Crème Caramel
Crème Caramel is a French baked custard that delights with a silky-smooth texture as well as the wonderful interplay of the caramel with the vanilla infused custard. The smooth texture is the result of its gentle baking in a water bath. The soft caramel on top is derived from lining the souffl© dish with caramel prior to baking and a split vanilla bean transfers its aroma and flavor to the custard.
I like this dessert for elaborate dinners with guests for several reasons. It is made the day before and placed overnight in the refrigerator, with just the final unmolding the day of. It slices like a dream and it is quite easy to make small portions following a rich meal.
The recipe, like numerous other classic cake and dessert recipes in well-known cookbooks, originates from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child and two colleagues.
Crisp cookies such as Palmiers are a very good accompaniment as they contrast well with the Crème Caramel’s soft texture.
Crème Caramel
Yield: 1 large souffl© dish # of Servings: 8 to 10
Ingredients
For the mold:
½ cup (3.5 oz / 99 g) sugar
2 tbl water
¼ tsp cream of tartar
Custard:
1 ¼ cup (10 fl oz) heavy cream
1 ¼ cup (10 fl oz) milk
2 tbl (.9 oz / 25 g) sugar
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
3 eggs
3 egg yolks
¼ cup + 2 tbl sugar (2.7 oz / 77 g) sugar
1 pinch kosher salt
Accompaniments (optional):
½ recipe Palmiers
Special tools and equipment needed:
- A 1-quart souffl© dish
- Baking or roasting pan, large enough to hold the souffl© dish with 1-inch on all sides1.
- Small pastry brush
Pre-recipe preparations:
- Fill water kettle and heat water just to the boil
- Fill medium-sized mixing bowl half-full with cold water
- Preheat oven to 325 °F
Directions:
Caramelizing the mold:
- Place sugar, water, and cream of tartar in a small saucepan and stir just to combine.
- On medium flame, bring the sugar to the boil, using the pastry brush dipped in cold water to wash down any sugar crystals clinging to the side of the pan. Stop stirring once the sugar comes to the boil.
- Cook the syrup until it reaches a medium amber colored caramel.
- Remove from the heat and dip the pan in the cold water for 10 seconds to stop the cooking.
- Pour the caramel into the souffl© dish and swirl around to coat the entire bottom. Set aside.
Preparing and baking the custard:
- Whisk together the heavy cream, milk, sugar, vanilla bean and scraped seeds in a small saucepan and bring just to the simmer. Turn off the heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Place eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in medium mixing bowl, and whisk together, just enough thoroughly blend all ingredients.
- Remove the vanilla bean from the hot cream mixture. Slowly whisk the cream into the egg mixture.
- Stain through a fine mesh strainer into the caramelized souffl© dish. Place the dish in the baking or roasting pan and surround with enough hot water so it is halfway up the souffl© dish.
- Carefully place in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the custard is set. A sharp paring knife inserted into the center of the custard should come out clean,
- Remove the custard from the water bath and set on a rack to cool off to room temperature. Place in refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight to chill.
Unmolding the Crème Caramel:
- Run a sharp paring knife between the outside of the custard and the souffl© dish.
- Cover the souffl© dish with a serving platter and invert so the Crème Caramel releases into the platter. Remove the souffl© dish.
- Slice with a sharp knife, wiping the blade clean after slice.
Baking notes:
1 I use a 13†by 9†by 2 ¼â€ cake pan for this. Any similar sized baker will do. The objective is a rectangle just big enough to hold the souffl© dish with an inch or so of clearance on all sides.
