Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Pots de Creme
Our Christmas Table & Fire in the Hearth
Merry Christmas Friends! I brought this petite dessert, Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Pots de Creme, to a holiday party the other night. They travel well and received rave reviews too. It’s amazing how a handful of everyday ingredients can easily be turned into a sublime little treat:Â sugar, cream, milk, egg, vanilla, salt.
Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Pots De Creme Recipe
Sugar, Cream, Milk, Egg, Vanilla, Salt
1 1/2 c. dark brown sugar (for caramel)
1/2 c. dark brown sugar (for custard)
1/8 t. salt
2 c. whipping cream
1 3/4 c. whole milk
12 egg yolks
3/4 t. vanilla extract
fleur de sel, or brittany gray salt as garnish
Mix 1 1/2 c. sugar with 1/8 t. salt and about 1/4 c. water in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium high heat. Continue to stir with a whisk while the sugar liquifies and bubbles and starts to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Due to the sugar’s original dark color, it’s not possible to judge the caramelization visually. Continue to stir the sugar until it has a complex nutty aroma, taking care that it does not burn.
Remove the pan from heat and add the cream and milk slowly, whisking until the sugar is completely mixed with the liquids. Set aside.
With a whisk or hand mixer, blend egg yolks with 1/2 c. dark brown sugar and vanilla.
Slowly ladle the cream mixture into the egg mixture, while continuing to blend with a hand mixer or whisk. Next, strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve to remove any bits of scrambled egg. Here’s my best cooking tip of the holiday season! Use a gravy separator to pour the custard into the little pots, ramekins, or tasting spoons. The custard flows from the bottom of the gravy separator, so it is completely smooth, not one little bubble on the top, creating a beautiful mirror-like presentation.
Place the little pots/spoons in a roasting pan or large oven-proof skillet. Fill hot water half-way up the sides of the pots. Tightly cover with aluminum foil, poke a few holes in the foil, and bake at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes until the custard is set along the sides but the middle is still slightly wobbly. Remove the pan from the oven, then remove the pots from the water and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate, covered, for a minimum of one to two hours. Garnish with flaky sea salt right before serving. We like gray mineraly hand-harvested Brittany sea salt.
This recipe makes twenty-four 2 oz. portions (in little amuse bouche cups) plus extra for six 3 oz. portions (in tasting spoons). To travel with the little pots ~ place a kitchen towel in the bottom of the clean roasting pan used to cook the pots, cover with foil, and have a great time attending your friends’ gala! Remember to bring the salt separately. And bring espresso spoons for serving too.
May your days be merry, sweet, and bright…
Warmest Wishes for a Very Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours
Merry Christmas!
These are right up my alley and perfect for the holidays. Enjoy every moment.
Your dessert is just what I love for these Holidays..Lovely Table!
My best wishes for you, for 2013, dear friend!
Your Christmas table and hearth scene is so warm and inviting! And these pots de creme are just delectable. 🙂
Wow, I’m sure these got rave reviews! YUM. And thanks for the gravy separator tip…love that idea! Wishing you the happiest of holidays, LL!!! xo
Beautiful table… merry christmas to you and yours~~~
Oh pts en crème is such a treat,with the salted caramel it must be truly divine. Looks so amazing. The gravy separator is such a great tip. Lovely table.! Hapy holidays to you and your family.
Great presentation too.
Best wishes for 2013!
These are to savor – and just the right side. The holiday table just winks and sparkles.
Hi Lori,
I hope you had wonderful Christmas! Your pictures telling a beautiful story, and I love salted caramel that you made so beautifully! Wishing you healthy, happy and successful New Year!!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Lori! This is probably one of the most luxurious desserts I have seen. I just want to leap in and swim in it!
Oh those pots. (if you say it with a French accent that phrase rhymes! GREG
Thank you for your beautiful post and what looks to be a delicious dessert. You are a great inspiration to me.
I’m late to the party…what a delicious sounding dessert. Love the tip about using the gravy separator for pouring…terrific idea.
Hi,
This looks like a GORGEOUS indulgence and I can’t wait to try it.
I don’t often make desserts but I have confidence in my custard capabilities…my one question is whether there is another name for the dark brown sugar you are using. Is it Camino sugar? Or just a dark version of regular brown? Not sure I have seen anything like that next to the golden brown stuff at the stores here.
Thanks! Might try this for New Year’s Eve?
Samantha
Hi Samantha – any brown sugar will work fine. The one I used is simply called “dark brown sugar” which has more molasses that the lighter version.
Good luck, let me know how it turns out!
Happy new year!
LL
Love, love, love your help with this recipe and your presentation, as well.
Thank you for providing the recipe. I know I can use other little pots, but can you help me track down those perfect little cups you used?
Many thanks in advance!
Hi Stella – here’s an amazon link to amuse bouche glasses. http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=bormioli+galassia&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=90030754361&hvpos=1o2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12275254415317552229&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_9mglxyamo3_b
LL
Love these! Can they be made in advance and stored (for instance on shelf, refrigerator or freeze) ? And if so what’s the shelf life? Thanks so much!
Hi Ellen – They should be fine in the refrigerator for a few days, bring to room temp then cover tightly. Sorry, I don’t know about freezing them.
LL