Decadent Baked Vanilla Cream Custard

Ingredients

- 2 cups whipping cream
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 whole vanilla bean (or 2 tsp pure vanilla extract)
- Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).

2. Prepare the Baking Dish
Choose a baking dish or ramekins. Place a kitchen towel on the bottom of a large baking pan and arrange the ramekins on the towel. This ensures even cooking and prevents sliding.

3. Infuse the Cream
In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of whipping cream and the seeds from 1 whole vanilla bean (split the bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds) or 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract. Add a pinch of salt.
Slowly bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Do not let it boil. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

4. Create the Custard Base
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 4 large egg yolks until thick and pale. Gradually whisk in the warmed cream mixture, ensuring to incorporate the ingredients fully to avoid cooking the eggs.

5. Strain the Mixture
Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any solids or vanilla bean pieces, ensuring a smooth texture.

6. Fill the Ramekins
Pour the custard evenly into the prepared ramekins, leaving some space at the top. Carefully pour hot water into the baking pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins, creating a water bath for gentle cooking.

7. Bake
Carefully place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the custard is set around the edges but slightly jiggly in the center.

8. Cool and Serve
Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let them cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Once cooled, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve cold, optionally garnished with fresh berries or a sprinkle of sugar to torch into a light caramelized crust.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT20M
20 minutes

- Cooking Time: PT40M
40 minutes

- Cooling & Minimum Standing Time: PT2H
2 hours

Total Time

- PT3H
3 hours

Type of Dish

- Dessert

Keywords

- Vanilla custard
- Baked dessert
- Creamy dessert
- Oven-baked custard
- Whipping cream dessert
- Egg yolk custard
- Smooth custard
- Classic dessert
- Custard recipe
- Vanilla bean dessert

Recipe Yield

- Feeds 4 adults

Calories

- 1,500 calories for the entire dish

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