My FAVORITE Dessert

 Firing the Creme Brulee!
(Picture Courtesy of Ryan Mak)

I love creme brulee. It is definitely my favorite dessert. I've always wanted to make it so when I got a big torch and ramekins for my birthday/Christmas I was all set. Making creme brulee is pretty easy, but I definitely think that fresh vanilla bean is the key to a great dessert. Ryan and I found them at Whole Foods. It looks like they will be really pricey at $150/lb, but we bought 3 beans for $3. We used Alton Brown's recipe, with the only change being that we didn't make/use vanilla sugar. Here is the recipe. YUM.

Creme Brulee

adapated from Alton Brown

Ingredients:
1 quart heavy whipping cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1/2 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
6 large egg yolks
Hot water, as needed

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Place the cream, vanilla bean and its pulp into a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat and bring just to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. 
3. Remove the vanilla bean and throw out vanilla bean or reserve for another use. 
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and it just starts to lighten in color. Add the cream a little at a time, stirring continually. 
5. Pour the mixture into 6-8 (6 to 8-ounce) ramekins. Basically, fill up to the little line on the inside of the ramekin.
   
6. Place the ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. 
7. Bake just until the creme brulee is set, but still trembling in the center, approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.
8. Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top. Sprinkle sugar and spread evenly over the top of the custard. 
9. Using a torch, evenly melt the sugar until it forms a crispy top.
   
10. Allow the creme brulee to sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.