Café Brûlot Custard
Indulge in the rich and delightful flavors of this decadent espresso flan. The velvety custard infused with hints of warm cinnamon and brandy sits atop a bed of amber caramel, creating a luxurious dessert that is guaranteed to impress your guests. With each spoonful, you will savor the perfect balance of sweetness and espresso bitterness, making this treat a true delight for your taste buds.
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 2 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 4 eggs
- 2 Tbs. brandy
- 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp. fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 325°F.
- In a small, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, cook 3/4 cup of the sugar without stirring just until it begins to liquefy. Reduce the heat to low and whisk until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is amber, 2 to 4 minutes.
- Immediately pour the syrup into eight 1/2-cup individual custard cups or a 4-cup flan dish or shallow round baking dish. Working quickly, swirl each cup or the dish to coat the bottom and sides. (The syrup will harden almost immediately but return to a syrup-like consistency after the custard bakes and chills.)
- In a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat, warm the half-and-half just until bubbles appear along the edges of the pan. Stir in the espresso powder, remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
- Heat a kettle full of water on the stovetop until very hot but not boiling. In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the brandy, lemon zest, cinnamon, cloves and salt until blended. Continue whisking as you drizzle in the hot coffee mixture.
- Place the caramel-lined cups or dish in a large baking pan. Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into the cups, dividing it evenly, or into the dish. Pour the hot water into the baking pan to reach halfway up the sides of the cups or the dish.
- Bake until the custard is set in the center when it is gently shaken, 50 to 60 minutes. Carefully transfer the cups or dish from the hot water to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.
- Loosen the edges of the chilled custard with a thin knife blade. If using custard cups, invert a small dessert plate over each cup and, holding the plate and cup, invert them together. Lift off the cup, holding it over the custard until all of the caramel has released from the cup. If using a large dish, invert a large round serving plate over the custard and follow the same instructions above. Cut the large custard into wedges before serving. Serve chilled. Serves 8.
- Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World Series, <I>New Orleans,</I> by Constance Snow (Oxmoor House, 2005).
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