Dark Mocha Crème Brûlé
6 servings
6 ounces best-quality bittersweet
chocolate, finely chopped
Pinch salt
1 cup heavy cream
5 egg yolks, from eggs graded "large"
1/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. unsweetened
Dutch process cocoa powder
3/4 tsp. instant espresso powder
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
For Topping:
12 teaspoons granulated sugar
Have ready 6 ovenproof glass custard cups, each of 6 ounce capacity. Tear
off a
square of foil to completely cover the top of each cup, folding any excess
down
over the outer edge of the cup. If any foil overhang comes more than about 1
inch down the side of any cup, trim it so it is 1 inch or less.
Have ready a baking pan at least 1-1/2 inches deep, into which all 6 cups
can fit without
touching one another or the sides of the pan; you'll also need enough
simmering
water to fill the pan to a depth of 1 inch. If the baking pan is aluminum,
sprinkle about 1 teaspoon cream of tartar into the bottom to prevent
discoloration.
Have ready a fine-meshed strainer and a heatproof measuring cup
or pitcher of at least 3-1/2 cup capacity. Set all aside. Adjust rack to
center
of oven; preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
In small bowl, combine finely chopped chocolate and salt. In small saucepan
over low heat, heat cream just to a simmer, stirring occasionally; remove
from
heat. Pour about half of hot cream over chocolate. Let stand for a minute or
two, then stir or whisk very gently until smooth. (If necessary, place bowl
of
chocolate over simmering water on low heat - water should not touch bottom
of
bowl - and stir often until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
Remove
from heat and hot water.) Gradually stir or whisk in remaining cream.
Mixture
should be warm, not hot.
Place a medium heatproof bowl on a pot holder or folded kitchen towel. Into
the
bowl, place the egg yolks; beat with fork until well-combined. Beating
constantly with fork, gradually add warm chocolate mixture to yolks.
In small, heavy-bottomed, nonaluminum saucepan, combine 1/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp.
granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. With small whisk, whisk
well to combine. Add 2 Tbsp. milk (reserve remainder); mix well to make a
smooth paste. Gradually stir in remaining milk. Set over medium heat. Stir
very
frequently just until mixture reaches a simmer. Remove from heat.
Stirring chocolate-yolk mixture constantly, very gradually add hot milk
mixture. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl with rubber spatula after about
half
of hot milk mixture has been added, then continue adding hot milk mixture,
stirring chocolate-yolk mixture constantly, until all has been incorporated.
Stir in vanilla. Custard will be on the thin side.
Place fine-meshed strainer over heatproof measuring cup or small pitcher;
strain custard into pitcher (you should have about 3 cups). Divide custard
evenly between custard cups, then cover each custard cup with a foil cover.
Place baking pan on oven rack; carefully pour in enough simmering water to
form
a thin layer on the bottom. Carefully transfer filled, covered custard cups
to
baking pan; gently add more simmering water to baking pan, pouring it
carefully
around (not on top of) cups, to a depth of 1 inch (you might want to measure
the water depth, as too much water will slow baking time).
Bake 45 minutes. After about 30 minutes, check baking pan; if more simmering
water is needed to maintain the 1 inch depth, add it now. After 45 minutes,
CAREFULLY remove baking pan from oven - it will be hot and heavy. Using pot
holders, remove each custard cup individually from the water (it might help
to
use a spatula to do this) and transfer to a cooling rack. Remove foil covers
from custards. Custard tops will be shiny and very dark; when tapped gently,
custards will seem just set. Cool briefly at room temperature, then chill
until
very cold (at least 4 hours), covering tightly with foil covers or plastic
wrap
after 2 or 3 hours. Chill until needed.
In preparation for the topping of the crèmes brûlées, please read
manufacturer's instructions for your propane torch at least twice. Make sure
the area in which you'll work is well-ventilated, but not drafty. Assemble
the
torch (if necessary) just before use. Sprinkle 2 tsp. of granulated sugar on
top of each custard as evenly as possible. Take your time doing this. Do not
sprinkle sugar randomly, then tap the custard cup to try to distribute the
sugar, as too much sugar will settle toward the middle if you do. Place
sugared
custards on a stable, flat surface with a lot of cleared space around it. I
place mine on a sturdy metal cooling rack on top of a 6 quart, widemouth
pot.
Ignite the torch. You only need a flame a few inches long, but it should be
blue, not orange. Play the flame lightly but completely over the sugar on
top
of each custard; the nozzle of the torch should be several inches above the
sugared surfaces at all times.
When the sugar on one custard starts to smoke, move to another area or
another custard; you can always go back over an area, and you need to give
the sugar a few seconds to react to the flames. You're
trying to caramelize the sugar to a rich golden brown, but not burn it. If
necessary, shut the torch off for a minute, then check the custards to see
which areas require more flame before re-igniting the torch to caramelize
those areas. Even with your best effort to keep the sugar topping as even as
possible, some of the sugar will be blown around on the custard surface a
bit, so you'll get areas of heavier and lighter topping on any one custard-
OK. When you're finished caramelizing the toppings, shut off the torch and
put it aside in a safe area to cool off. Allow the custards to cool for
several minutes, then carefully, using pot holders (the top portion of the
cups will get hot), replace the cups in the fridge. Chill at least 1 hour,
uncovered (or up to 6 hours), before serving.
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6 servings
6 ounces best-quality bittersweet
chocolate, finely chopped
Pinch salt
1 cup heavy cream
5 egg yolks, from eggs graded "large"
1/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. unsweetened
Dutch process cocoa powder
3/4 tsp. instant espresso powder
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
For Topping:
12 teaspoons granulated sugar
Have ready 6 ovenproof glass custard cups, each of 6 ounce capacity. Tear
off a
square of foil to completely cover the top of each cup, folding any excess
down
over the outer edge of the cup. If any foil overhang comes more than about 1
inch down the side of any cup, trim it so it is 1 inch or less.
Have ready a baking pan at least 1-1/2 inches deep, into which all 6 cups
can fit without
touching one another or the sides of the pan; you'll also need enough
simmering
water to fill the pan to a depth of 1 inch. If the baking pan is aluminum,
sprinkle about 1 teaspoon cream of tartar into the bottom to prevent
discoloration.
Have ready a fine-meshed strainer and a heatproof measuring cup
or pitcher of at least 3-1/2 cup capacity. Set all aside. Adjust rack to
center
of oven; preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
In small bowl, combine finely chopped chocolate and salt. In small saucepan
over low heat, heat cream just to a simmer, stirring occasionally; remove
from
heat. Pour about half of hot cream over chocolate. Let stand for a minute or
two, then stir or whisk very gently until smooth. (If necessary, place bowl
of
chocolate over simmering water on low heat - water should not touch bottom
of
bowl - and stir often until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
Remove
from heat and hot water.) Gradually stir or whisk in remaining cream.
Mixture
should be warm, not hot.
Place a medium heatproof bowl on a pot holder or folded kitchen towel. Into
the
bowl, place the egg yolks; beat with fork until well-combined. Beating
constantly with fork, gradually add warm chocolate mixture to yolks.
In small, heavy-bottomed, nonaluminum saucepan, combine 1/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp.
granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. With small whisk, whisk
well to combine. Add 2 Tbsp. milk (reserve remainder); mix well to make a
smooth paste. Gradually stir in remaining milk. Set over medium heat. Stir
very
frequently just until mixture reaches a simmer. Remove from heat.
Stirring chocolate-yolk mixture constantly, very gradually add hot milk
mixture. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl with rubber spatula after about
half
of hot milk mixture has been added, then continue adding hot milk mixture,
stirring chocolate-yolk mixture constantly, until all has been incorporated.
Stir in vanilla. Custard will be on the thin side.
Place fine-meshed strainer over heatproof measuring cup or small pitcher;
strain custard into pitcher (you should have about 3 cups). Divide custard
evenly between custard cups, then cover each custard cup with a foil cover.
Place baking pan on oven rack; carefully pour in enough simmering water to
form
a thin layer on the bottom. Carefully transfer filled, covered custard cups
to
baking pan; gently add more simmering water to baking pan, pouring it
carefully
around (not on top of) cups, to a depth of 1 inch (you might want to measure
the water depth, as too much water will slow baking time).
Bake 45 minutes. After about 30 minutes, check baking pan; if more simmering
water is needed to maintain the 1 inch depth, add it now. After 45 minutes,
CAREFULLY remove baking pan from oven - it will be hot and heavy. Using pot
holders, remove each custard cup individually from the water (it might help
to
use a spatula to do this) and transfer to a cooling rack. Remove foil covers
from custards. Custard tops will be shiny and very dark; when tapped gently,
custards will seem just set. Cool briefly at room temperature, then chill
until
very cold (at least 4 hours), covering tightly with foil covers or plastic
wrap
after 2 or 3 hours. Chill until needed.
In preparation for the topping of the crèmes brûlées, please read
manufacturer's instructions for your propane torch at least twice. Make sure
the area in which you'll work is well-ventilated, but not drafty. Assemble
the
torch (if necessary) just before use. Sprinkle 2 tsp. of granulated sugar on
top of each custard as evenly as possible. Take your time doing this. Do not
sprinkle sugar randomly, then tap the custard cup to try to distribute the
sugar, as too much sugar will settle toward the middle if you do. Place
sugared
custards on a stable, flat surface with a lot of cleared space around it. I
place mine on a sturdy metal cooling rack on top of a 6 quart, widemouth
pot.
Ignite the torch. You only need a flame a few inches long, but it should be
blue, not orange. Play the flame lightly but completely over the sugar on
top
of each custard; the nozzle of the torch should be several inches above the
sugared surfaces at all times.
When the sugar on one custard starts to smoke, move to another area or
another custard; you can always go back over an area, and you need to give
the sugar a few seconds to react to the flames. You're
trying to caramelize the sugar to a rich golden brown, but not burn it. If
necessary, shut the torch off for a minute, then check the custards to see
which areas require more flame before re-igniting the torch to caramelize
those areas. Even with your best effort to keep the sugar topping as even as
possible, some of the sugar will be blown around on the custard surface a
bit, so you'll get areas of heavier and lighter topping on any one custard-
OK. When you're finished caramelizing the toppings, shut off the torch and
put it aside in a safe area to cool off. Allow the custards to cool for
several minutes, then carefully, using pot holders (the top portion of the
cups will get hot), replace the cups in the fridge. Chill at least 1 hour,
uncovered (or up to 6 hours), before serving.
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