lavender cream brulee

lavender cream brulee

1 cup milk 

1 cup heavy cream 

fresh sprig of lavender

6 large egg yolks 

1/4 cup granulated sugar 

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

In a small saucepan, bring milk and cream to a boil, monitoring it closely so it doesn't boil over. Remove from the heat. Add lavender, and allow lavender to infuse the cream for one hour at room temperature. Strain mixture into a clean saucepan. Bring to a boil again and remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 275°F. 

In a mixing bowl, whisk the yolks and granulated sugar until just combined. Temper the egg mixture by very slowly whisking a small amount of warm lavender cream into the eggs, don't scramble. Once the egg mixture and cream are roughly the same temperature, whisk the remaining egg mixture into the cream.

Divide custard among four 4-ounce ramekins. Place ramekins in a baking dish with water. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes. During the last 10 minutes, check frequently for doneness: when fully baked, the crème brûlées will be firm and will wiggle just slightly when shaken. Remove ramekins from water bath and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.

Before serving, sprinkle each dessert with 1 1/2 tablespoons turbinado sugar. hold the torch about 8 inches from the custard's surface and flame the sugar into a golden brown, brittle curst, or place ramekins under a preheated broiler and broil until sugar has caramelized, 1 to 3 minutes. Watch carefully: sugar turns from light brown to black quickly. Serve immediately