Creme Brulee

I've always loved ordering Creme Brulee for dessert at restaurants. I have always been scared to make it at home because I always envisioned it being the hardest dessert to make. I finally caved and bought some ramekins and a kitchen torch to try Ina Garten's recipe. I was never a pyromaniac, but I am have a total blast using the kitchen torch to make these little gems. Plus, these are suuuuuuuuuuper easy to make!

Creme Brulee

(Source; Ina Garten)

1 extra large egg

4 extra large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for each serving

3 cups heavy cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the egg, egg yolks, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together on low speed until just combined. Meanwhile, scald the cream in a small saucepan until it's very hot to the touch but not boiled. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cream to the eggs. Add the vanilla and orange liqueur and pour into 6 to 8-ounce ramekins until almost full. Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes (I actually baked for about 50 minutes), until the custards are set when gently shaken. Remove the custards from the water bath, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until firm. To serve, spread 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on the top of each ramekin and heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar carmelizes evenly. Allow to sit at room temperature for a minute until the caramelized sugar hardens.