Hello friends, Crème Caramel is such an amazing dessert when made to perfection! I am going to share with you how I make my favorite dessert. Once you have tasted it, it is sooo good, it's impossible to resist. The creaminess and rich caramel make this dessert Heavenly!
Spray 4 ramekins (6 to 8 ounces) with a very light coating of non-stick spray
Make the Caramel:
Mix the sugar and water in a glass bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add to a saucepan, heat the sugar and water on medium to low heat. The sugar will start to turn a light golden brown (approximately 10 to 12 minutes, be careful, because it will burn very quickly). As soon as it turns a dark golden brown Mahogany color), turn off the heat immediately and CAREFULLY add about 2 tablespoons water to stop the cooking process.
Pour into 4 individual custard cups. Tilt the cups to coat bottom thinly and evenly. Cool in the refrigerator 30 minutes or 15 minutes in freezer until caramel is hard.
Make the Custard:
In a sauce pan, heat the cream and milk to a boiling point (BUT NOT ROLLING BOIL) Add the sugar and mix to melt.
In a large glass bowl, mix the eggs salt and vanilla with a fork, do not use a Wisk it will create air bubbles. Add the hot milk and cream in a thin, steady stream and pour into each caramelized mold.
Set custard cups in a hot water bath, up to 3/4" from the top rim of the cups. Bake for 1hour. Take them out of the oven and when cold enough to handle remove them from the hot water and let them get to room temp for at least 3 to 4 hours. When room temperature, refrigerate at least 6 hours (much better 24 hours).
To un-mold, using a small knife or your finger to gently slide the edge of each custard cup to loosen. Place an inverted plate over each cup, turn the cup and plate upright and carefully lift the cup to see if the custard mold has loosened.
Pro-Tips
Pro-Tip: Avoid Air Bubbles in Your Custard
Here’s a secret I learned after years of making this dessert: to get the smoothest, silkiest crème caramel, it’s all about avoiding air bubbles. When you’re whisking the eggs and milk, be gentle! Don’t whisk too aggressively, as that will incorporate too much air into the mixture, and you’ll end up with an uneven texture. Just a nice, gentle mix to combine everything is all you need.
Bonus Pro-Tip: Mastering the Caramel
Now, let me tell you, making the perfect caramel is an art form in itself! One thing to remember: don’t stir the sugar and water while it’s cooking! Leave it alone! Stirring causes crystals to form, and you don’t want that. Let it cook over medium heat until it reaches that beautiful amber color we’re after. If the sides of the pot start to crystallize, just take a silicone brush and lightly brush with water to dissolve the crystals. The result will be a caramel that’s rich, smooth, and packed with flavor.
Equipment - You can find the items below at our online store!