREME BRULEE:.
• Reduce sugar in basic recipe to 1 tablespoon and omit vanilla; add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup blue cheese and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to custard mixture. Process mixture in a blender until smooth. Proceed as directed in basic recipe; bake 45 minutes.

SILKEN LEMON CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Combine the tofu, cream cheese, sugar and lemon zest in the bowl of a food processor. Process until creamy and perfectly smooth, then add the lemon juice and pulse to combine, scraping the bowl down several times.
• Divide the mixture among six wide, shallow heat-proof dishes or bowls. Smooth the tops as flat as possible and chill for at least two hours.
• To caramelize, use a brulee torch or preheat broiler until blazing hot. Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar evenly over the surface of the custard. Set the dishes on an upside-down baking dish so the surface are no more than one inch away from the heat. Watch carefully as the sugar melts and then caramelizes; it goes fast once it starts. If you're using a torch, move the torch back and forth until the sugar melts and browns. Let stand a moment, then serve.
• Cook time does not include chill time.

CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• In top of double boiler over hot water, heat cream, vanilla bean and sugar to almost boiling.
• Lower heat and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Beat eggs and egg yolks.
• Pour cream mixture in a thin stream into eggs, stirring constantly.
• Return to double boiler.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 3 to 4 minutes or until custard coats back of spoon.
• Remove vanilla bean.
• Pour into 6 custard dishes or 4 to 5 cup flame proof serving dish.
• Set dishes in a large pan of hot water on middle rack of oven.
• (Hot water should be level with custard.) Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until center of custard is set. Remove custard from water and cool.
• Cover and chill.
• To serve, sift brown sugar on top of creme. Place dish into bowl of crushed ice. Leaving door open, place under broiler at least 6" from flame until hard crust of caramelized sugar is formed.
• Serve immediately or chill until serving time. Pass bowl of fresh raspberries along with creme for the perfect topping.
• Add a spoonful of whipped creme to the custard, if desired.
• VARIATIONS, FLAVORED CREME BRULEE:.
• Vanilla Bean:.
• Add 1 pod for 3 cups of cream.
• Break it open lengthwise or simply pierce it, and put it into liquid before it boils.
• Chocolate:.
• Add 4 1/2 oz cooking chocolate for each 3 cups of cream, melted in warm liquid.
• Praline:.
• Add 4 1/2oz pralines to each 3 cups of cream after it is cooked.
• Nuts:.
• Add 1 cup finely chopped pecans or brazil nuts for 3 cups cream after it is cooled.
• Coffee:.
• Use 3 oz coffee beans (Espresso, French Roast, etc -- ) finely ground, then grilled in a pan of 3 cups cream.
• Add to boiling liquid; infuse for 15 minutes, then strain.
• Bananas:.
• Mash 2 soft bananas; saute in 1 tbsp butter.
• Add 2 tbsp brandy and 2 tsp brown sugar.
• Cook for 5 minutes.
• Pat down on bottom of creme brulee pan before adding liquid.
• NOTES :.
• Use a double boiler to scald the cream unless you have a heavy saucepan. Use very low heat. Milk scorches easily and, when scorched, should be thrown out.
• Beat eggs or egg yolks with a wire whisk or beater. Add sugar gradually and continue whipping until it is thoroughly mixed inches.
• NEVER add eggs directly to a hot mixture. (unless you like scrambled eggs in cream.) Pour some of the hot liquid into the eggs while stirring briskly, then return the warmed combination to the remaining hot liquid in the pan.
• Stir the custard constantly over low heat until it acquires body. Test it by letting it run off the back of a spoon; if a light coating clings to the spoon, the custard is finished.
• Stir the custard occasionally as it cools to prevent a surface skin from forming. When it is cool, chill it, covered lightly with a clean dish towel, in the refrigerator.