Recipe: Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee (baked and broiled)

VANILLA BEAN CREME BRULEE
"Rich and creamy with a crunchy caramelized topping!"



2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
1 Spice Islands Vanilla Bean
4 egg yolks
2 tablespoons sugar
10 teaspoons sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Pour cream into a double boiler, if available (Or use a heavy saucepan). Split vanilla bean, scrap out seeds and add to cream. Add whole bean to cream. Heat cream until hot; remove whole vanilla bean and discard.

Whisk eggs and sugar in a separate bowl. Temper the eggs by mixing 2 tablespoons of hot cream into the yolk mixture. Stir the tempered yolks into the cream.

Remove from heat and evenly divide the mixture between 5 broil-safe ramekins. Place ramekins in a 1-inch waterbath.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until set. Remove ramekins from water bath and cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Refrigerate a minimum of 1 hour.

Just before serving, sprinkle 2 teaspoons sugar evenly over each ramekin. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat for 2 to 5 minutes until sugar is melted. Serve immediately.

Note: For a crunchy topping, use a kitchen torch to brown the topping.

Makes 5 servings
Source: Spice Islands, ACH Food Companies, Inc.