Limoncello Crème Brûlée Recipes

LIMONCELLO

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips (reserve the lemons for another use). Using a small sharp knife, trim away the white pith from the lemon peels; discard the pith. Place the lemon peels in a 2-quart pitcher. Pour the vodka over the peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 4 days at room temperature.
• Stir the water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour the sugar syrup over the vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight. Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard the peels. Transfer the limoncello to bottles. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month.

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.

LIMONCELLO

Steps:

• Zest the lemons, and place zest into a large glass bottle or jar. Pour in vodka. Cover loosely and let infuse for one week at room temperature.
• After one week, combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Do not stir. Boil for 15 minutes. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature.
• Stir vodka mixture into syrup. Strain into glass bottles, and seal each bottle with a cork. Let mixture age for 2 weeks at room temperature.
• Place bottled liqueur into the freezer. When icy cold, serve in chilled vodka glasses or shot glasses.

CREAMY LIMONCELLO

Steps:

• Combine lemon zest and vodka in an airtight container. Cover and place in a cool, dark space, shaking the container to redistribute the lemon zest once a day for 5 days.
• Pour milk and sugar into a large pot and bringing to a low boil, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow milk mixture to cool to room temperature. Slowly strain vodka mixture into the milk using a sieve. Discard the lemon zest. Pour limoncello into a capped bottle and place in the freezer to chill for 1 hour. Serve cold.

LIMONCELLO CRÈME BRÛLÉE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325ºF and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or a clean kitchen towel so they don't slide. Set ramekins on top.
• In a medium pot over medium heat, add cream, vanilla bean, lemon zest and salt; bring the mixture to the point just before it starts simmering. Turn off the heat and let it steep for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar; whisk until well blended.
• Discard vanilla pod and slowly pour hot cream into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Stir in limoncello. Strain mixture through a fine sieve; discard. Pour custard evenly into ramekins and carefully transfer the baking dish to the oven. Pour hot water 2/3 up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake until just set with a slight jiggle in the center, about 30 to 35 minutes for shallow ramekins (about 1-inch high) and 35 to 40 minutes for taller ramekins (about 2-inches high).
• Carefully remove ramekins from water and cool on a wire rack. When cool, place on a baking sheet lined with silicone mat and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.
• Just before serving or up to 2 hours before serving, sprinkle sugar (1 tablespoons per shallow ramekin) evenly over the surface. Using a torch or broiler, heat until the sugar melts and caramelizes. Makes 6 ramekins.

RUM RAISIN CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, toss raisins with rum; microwave for 30 seconds. Let stand 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat cream until bubbles form around sides of pan; remove from heat. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until blended but not foamy. Slowly stir in hot cream. Strain raisin mixture into cream mixture, stirring in rum to combine; reserve raisins., Place six 6-oz. broiler-safe ramekins or custard cups in a baking pan large enough to hold them without touching. Divide reserved raisins among ramekins; pour egg mixture over top. Place pan on oven rack; add very hot water to pan within 3/4 in. of top of ramekins., Bake 30-35 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Immediately remove ramekins from water bath to a wire rack; cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours., To caramelize topping with a kitchen torch, sprinkle custards evenly with remaining sugar. Hold torch flame about 2 in. above custard surface and rotate it slowly until sugar is evenly caramelized. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour.

HOMEMADE LIMONCELLO LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Remove the lemon peel with a vegetable peeler or a pairing knife, avoiding to remove the white pith which is bitter. Transfer the peels in a 1 gallon glass jar. Pour in alcohol, stir, close tightly and place the jar in a cool, dark place, undisturbed, for 5 weeks.
• Juice the skinless lemons and pour the liquid into an ice cube tray (volume of each cavity is 1 tbsp.). Transfer to the freezer until solid. Transfer lemon cubes in a re-sealable plastic freezer bag until needed for a recipe that calls for 1 tablespoons lemon juice.
• When the 35 days are up, place cheese cloth at the bottom and the sides of a colander; place colander over a large pot. Pour in the alcohol and peels into the lined colander; drain well. Carefully remove the cheese cloth and discard the peels.
• Transfer the pot on a stove and add sugar with distilled water. On medium-high, stir mixture until sugar is dissolved. Just before the limoncello starts boiling, remove from the heat to cool off. Pour liqueur into sterilized bottles, close lids, wipe out and let them sit for 7 to 10 days before serving. Makes 2 ¾ liters.