Thank you Katie from Hana Hou for this recipe.  I believe it to be one of the best crème brulee anywhere.  Maybe that’s because she uses fresh laid eggs from her own chickens. For now, you’ll have to decide whether or not to strain the vanilla been seeds out of the cream.  I’ve actually never worked with vanilla beans—but I will ask Katie next time we see her. If I use this recipe before I ask Katie, I would strain the cream to get the seeds out.

Hint:  put a dish towel on the bottom of the roasting pan to keep bowls from sliding around.

Serves 6

  • 1  vanilla bean
  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup super fine sugar
  • 2 tbsp. almond or orange liqueur (optional)
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Place six bowls in a roasting pan.  Set aside.  Split vanilla bean with knife lengthwise and scrape seeds into medium sauce pan. Add cream over medium heat, stir til just to a boil.  Remove from heat and set aside for 15 or 20 minutes.  In medium mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks, fine sugar and liqueur until blended.  Whisk in hot cream.  Pour mix into six bowls equally.  Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come 1/2 way up sides of bowls.

Bake for about 30 minutes or till center is jello- like when juggled.  Remove from pan and let cool.

Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over surface of crème.  Use torch to  caramelize sugar  —or use oven broiler  for 30-60 seconds.

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