Ingredients

The following ingredients have 8 Servings
  • 2 inch Cinnamon Stick (broken into two)
  • 4 cups Whole Milk (1 quart) (use heavy cream for a richer dessert)
  • 2 -3 teaspoons Orange Zest or Zest of 1 Orange
  • 8 Egg Yolks
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar (divided into ½ cup and ½ cups)

Instruction

  • In a saucepan, take cinnamon stick and roast on medium – low flame for few seconds until aromatic. Turn off the flame and let the pan cool for few minutes.
  • Pour milk/heavy cream to pan, throw in orange zest and bring it to just a boil. Do not let it boil. Turn off the flame, cover and let the flavors infuse for 10 – 15 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  • In another bowl, whisk egg yolks and ½ cup sugar until mixed and sugar is dissolved.
  • Whisking the yolk mixture, gradually add milk/cream until well blended.
  • Run the custard through a strainer, pour the custard in individual ramekins or a wide gratin dish. I used four 7 oz
  • ramekins and one 20 oz CorningWare bowl.
  • Place a kitchen towel or a dish towel in a roasting pan, place the ramekins or gratin dish on the towel in roasting pan, pour hot water until it comes halfway up the ramekins.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 35 – 40 minutes until a thin layer is formed on top and the custard is set but not firm. When ramekin is shaken, the custard should be little wobbly.
  • Remove ramekins from water bath, let cool to room temperature and refrigerate for 3 – 8 hours or until set.
  • Before serving, set the oven to broil mode. Evenly sprinkle remaining ½ cup sugar on top of creme/custard ramekins. Wipe off the sugar from the edges before putting under broiler.
  • Take some cold water and few ice ice cubes in a roasting pan, place the ramekins in it and put under the broiler, very close to the fire, for 3-5 minutes. Depending on how close the ramekins are to the fire, it could take less than or more than 5 minutes. It took almost 7-8 minutes for me. I put it on the second rack from the fire. I was afraid to put it directly under fire on top most rack..
  • Remove from oven, let the caramel set for few minutes and serve. Caramel layer will be firm for at least 2-3 hours at room temperature.