When I saw that this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection was Creme Brulee, my heart did a little happy dance. I adore everything about creme brulee, from that first tapping of your spoon through its crispy, crackly, caramelized sugar crust, to that first heavenly mouthful of soft, rich, creamy vanilla-kissed custard. The supreme indulgence!
Over the years, I have eaten more than my fair share of creme brulee. As a matter of fact, when I was in Paris last summer, I think I probably ate my weight in the stuff! The funny thing is, I've never made it at home. I've made lots of flans, custards and creme caramels, but never a brulee. Why, you ask? Because I've always been terrified of the blowtorch!
When I was a toddler, I was involved in a terrible accident resulting in third degree burns on over a third of my body. I spent several weeks in the hospital and miraculously, I pulled through. Though my face was unscathed, I had much scarring everywhere else. Thankfully, most of it faded over time and now, they are barely discernible. Since then, I have been deathly afraid of fire.
I almost decided to just do a rewind recipe instead this week. But, since I did have a little kitchen torch, still sitting in its box, that I had gotten as a gift several years ago, I decided that it was now or never. I read the instructions through and through, and practiced a few times to get comfortable. I still didn't like doing it, but it was okay. I felt kind of proud of myself for staring my fear in the face.
Since the traditional vanilla creme brulee is my favorite, I made half of mine that way. For the rest, I added some instant espresso powder and made coffee creme brulee.
Dorie's recipe is dead easy and the custard came together in no time flat. Baking it took forever, though! The recipe says to bake at 200 degrees F. for 50-60 minutes. However, some of mine took at least 90 minutes to set up. I think it had to do with the size and depth of my containers. The deeper cups were the ones that took a lot longer. So, if you ever try this recipe, be mindful of that.
The custard itself is a bit lighter and not quite as rich as some others I've had, but it was perfectly velvety and absolutely delicious. Some of my caramelized sugar did get a little too browned, but it was just the right thickness and crackled into beautiful little shards. I'm so glad that I rose to this challenge, and I'm looking forward to making creme brulee again soon!
Many thanks to Mari of Mevrouw Cupcakes for choosing this great recipe. If you'd like to see some other creative interpretations of creme brulee, visit the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll. The recipe cam be found on Mari's site as well as in Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.
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56 comments:
I can't decide which of your presentations (and which of your dishes) I like the best. Oh, well, I'll just have to keep looking at all of them. Great job, as always!
You. Go. Girl! You are awesome for facing your fears head-on and conquering them!! (And then eating them!)
Your creme brulee looks spectacular, of course. I'm glad you decided to go for it.
These look incredible. I adore lots of caramel on my creme brulee so I'll take the wide oval, Please! Nice job with the blow torch.
Everytime I get close to hitting the bloglines' button to get to your blog... I almost hold my breath! LOL Just cause I know I'll be surprised and in total awe of what you do... visualy and creatively!
Once again, I'm not dissapointed!
BRAVO!
really really great pics - I love this!
-DTW
www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
You faced your fear and what a stunning result! Bravo! :)
Beautiful pictures--I love your accessories!
Kudos on overcoming your fears - they turned out perfectly! And the coffee version - that would have been what I went with if I had a kitchen torch, so I'm super jealous :)
I love your vanilla bean bundles! So glad that you're a crème brûlée lover too!
That's quite a challenge you put yourself into and you aced it!! :) As for these nice beauties you made, I chime in with the others. I am not sure which one I like better..the creme brulee itself or the presentation1! I LOVE BOTH!
How wonderful that you conquered your fears to make this. What wonderful results! It was so surprising to me how relatively easy this was to make. I'll definitely make this again. I am glad that you loved this -- your pictures are fantastic!
Those look so good Susan!!! I am with you though on the fire fear! Brave girl!
I just cracked my PC screen trying to break the hardened brulee! lol
They look awesome...still one of the best desserts.
oooo..how pretty! :)
Your pictures are gorgeous. I love the hodge-podge of dishes.
Your dessert looks delicious...wish I could just dip my spoon into the computer screen and help myself to some!!!!
Your dessert looks delicious...wish I could just dip my spoon into the computer screen and help myself to some!!!!
It looks really good, but you spelled it wrong.
Your creme brulee looks wonderful! I like the coffee idea, next time I make this, I will have to try that. Cute way of serving them too. Looks great in the coffee cups!
I love the creme brulee trios you can get in all the restaurants these days. I was thinking of making Pumpkin brulees for Thanksgiving but I need a torch!!!!!
They're beautiful!! It's ok the sugar got a little too brown, it's all about the shards of sugar!
Congratulations on a successful first time! Coffee creme brulee sounds absolutely delicious! (As does the original, of course :)
You got me hook, line & sinker with your espresso creme brulee in it's own little coffee cup. Heaven!!!
That creme brule looks so good!
Great job! It looks so yummy! I love the coffee flavor!
I like your extra browned crust. Years ago I worked for a restaurant company, and when we tested the creme brulee at the restaurants, it had to have what was called the "titanic effect" when tapped with the back of a spoon it should break into shards like an iceberg...
they look great, and good for you for facing your fears!
You sure know how to dress up a beauty of a dessert. Gorgeous!
Oohh they all look great but I've never tried coffee creme brulee before :O so I really wanna try that one!
I think you have created a new form of therapy. Cook or bake your fear and eat it! Great work as always Susan!
Bravo to you for facing your fears! The brulees look fantastic. I love the coffee infusion...I'll try that next time!
Nice looking brulee! Love the photos!
What a horrible story that you were hurt so badly when you were little! So sorry.
They all look AMAZING.
Yum. I'm glad you took the fire risk and made this. It's beautiful. I have a little kitchen torch too, but I've never used it because I haven't been able to find the cartridges for it.
Oh my, how I would like to munch on one of those beautiful little shards!! Looks absolutely mouthwatering!
What a gorgeous dessert-but I don't blame you a bit for fearing fire. What a terrifying memory for you!
Your creme brulee looks mouthwateringly good!
Two different tastes, wow! It was the first time of making crème brûlée for me, but I will certainly be making these again!
Congrats on doing this—I'm too intimidated but yours look great!!
Way to go for picking up that torch and mastering this technique, despite your fear. You got chutzpah!
way to face your fears!! beautiful photos and presentation. i always am jealous of your ribbons :) the espresso flavor sounds yummy!
Creme Brulee is one of my favorite desserts, but like you, I still have a torch waiting to be used in my cabinet! I think all you TWD participants have inspired me to get it out!
Oh my oh my do these look delicious! Nice work.
Oh I love it too and the vanilla beans tied in a bow! Perfect!
Gorgeous pictures of your creme brulee! I so wish I had some right now!
Wow what a scary and horrible story from your childhood!
But your creme brulee... oh my... you creme brulee... It is one of my allll time favorite desserts if it is GOOD! And I haven't had it in ages.
I'll take the coffee creme brulee!
I'm glad you overcame your fear and conquered!!
how pretty! i love it in the tea cups! the colors of the sugar are beautiful and i love the lavender topping! looks tasty :)
Beautiful brulees! I don't blame you about being scared of fire or the blowtorch.. I haven't had any bad childhood experiences with it, but I'm still wary every time I use it!
Good job with the torch this week and pushing through a fear. What a horrible thing to have happen as a child (or any time). Your photos are stunning, and I love that you baked them in a cup! Very creative.
What a lovely presentation, Susan! I, too, love creme brulee and have always been terrified by the torch idea. I'm so sorry you went through such a horrid accident as a child!
Congratulations on facing your fears and doing a great job of this classic dessert. I am a huge fan of creme brulee but have never tried to make it.
Your brulées look perfect! And coffee, wow, I am definitely going to try that! I make lots of jokes about having fun this week, playing with fire, but I can understand your fear of it. Glad you made them though, they're beautiful! :)
Great job of facing your fears! All the creme brulees look fantastic!
Your brulees look great in the cups and ramekins. Nice job!
Love your photos, the brulee looks great!
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