Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our exquisite Cranberry Crème Brûlée recipe, a harmonious blend of tangy cranberries and creamy custard, encased in a delicate caramelized sugar shell. Embark on a sensory adventure as you crack through the crisp sugar topping, revealing a velvety smooth and luscious custard infused with the vibrant flavors of cranberries. This dessert symphony is not only a feast for the taste buds but also a visual masterpiece, adorned with fresh cranberries and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Accompanying this Cranberry Crème Brûlée recipe are two additional culinary gems: a classic Crème Brûlée recipe that showcases the timeless elegance of this French dessert, and a Chocolate Crème Brûlée recipe that adds a touch of rich and decadent chocolate to the classic custard base. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions, ensuring that home chefs of all skill levels can create these delectable treats in their own kitchens.
THE BEST CREME BRULEE
We wanted a rich and creamy custard that wasn't too sweet, so we could fully enjoy the signature crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on top. By only using egg yolks, we achieved a soft and creamy texture. We tried using milk and half-and-half but, in the end, we landed with heavy cream for its richness. Whole vanilla beans give a more intense, pure vanilla flavor that you can't get from extract. We also like seeing the vanilla seeds flecked throughout the custard.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line a large heavy roasting pan (a turkey roasting pan works great) with a clean kitchen towel and place 4 six-ounce ramekins on top of the towel spaced a few inches apart.
- Heat the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Using the back of a paring knife, scrape the vanilla seeds from both halves of the pod. Add the seeds and pod to the cream. Whisk in the salt and 3 tablespoons of the sugar and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat.
- Vigorously whisk the yolks and 3 more tablespoons of the sugar in a large bowl until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer on high speed and beat until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Whisking the yolks constantly, add a couple of teaspoons at a time from 1 cup of the hot cream, then increase to a steady stream until the cream is fully incorporated. (Don't pour too much hot cream at once or you'll end up with scrambled eggs.) The yolks are now tempered. Whisk the tempered yolks back into the remaining hot cream until combined. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or medium pitcher for easier pouring; discard the vanilla pods.
- Skim the foam off the top of the custard by placing a clean paper towel on top and lightly pressing down so it touches the surface and absorbs some of the liquid. This will make for a completely smooth and silky custard. Fill the ramekins with the custard, about 3/4 cup per ramekin.
- Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins without getting any water in the custard. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake until the custard is set around the edges but still has a slight jiggle in the center, 35 to 45 minutes. Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and transfer the ramekins to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. Then refrigerate until very cold, about 3 hours.
- Just before serving, evenly spread 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the top of a custard. Hold a kitchen torch 2 inches above the surface. Starting in the center of the ramekin, move the flame in a circular motion and work your way out to the edges to caramelize the sugar. Repeat with the remaining sugar and custards.
- Alternatively, arrange a rack in the top position of the oven and heat the broiler on high. Place the ramekins on a rack set inside a baking sheet and broil until deep golden brown, 15 to 60 seconds, checking every 10 seconds.
- Freeze the custards for 5 minutes before serving (see Cook's Note).
CRANBERRY VANILLA CREME BRULEE
Steps:
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of cranberry sauce into each of 8 (4-ounce) ramekins.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine the half-and half, vanilla bean, and vanilla extract. Heat over medium heat just until scalded; do not allow the mixture to boil.
- Fill a large bowl with water and add ice. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the egg, egg yolks, and granulated sugar and mix. Gradually stir in the scalded half-and-half mixture and place the smaller bowl in the bowl of ice water to cool completely. Stir in the heavy cream and top equally the cranberry prepped ramekins. Place in a baking dish just large enough to hold them and add enough hot water to the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake until the custard is set but still quivers in the center, about 35 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the water and refrigerate to cool completely.
- Preheat the broiler, if using. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar on top of each custard, spread over the surface, and tap out any excess. Place the ramekins on a broiling tray and broil until the top is melted and caramelized, about 30 seconds. Watch carefully; the sugar can burn easily. If using a torch (see Tip), pass the flame about 2 inches over the surface of the custards until the sugar is completely caramelized. Serve while the sugar is still warm.
- * If using a torch, replace the superfine sugar with raw sugar, which caramelizes more successfully under a torch flame.
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.
Tips:
- Use fresh cranberries. Fresh cranberries have a tart and juicy flavor that is perfect for crème brûlée. If you can't find fresh cranberries, you can use frozen cranberries, but be sure to thaw them before using.
- Make sure the cream is cold. Cold cream will help the crème brûlée set properly. If you don't have time to chill the cream, you can place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before using.
- Don't overcook the crème brûlée. Overcooked crème brûlée will be rubbery and tough. The custard should be set but still have a slight jiggle to it.
- Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar. A kitchen torch is the best way to caramelize the sugar on top of the crème brûlée. If you don't have a kitchen torch, you can use a broiler, but be careful not to burn the sugar.
- Serve the crème brûlée immediately. Crème brûlée is best served immediately after it is made. The sugar crust will soften over time, so it's best to enjoy it while it's still crispy.
Conclusion:
Cranberry crème brûlée is a delicious and elegant dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its creamy custard, tart cranberry sauce, and crispy sugar crust, cranberry crème brûlée is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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