Orange Creme Bruleé

We had our best friends over for dinner the other night and I really wanted to “wow” them with something special for desert.  They have been extra helpful and supportive of my cookie business from day one so I needed to let them know how much it has, and does mean to me (plus, I’ve always wanted to own one of those little blow torches, lol).  What better way to someones heart then through their stomachs, right?  And… I just so happen to know that Creme Bruleé is their favorite desert.  How convenient  

This recipe is one from Ina Garten.  Who doesn’t love Ina?  Actually, the only thing that drives me a bit crazy about Ina is the sound of her juicer on television.  It shoots right through me like fingernails on a blackboard.  How I do wish she would juice her citrus before the taping of her shows (but I digress).  Back to the creme bruleé.   The only change I made to Ina’s recipe was to add orange zest into the custard.  In the great words of Ina Garten “How bad can that be?”

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 extra-large egg
• 4 extra-large egg yolks
• 1/2  cup sugar, plus extra for topping
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (I used Grand Marnier)
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

DIRECTIONS:      Preheat oven to 300°

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the egg, egg yolks, the orange zest , 1/2 cup of the sugar, vanilla and orange liqueur together on low speed until just combined. 

Meanwhile, scald the cream in a small saucepan until it’s very hot, but not boiled.  With the mixer on low speed, SLOWLY add the cream to the eggs.

Carefully pour the mixture into 6 (8 oz) ramekins until almost full.  Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan until it comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Bake for 40 – 45 minutes, or until the custards are set when gently shaken.  Remove the custards from the water bath and cool to room temperature.  Then refrigerate until firm and ready to serve.

Now, for the best part…  I didn’t want to come right out and tell our friends what we were having for desert, I wanted it to be a surprise.  Throughout the evening,  we kept giving them clues to see if they could guess.  First clue: Would you like some Grand Marnier and orange slices in your rum and coke? (Everybody did).  Second clue:  I show them the spoons. (Tough one).  Third clue:  It’s interactive. (Everybody got to flame their own bruleé).  Fourth clue:  There is a special device. (I’m starting to scare people now).  Fifth and final clue: I bring out the sugar. (A possible light blub moment). 

To serve, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on the top of each ramekin and heat with that little kitchen blowtorch until the sugar caramelizes evenly or you get it the color you each individually want.  Allow to sit a room temperature for a minute until the sugar hardens and will so wonderfully crack with a spoon when you dig in   Ahhhh.

I don’t remember if our guests actually guessed correctly or not.  It was a long evening with good food, good drink and the best part of all, good friends.  What I do remember is that the Orange Creme Bruleé was a giant hit and at the end of the evening everybody was happy and full.  You can’t ask for more than that!

Thanks for everything you guys!!!!  Let’s do it again soon.  Love you both!   

 Reneé

Tagged as: blow torch, creme bruleé, custard, desert, friends, Orange, sugar, surprise