Caramelized sugar provides the distinctive crack that reveals the custard filling of creme brulee. (www.JasonCoblentz.com)

Looking for an impressive sweet for your sweethearts on Valentine’s Day? Let’s make creme brulee. Most people assume that because it’s a staple at swanky restaurants it must be difficult to make. I assure you, restaurant-quality creme brulee can be made at home for a fraction of the cafe cost.

If you’re not familiar, creme brulee (krem-broo-lei) literally means “cream burnt.” It’s a cold vanilla custard with a caramelized sugar topping that hardens into a glasslike surface. The most satisfying part of eating creme brulee is that thwack when you hit the caramel surface with the back of your spoon, and it breaks, revealing the silky-smooth custard within. Divine!

The ingredients to make it are humble, but the result is remarkable. No torch or special equipment required; it’s all about technique. In this recipe, we temper eggs, use a bain-marie (ban mah-REE) water bath, and broil or torch sugar to make caramel.

CREME BRULEE

Yield: 6 servings  Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total: 3 hours

What You’ll Need:

2 cups heavy whipping cream

Pinch salt

5 egg yolks

1/2 cup white sugar plus extra for caramelizing

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Here’s How:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F and arrange six (4-ounce) (or four 6-ounce) ramekins in a rimmed baking pan that’s at least as deep as the ramekins. Heat a kettle of water for the bain-marie.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream and salt to a simmer, stirring frequently until bubbles form around the edge. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine egg yolks with sugar and whisk briskly for 1-2 minutes.
3. Now, we temper the eggs with the hot cream, by slowly raising the temperature of the eggs so they don’t scramble. Whisking constantly, gradually add the cream to the yolks. Then add vanilla and stir. Just in case we have any egg solids, strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean container, ideally one with a pour spout.
4. Next, pour or ladle the custard into the ramekins, dividing evenly. Carefully, place the baking pan in the oven and pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins, taking care not to slosh hot water onto yourself or into the ramekins. The bain-marie creates a gentle heat resulting in a uniform cooking process.
5. Bake until the edges are set but the center still jiggles when gently shaken, about 25 to 30 minutes. You want the middle a bit wobbly, as the custard will firm up in the refrigerator. The depth of your ramekin or custard cup determines how long it takes to bake. If you’re concerned, a thermometer should register 150 to 155 F in the center.
6. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let cool on a rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate for at least two hours. This custard can be made days in advance and refrigerated (that’s why it’s popular at restaurants). But don’t add the caramelized topping until you’re ready to serve.
7. To serve, evenly sprinkle the entire surface of each custard with a thin layer of sugar, using 1 to 2 teaspoons per ramekin. If using a kitchen blowtorch, evenly melt and caramelize the sugar. If using the broiler, put the ramekins on a baking sheet and place in cold oven directly under the broiler. Turn the broiler on high and watch closely as they brown. Serve immediately.

Now perhaps you won’t think I’m crazy when I say the most romantic Valentine’s Day gift I’ve ever received was a blowtorch. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website “Divas On A Dime — Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous!” Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com

© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

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