maleficent

It's actually quite easy to make...

Mal's Creme Brulee
6 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 1/2 cups whipping cream

6 teaspoons raw sugar

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Beat egg yolks and sugar in medium bowl to blend. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean. Gradually whisk the cream into the sugar. Divide mixture among 6 - 3/4 cup ramekins.

Arrange dishes in baking pan.

Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of dishes.

Bake custards about 40 minutes until the custard is set. (a sharp knife inserted comes out clean)

Remove the pan from the oven and remove custard cups from the water.

Allow custards to cool before placing in the refrigerator. Chill well.

Just before serving
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar atop each custard.
Torch the sugar til it melts, and you've got the desired degree of doneness...

Be very careful NOT to touch the sugar - it's super hot.... and will burn yourself badly.. wait a little bit and the sugar will harden to like glass on the custard -

(you can do this in the broiler, if you put the custard cups in a pan of ice.. and watch it carefully)

I have a variation that I do in the fall, for thanksgiving that adds pumpkin to the custard and cinnamin instead of vanilla and brown sugar for the brulee.. it's really tasty.

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