Flaming Wild Berry Mini Bundts With Spiced Peach Creme Anglaise Recipes

PEACH BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• With a hand mixer on high speed or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy. It should look like whipped cream in texture and color. As you're beating, scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure all of the butter is incorporated.
• Add the eggs one at a time while continuing to beat on high (see Cook's Note). Add the vanilla and beat the mixture on high speed for another 4 to 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as you beat.
• In a medium bowl, toss the peaches with 1/4 cup of the flour, coating the fruit. Add the peach-and-flour mixture to your mixing bowl and beat on high until the peaches are incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, combine the remaining 2 3/4 cups flour with the salt and baking powder.
• Turn the hand mixer down to a low speed. Add about half of the dry ingredients, taking care to scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are well blended. Add the buttermilk and continue to mix. Finish by adding the rest of the dry ingredients and incorporating it into the batter.
• Spray a nonstick Bundt pan with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Pour in the cake batter and bake for 50 to 55 minutes. A toothpick or knife inserted into the cake center should come out dry. If it's wet, let the cake bake a few more minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let the cake cool for 15 minutes. Flip it onto a plate to serve.

INDIVIDUAL MERINGUE SWAN LAKES

Steps:

• For the meringue: Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 200 degrees F.
• Beat the cream of tartar, salt and egg whites in a very clean, dry bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 minute more. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar about 1/4 cup at a time and beat until shiny stiff peaks form, 5 to 10 additional minutes.
• Invert a large baking sheet and top it with a large piece of parchment. Spoon leveled 1/3-cup portions of meringue onto the parchment, leaving ample space between each portion. Use a small offset spatula to smooth each portion of meringue into a 5-inch round.
• Use a 3-tablespoon ice cream scoop to scoop 4 leveled mounds of meringue around the perimeter of each 5-inch round. Use the offset spatula to lightly smooth out the mounds so they touch each other and mimic the look of snow drifts. If needed, use the back of a spoon to create a large divot in the center of the meringue so there is enough room to pour in the creme anglaise later.
• Fit a large pastry bag with a 1/4-inch round tip and scoop the remaining meringue into the bag.
• Invert a second large baking sheet and top it with a piece of parchment. Spread out half of the black sanding sugar onto one corner of the parchment. Pipe one 2 1/2-inch-long by 1 1/2-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mound of meringue for the black swan's body, two 2-inch-long by 1-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mounds for the black swan's wings and one 3-inch S-shaped swan neck with head directly onto the black sanding sugar. Use a wooden toothpick to pull out the top of the head to create a beak. Sprinkle the meringue pieces with the remaining black sanding sugar. Use a pastry brush to brush away the excess sanding sugar, but reserve to use later.
• On the remainder of the parchment, pipe five 2 1/2-inch-long by 1 1/2-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mounds of meringue for the white swans' bodies, ten 2-inch-long by 1-inch-wide teardrop-shaped mounds for the white swans' wings and eight 3-inch S-shaped swan necks with heads (you will have extra heads/necks, in case of breakage). Again, use a wooden toothpick to pull out the top of each head to create a beak. These do not spread much while baking, but leave at least 1/4 inch of space between each piece of meringue.
• Bake both baking sheets of meringue until dry and crisp, 3 to 4 hours. Cool completely on the baking sheets.
• For the creme anglaise: Whisk together the milk, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
• Whisk together the granulated sugar and egg yolks in a medium bowl until well combined, then whisk in 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture. Slowly whisk in the remaining hot milk, then pour the mixture back into the saucepan and continue cooking at a slow simmer, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens to the consistency of thin gravy, 8 to 10 minutes. Strain the sauce into a medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until completely chilled.
• For the whipped cream: Put the heavy cream in a medium bowl and whisk vigorously to stiff peaks.
• To assemble: Use a small offset spatula to gently loosen the meringue pieces from the parchment. Transfer the 6 lakes onto individual plates. Spoon 2 leveled tablespoons of the whipped cream onto each swan base. Gently insert a swan head/neck toward the tip of each base, then press 1 set of wings onto the sides of the whipped cream. Repeat this process to build 5 additional meringue swans. There should be 5 white swans and 1 black swan. For the black swan, sprinkle a thick layer of the excess black sanding sugar all over the whipped cream before inserting the head/neck and wings.
• Pour the chilled creme anglaise into the center of each lake, then top each with a swan. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.
• The meringues can be baked up to 1 day in advance (avoid baking in humid weather); keep them overnight in the oven with the oven turned off. The crème anglaise can be made up to 2 days in advance and kept refrigerated. Whip the cream and assemble the swans just before serving.

BANANA MOUSSE WITH CARDAMOM CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Crush cardamom seeds with the back of a heavy knife and combine, outer shells and all, with cream in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. In top of a double boiler whisk yolks with sugar until sugar dissolves. Cook eggs over simmering water, whisking constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and gradually strain cream into yolks, whisking. Pour sauce back into top of double boiler and cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes until thickened. Temperature of sauce should not exceed 165 degrees F or it will curdle. Remove sauce from heat and continue to stir for 3 minutes to cool. Strain into a clean bowl and cool to room temperature, stirring frequently. Cover and chill.
• In food processor combine banana and sugar and puree. Scrape puree into a bowl and gently fold in whipped cream. Cover and chill 1 to 2 hours. To serve, mound mousse in centers of 4 dessert plates. Pour some cardamom sauce around and serve immediately, garnished with mint.

BAKED APPLES WITH ALMOND BUTTER AND CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Begin by scoring very small thin lines around the sides of the apples using a zester, this is to prevent the apple from exploding while cooking. Remove the cores from 1 end, using a melon baller, making sure not to go completely through the apples.
• To make the mixture, combine the softened butter, sugar, almond powder, and the cinnamon, and mix until all ingredients are combined.
• Stuff the apples with the butter mixture, and cook for 40 minutes.
• While the apples are baking, combine the cream, vanilla, and 2 ounces sugar in a saucepot, and bring to a boil.
• In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks, remaining 2 ounces sugar, and blend until smooth. Once the cream has come to a boil, temper egg yolks with approximately 1/2 of the cream, making sure to whisk constantly. Return the tempered yolks to the cream mixture. Cook the sauce over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
• Strain the sauce into a container, and then cool in the refrigerator or in an ice-water bath.
• To serve, plate each warm apple on a dessert plate, and add a drizzle of the cream sauce around and on top of each apple.

BANANAS FOSTER BEIGNETS WITH CAFE BRULOT CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• For the creme anglaise: Combine the milk, chicory, cloves and cinnamon in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, refrigerate and leave to infuse for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Make an ice bath by setting a medium bowl or large measuring cup into a large bowl of ice.
• Strain the milk mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean, small saucepan; discard the solids. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until very pale and thick. Very gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the eggs. When full incorporated, transfer back to the saucepan. Reduce the heat to low and add the brandy and orange zest. Switch to a wooden spoon and cook, stirring, until the mixture coats the back of the spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Strain into the bowl set in the ice bath. Add water to the ice to cool the sauce down faster. Stir the sauce until cool. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• For the beignets: Mash the bananas in a large bowl using a potato masher or large fork. Add the banana liqueur, vanilla extract, granulated sugar and muscovado sugar, and mix well. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and pour in the milk. Mix until smooth and thick, like waffle batter, adding a little more milk as needed. Set aside to rest for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• In a heavy pot set over medium heat, heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees F. Drop the batter by heaping teaspoonfuls into the oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once when the edges are firm. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately, or keep warm in a 200-degree oven for up to 2 hours.
• Plate the beignets atop a pool of creme anglaise. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE WITH ESPRESSO CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and remove the top oven rack. Prepare 6 (8-ounce) coffee cups or ramekins with straight sides (or a 2-quart souffle dish) by greasing with butter and coating with granulated sugar, pour out any excess. The butter and sugar will keep the souffles from sticking to the sides, which will allow them to rise evenly. The sugar will also give the souffle a crunchy crust, which is a great contrast to the soft interior.
• To make the pastry cream base for the souffle: Combine the milk and vanilla bean and seeds in a heavy large pot and place over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a brief simmer, until bubbles form around the edge of the pot; do not boil. Remove from heat and discard the vanilla bean. The vanilla bean can be rinsed and dried and kept for another use.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, flour, and 1/4 cup of sugar until slightly thickened and lemon-colored. Temper the yolks by gradually whisking in about half of the hot milk mixture (do not add too quickly or the eggs will cook.) Return the pastry cream back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it is nice and thick, enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Slowly melt the chocolate with the Frangelico in a double boiler over hot water or in a microwave set on high for 2 minutes, stirring halfway through the heating time to smooth it out. Stir the melted chocolate mixture into the pastry cream; cool to room temperature.
• In a separate clean bowl, beat the egg whites and salt just until they hold soft peaks. Using a rubber spatula, fold 1/3 of the beaten whites into the chocolate pastry cream to lighten it, then gently fold in the rest. Spoon the batter into the prepared coffee cups, 2/3 of the way full, and shake them gently to smooth out the top. Place the coffee cups on a cookie sheet and bake on the middle rack for about 20 minutes. The souffle is done when it has puffed over the rim, the outside is golden and the center is still a bit loose and creamy; take care not to over bake. To serve, have each guest crack open the top of the souffle with a spoon and pour in the Espresso Crème Anglaise. Dust the top with confectioners' sugar.
• Pour the heavy cream and vanilla bean and seeds into a saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a brief simmer, until bubbles form around the edge of the pot; do not boil. Remove from heat. Discard the vanilla bean. The vanilla bean can be rinsed and dried and kept for another use.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, coffee, and espresso powder, until well blended. Temper the yolks by gradually whisking in the hot cream mixture (do not add too quickly or the eggs will cook.) Return the custard back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes. Serve immediately with Chocolate Souffle. (If not serving immediately, press plastic wrap on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming and refrigerate.)

CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, using a whip, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until they are very pale yellow and smooth.
• In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil the heavy cream, sour cream, and vanilla bean with its scrapings. Whisk about half into the egg yolk mixture until well combined, then pour back into the saucepan. Over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, cook until the mixture heavily coats the back of the spoon. Don't scramble the eggs.
• Strain into a clean bowl and set the bowl over ice cubes and cold water until chilled, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate, covered, until needed.
• Note: To make coffee Creme Anglaise, substitute 1/4 cup crushed coffee beans (with or without caffeine) for the vanilla bean. Bring to a boil and let steep in the cream mixture, covered for about 10 minutes. When well flavored, whisk into the egg yolks. then continue with recipe
• To crush coffee beans, place in a plastic bag, close the bag, and heavily press a rolling pin over the beans. Do not grind the beans because this will darken the Creme Anglaise.