Ingredients
4-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
15 large egg yolks
1-1/3 cups sugar, divided
3 teaspoons caramel extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°. In a large saucepan, heat whipping cream and cream until bubbles form around sides of pan; remove from heat. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, extract and salt until blended but not foamy. Slowly stir in hot cream mixture.
Place an ungreased broiler-safe 13×9-in. baking dish in a baking pan large enough to hold it without touching. Pour egg mixture into dish. Place pan on oven rack; add very hot water to pan to within 1 in. of top of dish. Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 40-50 minutes. Immediately remove dish from water bath to a wire rack; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate until cold.
Mix brown sugar and remaining granulated sugar. To caramelize topping with a kitchen torch, sprinkle custard evenly with sugar mixture. Hold torch flame about 2 in. above custard surface and rotate it slowly until sugar is evenly caramelized. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour.
To caramelize topping in a broiler; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat broiler. Sprinkle custard evenly with sugar mixture. Broil 3-4 in. from heat until sugar is caramelized, 2-3 minutes. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour.
Editor’s Note: This recipe was tested with Watkin’s caramel extract in a broiler-safe Staub cherry ceramic rectangular baking dish.
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