TWD #32: The Crème de la Crème Brulee
September 30, 2008 at 1:10 am 54 comments
I’ve had my fair share of creme brulee at restaurants but never thought it was something that I could recreate at home with that same “restaurant” flavor. You know what I am talking about right? Restaurants always seem to do it one better and thats why you pay them $$$$ for a fraction of the dessert you could make at home (and maybe b/c they wash the dishes for you too? LOL)
According to Wikipedia, crème de la crème means the “best of the best” and I wouldn’t say “best” to any recipe lightly. But our host, Mari from Mevrouw Cupcake, hit it out of the park when she chose this recipe for the TWD bakers this week. You can find the original recipe on her blog. Try it! You won’t be disappointed. It has officially surpassed the lemon cream tart and galette greatness for me now.
What I learned this week:
There is no need for wasted egg yolks anymore. I’ll be making creme brulee ala Dorie with them from now on. I think I might be a tad pyro now too. “Fire. eh eh. Fire.” <– say it like Beavis.
[Vanilla Bean] Creme Brulee
(Recipe from Dorie Greenspan’s BFMHTY | photos from me!)
I used 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, instead of vanilla extract. Next time instead of adding to the egg+sugar mixture I’ll let it steep in the milk-cream mixture.
I know some TWD members had to increased their baking time. Maybe my dishes were smaller? I baked mine for 60 minutes and refrigerated overnight before torching.
I love those vanilla bean specks!
ENJOY!
Husband rating: A+
He ate his creme brulee in 2 bites and proceeded to lick the ramekin clean. I think that says it all.
Wifey rating: A+
Ah-mazing! I loved it. It might almost be the perfect food. Will definitely make again.
Next week: Caramel-Peanut-Topped Brownie Cake on pages 264-265
Entry filed under: Tuesdays With Dorie.
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I♥food4thought 
1.
foodlibrarian | September 29, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Looks great! I always like your play-by-play! Yummy!
2.
Ulrike | September 29, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Oh your dishes look so great, I only had cheap looking glasses. It’s amazingly easy to do it at home from now on, isn’t it?
3.
steph (whisk/spoon) | September 29, 2008 at 11:26 pm
yum-yum! love those vanilla specks–must have been great!
4.
Tanya | September 30, 2008 at 12:26 am
Welcome to the dark side of baking, where we like to play with fire and use equipment that could burn a house down. Mwahahahaha! :)
5.
Lori | September 30, 2008 at 3:50 am
ha – eating the dish in only 2 bites says all you need to know! it looks wonderful.
6.
Erin | September 30, 2008 at 5:03 am
A double A plus! Praise inedeed. It looks fantastic-especially with the vanilla bean flecks.
7.
isabelle | September 30, 2008 at 5:38 am
C’est l’un de mes desserts préférés :) et ça a été très vite mangé chez nous !
8.
Mary Ann | September 30, 2008 at 6:42 am
Your creme brulee looks amazing! I love the specks too. I might just have to try this next time I have leftover egg yolks, considering all the rave reviews. I wimped out and did a rewind. (I don’t have a torch yet!)
9.
Vibi | September 30, 2008 at 6:45 am
Ahhh! You lucky, lucky bunny hugger! …you have a blow torch! Hummm… perhaps I could give a call to Santa! LOL
Congrats on ANOTHER well done challenge!
10.
LyB | September 30, 2008 at 6:56 am
Imagine this, I’ve never even had a restaurant crème brûlée. And now I don’t have to! Isn’t it fun to play with fire? I’m looking for dishes to make to use my new torch a bit more! :)
11.
Anne | September 30, 2008 at 7:13 am
I’m so glad you liked it! Yours looks even better with the vanilla bean specs. Great job!
12.
Gretchen Noelle | September 30, 2008 at 7:43 am
They look perfect. Glad to know you both loved them so!!
13.
Caitlin | September 30, 2008 at 8:06 am
It’s always good to have someplace to use up those pesky egg yolks :) It looks fabulous.
14.
mybakingaddiction | September 30, 2008 at 8:21 am
Looks delicious! I too love those flecks! :)
15.
Mari | September 30, 2008 at 8:24 am
LOL! You are so funny! You gotta love anyone who licks their dishes! I’ve been known to do it often! ;-)
16.
rainbowbrown | September 30, 2008 at 9:23 am
I’ve gotta try it with a vanilla bean next time. Glad you both liked it!
17.
chocolatechic | September 30, 2008 at 9:23 am
I had never had it before.
This is a top of the line dessert.
Just gorgeous.
18.
macduff | September 30, 2008 at 9:27 am
Your pictures are awesome. These look totally perfect – I love the vanilla bean idea. I want to give it another college try when I feel better.
YES. Her/his name is Isis. I haven’t actually watched the show yet, but I can’t get enough of the fact that there’s a tranny on it. You have to hand it to Tyra, she knows awesome TV.
19.
Sihan | September 30, 2008 at 9:53 am
oh yeh.. they were good weren’t they. the chill of the innards in contrast to the hot crackly sugar crust.. YUM!!!
20.
Cristine | September 30, 2008 at 10:08 am
I love vanilla specks!!! I see more creme brulee in my near future!
21.
chocolatechic | September 30, 2008 at 10:14 am
You asked on my blog what camera I use.
For my blog today, I am using a Nikon Coolpix Point and shoot, because my baby…my beloved…my precious Nikon D40x is in the shop.
22.
Teanna | September 30, 2008 at 10:46 am
Hahah you are right. Beavis would have SO loved this dessert!
23.
Christine | September 30, 2008 at 10:47 am
Love vanilla specks. Your creme brulee looks delicious glad everyone enjoyed it!
24.
Madam Chow | September 30, 2008 at 11:00 am
I love the photos! Glad you and the hubbie liked it!
25.
Sugar Betty | September 30, 2008 at 11:15 am
You’re bad-ass. You used vanilla bean not the extract. I love your detailed step-by-step photos. Loving the creme brulee. We should hang out and swap crunk cupcakes one of these days. ;) Good job my friend!
26.
kamaile | September 30, 2008 at 11:23 am
This looks fabulous. I love custardy desserts. Nice Beavis reference.
27.
Cathy | September 30, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Oh, I love those vanilla bean specks! I was so surprised how easy this was to make! And so incredibly wonderful. I am so glad it was as much of a hit in your house as it was in ours!
28.
Michelle | September 30, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Everything about your brulee is incredible, from the darling ramekins, vanilla bean specks and the wonderful sugar topping. It’s no wonder you sweet man gave it an A plus..he knows class when he eats it!
29.
Fit Chick | September 30, 2008 at 1:21 pm
My husband licked the ramekin also, LOL! I like your idea of the vanilla bean instead of extract; will try that next time. I have been working out extra ever since I joined TWD!
30.
Tammy | September 30, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Looks great! I love the vanilla flecks!!
31.
Liliana | September 30, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Thank you for your kind words.
Your Créme Brûle looks absolutely delicious! Great photos!
32.
pamela | September 30, 2008 at 1:36 pm
They look picture perfect! Obviously, you’ve found a new favorite. I have never tried the lemon cream tart you’re talking about. I guess I better add that to the TWD rewind recipes to try ASAP!
33.
Heather B | September 30, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I’ll definitely have to try my luck at this again. Soon…because yours looks so good!
34.
Linda | September 30, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Creme brulee is the perfect food, isn’t it!!! Great job!
35.
Nancy (n.o.e.) | September 30, 2008 at 5:29 pm
What sweet little creme brulees! Yours are pretty much perfect. The brown sugar looks like the perfect complement to your vanilla bean custard. Great job.
36.
Jaime | September 30, 2008 at 6:17 pm
i think b/c we had shallow ramekins, the baking time was spot on for us? your creme brulee looks creamy and delicious!
37.
Heather Peskin | September 30, 2008 at 7:11 pm
It looks so delicious – I feel so tempted to try this recipe but the pyro business scares me. Lovely work.
38.
Mike | September 30, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Your post reminded me that all of my egg-white omelets did not give their yolks in vain. Now I can eats me some delicious brulee every day!
39.
L W | September 30, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Looks perfect Clara! So glad you both loved it too!
40.
Elizabeth - Cake or Death? | September 30, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Oh, I ALMOST used brown sugar instead of white on mine. Do you think it made a big difference, taste-wise? Guess I’ll have to make it again to find out…
41.
kim | October 1, 2008 at 8:21 am
yum, they look perfect!! awesome job ;) i will have to try it with brown sugar! btw, where do you get the vanilla beans? at my grocery store they sell one bean for like $15… needless to say i do not buy them :)
42.
CB | October 1, 2008 at 8:27 am
ELIZABETH, To be honest I am not sure what’s “better”. I think I’ve always thought you used brown sugar to caramelize! haha. All I know is my brown sugar was DELISH! Maybe next time I’ll try granulated sugar and see if there’s a significant difference :)
KIM, Dude! Not the grocery store. EBAY!! or you can buy them directly from the seller’s website.
http://www.organic-vanilla.com.
I buy 20 Bourbon (I like it better than Tahitian) beans for like $12-$13 (includes shipping). I don’t bother with grocery stores! Thats a rip off!
43.
Marthe | October 1, 2008 at 9:58 am
Yum, your crème brûlée looks really good!! I used star anise and white chocolate in mine.
44.
Kelly D | October 1, 2008 at 10:18 am
You can’t argue with a dish that has been licked clean. Great job!
45.
Mansi | October 1, 2008 at 10:48 am
That looks awesome! star anise has become one of my fav spice additions these days!
46.
kim | October 1, 2008 at 10:58 am
AWESOME i am going to that site now :)
47.
Shirlie | October 1, 2008 at 11:49 am
the vanilla bean makes it so much better! great job!
48.
lemontartlet | October 1, 2008 at 12:03 pm
The not washing the dishes is what makes me want to eat out! Your creme brulee looks so friggin good chicklet, loving it.
49.
Lynne | October 2, 2008 at 3:14 am
Nice step by step photos. Great job!
50.
Shari | October 2, 2008 at 6:47 am
I love that you used a vanilla bean pod — that’s my favorite version!
51.
Erin | October 2, 2008 at 8:55 am
This looks great! It’s nice to know that you have a use for those egg yolks now!
52.
pinkstripes | October 2, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I was debating using a whole vanilla bean. I ended up not using one. Maybe next time?
53.
Matt | October 4, 2008 at 8:22 am
Your brulees look so classy against the black background. I love everything about this recipe!
54. OSI: Clara from I*heart*Food4Thought « Tuesdays with Dorie | October 28, 2008 at 8:49 am
[…] has been your favorite TWD recipe so far? I have a few favorites: Lemon cream tart, galette and creme brulee but I’d have to say that the creme brulee wins as the favorite, a little above the rest, right […]