Julia Childs Caramel Custard Recipes

JULIA CHILD'S VANILLA CUSTARD RECIPE

Steps:

• 1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over a low heat until just simmering then remove from the heat. 2. In a large bowl, using an electric whisk, beat the egg yolks until smooth and then beat in the sugar. Beat until thick and pale. 3. Continue to beat the egg yolk mixture while carefully and very slowly pouring the boiling milk in. Do it in a slow stream to prevent the eggs from scrambling. 4. Beat the mixture until all of the milk has been poured in and the mixture is smooth. 5. Pour the custard back into the saucepan and place it back onto a low heat. 6. Stir continuously until the custard coats the back of your spoon, taking it off the heat before it reaching simmering point. 7. Once the custard coats the back of your spoon, remove from the heat and continue to whisk for a couple more minutes to help the custard cool down. 8. Pour the custard through a sieve and briefly stir through the vanilla extract.

JULIA CHILD'S CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Increase the heat to high and cook, without stirring, until the syrup turns a light caramel color. Remove the saucepan from the heat and dip the bottom into cold water to stop the cooking. Pour the caramel into a 4-cup charlotte mold, and tilt so that it covers the bottoms and sides. Let cool.
• In a small saucepan, bring the milk and vanilla to a boil. In a heatproof bowl, beat the eggs, egg yolks and cup sugar until blended. Whisking constantly, pour the hot milk into the egg mixture; let rest for a few minutes, then strain. Pour the custard into the caramel-coated mold.
• Put the mold in a small but deep baking or roasting pan, and add hot water to come about two-thirds up the sides of the mold. Place the pan on the stove over medium heat, and bring the water to a simmer. Transfer the pan to the oven. (The water should stay at a low simmer at all times; do not let it boil or the custard will overcook.) Bake until a knife inserted into the center of the custard comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Keep the custard in the baking pan until the water cools. Remove from the pan to finish cooling. To serve, run the tip of a knife around the top of the custard to loosen it. Invert a serving platter over the mold and quickly turn it over again. Carefully remove the mold.

CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, cook and stir 3/4 cup sugar over low heat until sugar is melted and golden. Pour into eight 6-oz. custard cups, tilting to coat bottom of cup; let stand for 10 minutes. , In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining sugar until blended but not foamy. Pour over caramelized sugar. , Place the cups in two 8-in. square baking pans. Pour very hot water in pans to a depth of 1 in. Bake at 350° until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks. , To unmold, run a knife around rim of cup and invert onto dessert place. Serve warm or chilled.

CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup sugar and 2 1/2 tablespoons water to boil in a small, heavy saucepan, slowly swirling the pan by its handle until sugar has dissolved completely and liquid is perfectly clear. Continue to boil, swirling the pan frequently, until sugar turns a caramel brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately pour the hot caramel into a 6-cup charlotte mold or souffle dish and turn in all directions to film bottom and sides. Set aside until ready for use. If desired, individual ramekins may be used. When the sugar is caramelized, pour into 6 individual ramekins and swirl to coat as above.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat the milk to simmering in a small, heavy saucepan. Slit the vanilla bean (if using) with a knife and scrape the seeds into the milk. Add the shell to the milk and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Strain and discard the bean.
• Meanwhile, in a 2 1/2-quart mixing bowl, beat the eggs and the yolks with a wire whisk or electric mixer; gradually beat in the remaining sugar. When mixture is light and foamy, beat in milk in a very thin stream (beat in vanilla extract if using). Strain through a fine sieve into the prepared mold or souffle dish.
• Set in a hot-water bath and bake in lower third of the oven for 40 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean when stuck in the center of the custard. Check the water from time to time to make sure it never comes to a boil; adjust heat if necessary. This will insure a smooth custard.
• To serve warm, let settle for 10 minutes in a pan of cold water. Turn a warm serving dish upside down over custard, then reverse to unmold. To serve cold, let cool to room temperature; chill several hours, then unmold.