Salted Caramel Pots De Creme Recipes

SALTED CARAMEL POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• 1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Place eight 1/2-cup (4-ounce) ovenproof cups, custard cups, or ramekins in a large baking pan.
• 2. In a large heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the brown sugar and kosher salt. Using the tip of a small sharp knife, scrape the vanilla seeds from the bean, add to the butter mixture, and drop in the bean too. Stir for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture has the texture of thick sand and has taken on a nutty, caramel fragrance.
• 3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and gradually whisk in the cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously and will seize when the cream is added. Whisk for about 5 minutes, or until the hardened sugar bits dissolve and the mixture begins to boil. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the milk.
• 4. In a large bowl, stir the egg yolks to blend. Gradually whisk in the warm caramel mixture. Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a 4-cup liquid measuring cup or a bowl with a spout. Pour the custard into the cups, dividing it equally. Cover the pan with aluminum foil, leaving one corner uncovered. Place the pan in the oven and carefully pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the cups, then cover the open corner with the foil. Bake the custards for about 50 minutes, or until they are just set around the edges but still jiggle slightly when the cups are gently shaken. (Be very careful of escaping steam when you uncover the pan.)
• 5. Remove the cups from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 1 hour. Cover each cup with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours, or up to 2 days.
• 6. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over each pot de crème and serve chilled.
• Storing:
• The pots de crème can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.

CARAMEL POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Center a rack in oven, and heat to 300 degrees. Put 8 4-ounce custard cups or ramekins in a large roasting pan, and set aside. Combine cream and milk, and warm them in a microwave oven or on the stove top.
• Measure out 1/4 cup sugar, and set aside. Place a heavy-bottom metal pot over medium-high heat, and sprinkle in about 2 tablespoons sugar. As soon as sugar melts and starts to caramelize, stir. When color is uniform, stir in 2 more tablespoons sugar, and continue to stir until it is melted and colored. Continue with remaining sugar. When all sugar is mahogany color, stand away from pot, and stir in warm liquid bit by bit. Mixture will bubble furiously and may form lumps; stir to smooth it out. Remove from heat.
• Place yolks, eggs and reserved 1/4 cup sugar in a very large measuring cup with a lip, and whisk to blend. Still whisking, stir in caramel liquid. Skim off foam, and fill custard cups. Set into roasting pan and pour enough hot tap water into pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Cover pan with plastic wrap or foil, poke 2 holes in opposite corners, and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until tops darken and custards jiggle a little in center when tapped. Cool custards in refrigerator; serve at room temperature.