Creme Brulee Flambe Recipes

CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In 13x9-inch pan, place 4 (6-oz) ceramic ramekins. In small bowl, slightly beat egg yolks with wire whisk. In large bowl, stir whipping cream, 1/3 cup granulated sugar and the vanilla until well mixed. Add egg yolks; beat with wire whisk until evenly colored and well blended. Pour cream mixture evenly into ramekins.
• Carefully place pan with ramekins in oven. Pour enough boiling water into pan, being careful not to splash water into ramekins, until water covers two-thirds of the height of the ramekins.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until top is light golden brown and sides are set (centers will be jiggly).
• Using tongs or grasping tops of ramekins with pot holder, carefully transfer ramekins to cooling rack. Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• Uncover ramekins; gently blot any liquid from tops of custards with paper towel. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons granulated sugar over each chilled custard. Holding kitchen torch 3 to 4 inches from custard, caramelize sugar on each custard by heating with torch about 2 minutes, moving flame continuously over sugar in circular motion, until sugar is melted and light golden brown. (To caramelize sugar in the broiler, see Broiler Directions below.) Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving.

CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the egg, egg yolks, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together on low speed until just combined. Meanwhile, scald the cream in a small saucepan until it's very hot to the touch but not boiled. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cream to the eggs. Add the vanilla and orange liqueur and pour into 6 to 8-ounce ramekins until almost full.
• Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the custards are set when gently shaken. Remove the custards from the water bath, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until firm.
• To serve, spread 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on the top of each ramekin and heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar carmelizes evenly. Allow to sit at room temperature for a minute until the caramelized sugar hardens.

CHEF JOHN'S PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Whisk egg yolks and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in heavy cream, pumpkin puree, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
• Divide pumpkin mixture between seven (5-inch) ramekins about 1/2 inch from the top.
• Place the ramekins in a baking dish and fill with the baking dish hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake in preheated oven until just set, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove ramekins and refrigerate until completely cool, at least 2 hours.
• Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of sugar onto each creme brulee. Melt the sugar with a chef's torch until crisp and dark brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

CLASSIC INFUSED CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Place an oven rack slightly lower than center in oven and preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Whisk milk, cream, 2/3 cup sugar, salt, scrapings from vanilla bean, and split vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat until the mixture just reaches a boil; remove from heat and set aside to cool, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks in a bowl for a few strokes; whisk in hot cream mixture about 1 tablespoon at a time at first, whisking thoroughly before adding the next amount. As the yolk mixture becomes warmer, increase the amount of cream mixture you whisk in to about 1/4 cup at a time.
• Strain the cream through a fine sieve and spoon into eight 4-ounce ramekins. Discard spent vanilla pod. Set the ramekins into a roasting pan and pour in enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the desserts are softly set, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the roasting pan and let the desserts cool in the water bath to room temperature. Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours. Desserts will hold for 2 to 3 days in refrigerator before topping with sugar.
• Sprinkle about 1/2 tablespoon of sugar evenly over the top of each dessert. Use a kitchen torch to lightly brown and caramelize the sugar until melted, about 1 minute. Move the torch quickly to avoid burning. Let caramelized topping cool for about 10 minutes, then serve.

CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Prepare oven and baking dishes: Heat oven to 300 degrees. Bring a kettle or pot of water to a boil. Place eight 5-ounce baking dishes in a large roasting pan.
• Gently heat cream: In a medium saucepan, combine cream and half the sugar (1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons). Scrape vanilla bean seeds into pan, then add pod. Heat over medium just until mixture starts to bubble around the edge of the pan, 7 to 8 minutes (do not let boil).
• Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks with remaining sugar and the salt.
• Temper eggs: Use ladle to pour a small amount of the hot cream mixture into the egg mixture, then whisk to combine. (This is called tempering and prevents the eggs from curdling.) Add two more ladles of cream mixture, one at a time, whisking to combine after each addition. Gradually whisk in remaining cream mixture. Strain through a fine sieve into a large liquid measuring cup (to remove the vanilla pod and any cooked bits of egg).
• Bake: Divide custard evenly among baking dishes. Place pan in oven. Add enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake until custards are just set (they should tremble slightly in center when shaken), 30 to 40 minutes.
• Chill: Remove pan from oven. Use tongs to carefully remove dishes from hot-water bath and place on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Then, cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days) before serving. The custard will finish setting in the refrigerator. If you like, transfer the custards to the freezer 15 minutes before serving to ensure they stay cold after being bruleed (this is especially important if using the broiler).
• Caramelize tops and serve: Sprinkle about 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar over each custard. Working with one at a time, pass the flame of the torch in a circular motion 1 to 2 inches above the surface of each custard until the sugar bubbles, turns amber, and forms a smooth surface. Serve immediately.

FLAMBEED PINEAPPLE CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F.
• To make the custard: Place 4 (6-ounce to 1 cup) ramekins on a baking pan. Place a saucepan on the burner. Add the cream, sugar, and the vanilla bean. Scrape the little seeds out of one half, and add them to the pot. Bring it to 'scald' (just before it begins to boil), but watch it because it can burn. Pull off the heat. Whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl until well blended. Gradually, whisk the hot cream mixture into the yolks. Divide the custard evenly among the ramekins. Place the baking pan in the oven, and add some hot tap water into the pan to come partially up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake until just set, for about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until the custards are well set, about 2 to 3 hours.
• To make the pineapple: Peel, core and slice the pineapple off the core lengthwise, and into 6-inch thick pieces.
• In a medium pan, heat the canola oil. Pop in the pineapple and let it cook until browned on the edges, then dust with brown sugar to caramelize. Bring to a sizzle allowing the fruit to get nicely coated and slightly brown on the edges. Turn off the heat. Add a good shot of rum (if you do it while the burner is on, you may well need those firemen to put out the blaze!). Turn the heat on and let it 'flambe'. Add a generous bit of butter to build sheen and thicken this caramel sauce.
• When the fire subsides, place 2 pieces of pineapple onto your serving plate, top with a nice mound of creme brulee, dust it all again with brown sugar and torch it to a nice crunchy finish.

ESPRESSO CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine cream, milk, granulated sugar, and espresso. Using a spoon, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into cream mixture and whisk to combine. Add vanilla bean to saucepan and bring cream mixture to almost a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove vanilla bean and discard.
• Whisk yolks together in a large bowl. Gradually whisk cream mixture into yolks. Strain custard through a fine mesh sieve into a 4-cup glass measuring cup. Place four 5-ounce ramekins in a baking dish. Divide custard evenly between ramekins and transfer baking dish to oven. Fill baking dish with enough hot water so that it comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until centers only move slightly when ramekins are gently shaken, about 2 hours. Remove ramekins from baking dish and let cool completely. Transfer custards to refrigerator until chilled.
• Sprinkle turbinado sugar over chilled custards. Using a small kitchen torch, torch the sugar until caramelized. Alternatively, preheat a broiler and place under broiler until sugar is caramelized. Serve immediately.

TARTE FLAMBéE (FRENCH) OR FLAMMEKUECHE (GERMAN)

Steps:

• Dough:.
• Mix the starter ingredients together in a small bowl, cover tightly, and set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• When the starter is light and bubbly, mix the beer and milk into the mixture.
• Put the flour and salt into a food processor, then, with the motor running, add the yeast mixture through the feeding tube. Process the dough until it forms a ball. Add very small amounts of additional flour or milk if necessary.
• Process the ball until it is smooth, elastic, and warm, about 45 seconds to 1 minute.
• Butter a medium-sized bowl, roll the ball around in the butter, then cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled. Punch down and let rise a second time.
• Heat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Oil a 14 x 16 inch baking sheet. Roll the dough until slightly smaller than the baking sheet. Place it on the sheet.
• Alsatian Tarte Flambee:.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a nonstick skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring, over low heat for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.
• Combine the crème fraîche, fromage blanc, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooled onion.
• Heat the remaining oil in the skillet and fry the bacon until lightly browned, stirring constantly. Remove and drain through a strainer.
• Spread the onion mixture over the dough, leaving a very small raised rim all the way around, then dot with the bacon.
• Baking:.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until the tart is lightly browned.
• Variation - Arugula Tarte Flambee:.
• Instead of preparing the traditional Alsatian topping, proceed with baking the crust. Once the crust is baked, toss 2-3 handfuls of arugula with lemon vinaigrette. Top with shaved gruyere, olives and tomato.

FLAMBEED PINEAPPLE CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F.
• To make the custard:.
• Place 4 (6-ounce to 1 cup) ramekins on a baking pan. Place a saucepan on the burner. Add the cream, sugar, and the vanilla bean. Scrape the little seeds out of one half, and add them to the pot. Bring it to 'scald' (just before it begins to boil), but watch it because it can burn. Pull off the heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl until well blended. Gradually, whisk the hot cream mixture into the yolks. Divide the custard evenly among the ramekins.
• Place the baking pan in the oven, and add some hot tap water into the pan to come partially up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until just set, for about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until the custards are well set, about 2 to 3 hours.
• To make the pineapple:.
• Peel, core and slice the pineapple off the core lengthwise, and into 6-inch thick pieces.
• In a medium pan, heat the canola oil. Pop in the pineapple and let it cook until browned on the edges, then dust with brown sugar to caramelize. Bring to a sizzle allowing the fruit to get nicely coated and slightly brown on the edges. Turn off the heat. Add a good shot of rum (if you do it while the burner is on, you may well need those firemen to put out the blaze!). Turn the heat on and let it 'flambe'. Add a generous bit of butter to build sheen and thicken this caramel sauce.
• When the fire subsides, place 2 pieces of pineapple onto your serving plate, top with a nice mound of creme brulee, dust it all again with brown sugar and torch it to a nice crunchy finish.

CRèME BRûLéE WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place cream in heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Whisk yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in medium metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bowl to touch water). Whisk vigorously until yolk mixture is pale yellow and hot to touch, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture; discard vanilla bean.
• Divide cream mixture among six 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Arrange dishes in 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of dishes. Bake custards until almost set in center and light golden on top, about 35 minutes. Remove custards from water; refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat broiler. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar atop each custard. Place dishes on small baking sheet. Broil until sugar just starts to caramelize, rotating sheet for even browning, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate custards until topping hardens, at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, toss berries, brown sugar, and raspberry liqueur, if desired, in large bowl. Spoon berry mixture atop custards and serve immediately.

BLACK AND WHITE CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• For the custard:
• In a heavy medium saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and sugar. Split the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into the milk mixture. Add the pod and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and let steep for 30 minutes, or until the mixture cools to room temperature. Discard the vanilla pod or reserve for another use.
• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 300°F.
• Lightly beat the egg yolks with a fork, then whisk into the milk mixture. Strain the custard through a fine-mesh strainer into a 2- to 3-quart shallow gratin dish.
• Place the gratin dish in a large deep baking pan or a roasting pan. Pour enough very hot water into the pan to come three-quarters of the way up the gratin dish. Bake for 45 minutes. Check the custard by gently shaking the dish; the custard should be set but still move slightly. Test by inserting a knife into the custard; it should come out clean and almost dry. If necessary, cook the custard for 5 to 10 minutes longer, checking often.
• Carefully remove the gratin dish from the water bath. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours overnight.
• For the mousse:
• Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler set over gently simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from the heat and let sit in a warm spot until tepid or barely warm. (If the chocolate is too hot when added to the yolks, the yolks could curdle; if the chocolate is too cool, flakes of chocolate may form in the yolks.)
• The mousse is best made with a whisk or with a hand mixer; a stand mixer may not be able to whisk such a small quantity. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks with 1 tablespoon of the sugar until a slowly dissolving ribbon forms when the whisk is lifted. Fold in the tepid chocolate. In a medium bowl, using a clean dry whisk or beaters, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and continue beating until barely stiff peaks form. Gently fold half of the whites into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the remaining whites.
• Spoon the chocolate mousse over the chilled custard, smoothing the top with a small offset spatula. Wipe the rim of the dish with a damp towel to remove any chocolate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or, preferably, overnight.
• Thirty minutes before serving, remove the crème brûlée from the refrigerator.
• To caramelize the brûlée:
• Sprinkle the sugar in an even layer over the top of the mousse. If using a torch, work from one end of the dish to the other. Adjust the level of the torch as necessary to regulate the heat, moving the flame over the surface to caramelize the sugar. If using a broiler, place a rack on the highest level and preheat the broiler. Broil until the sugar is melted and caramelized, about 2 minutes. Watch carefully, and move or turn the dish as necessary for even caramelization.