Wine Dinner Extra: Liqueur Tasting: Ginger Creme Brulee

Ginger and Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee

Adapted from: Bon Appetit, February 1999

Ingredients

2 cups whipping cream

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

5 large egg yolks

12 teaspoons sugar

Directions

Make custard:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Place three 4-inch-diameter fluted flan dishes* in each of two 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pans or place six 3/4-cup ramekins in 1 pan.

Mix cream, sugar and ginger in heavy medium saucepan. Using small sharp knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean. Add seeds and bean to saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to simmer. Cover pan, reduce heat to very low and simmer gently 10 minutes to infuse flavors.* Strain into large measuring cup.

Whisk yolks in medium bowl until well blended. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture just to blend. Return custard to measuring cup; divide among dishes. Pour enough hot water into pans to come halfway up sides of dishes. Carefully transfer pans to oven.

Bake custards until almost set in center when pans are gently shaken, about 30 minutes for fluted flan dishes and 35 minutes for ramekins. Using metal spatula, transfer custards in dishes to work surface; cool 30 minutes. Chill at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.

Make Crème Brûlée:
Top a custard with approximately 2 teaspoons sugar. Gently tilt around to evenly coat top of custard. Pour out any remaining sugar into next custard, add a little more if necessary and repeat until all custards are topped with sugar.

Working with 1 custard at a time, hold blowtorch** so that flame is 2 inches above surface. Direct flame so that sugar melts and browns, about 2 minutes.

Refrigerate until custards are firm again but topping is still brittle, at least 2 hours but no longer than 4 hours so that topping doesn't soften.

Notes:

*At this point, may remove pan from heat and let the mixture continue to steep up to overnight. When ready to proceed, gently reheat, strain and then proceed.

**If you do not have a blowtorch this step may also be completed in the oven under a broiler. Watch carefully as they go from ‘done’ to burned very quickly.

Liqueur:

Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur