June 27, 2019
By Joanna
You'd be SHOCKED at how easy it is to make creme brulee at home!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored byKitchenAid. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting the content that keeps Jojotastic going.
Truly, the best part about having a brand new, newly renovated kitchen is being able to cook to my heart’s content again. Both Sean and I are like “no more take out!!!” so I’ve been baking, cooking, and roasting constantly. It’s amazing… and all possible thanks to our brand new KitchenAid Smart Oven+ with Powered Attachments. Today’s blog post is all about the amazing technology behind a wall oven that comes with interchangeable attachments and the delicious creme brulee recipe we were able to make because of this innovation, by our contributor, Taylor Harbin!
But first… all about the Smart Oven+
I know we all want to dive into this beautiful creme brulee recipe (or as the French say, crème brûlée!), but first I have to tell you about the KitchenAid Smart Oven+! By now, you probably know I’m obsessed with making our home as ‘smart’ as possible. Here’s the thing though: I only like to include tech when it feels purposeful and isn’t just technology for the sake of technology. The KitchenAid design team understands exactly what the home cook needs — and deserves, and this oven is proof.
Not only can I connect to and control my oven with my phone via the KitchenAid app, I also use Alexa to tell me if I accidentally left the oven on! I tend to be scatterbrained, so you can be sure I’ve been grateful for this feature many times.
My favorite part of the Smart Oven+ are the powered attachments. This oven comes with a collection of attachments, including a grill attachment, baking stone, and steamer attachment. They fit interchangeably and connect onto the back of the oven via a base heating element, that dings for you when it plugs in. Then, you can use the mobile app or on-oven screen to control the temperature, timer, and more. Plus, there are recipes pre-loaded onto the oven, which is awesome when you’re first learning how to use the attachments!
Legal Disclaimer: GRILL SHIPS WITH OVEN. CONNECT, CALL OR REGISTER TO GET BAKING STONE AND STEAMER BY MAIL AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. Allow 10-15 days for delivery. Visit kitchenaid.com/redeem for full details.
How to Make Blackberry Thyme Creme Brulee
Ingredients (makes six 5 ounce creme brulees)
- 3 c heavy cream
- pinch of Pink Himalayan or kosher salt
- 6 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 1 c granulated sugar, divided
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (or 1 t vanilla bean paste)
- 10 sprigs fresh thyme, plus a few more to garnish
- fresh blackberries, to garnish
Directions
Put your base heating element and steamer attachment into your KitchenAid Smart Oven+ with Powered Attachments, set to ‘Steam’ mode and preheat to 325°F. Add the heavy cream, thyme sprigs, and salt to a medium saucepan over medium heat (I use the KitchenAid 30” 5-Burner Gas Cooktop with Griddle) and bring to a boil then immediately shut off the heat. The cooktop is great because it has dynamic burners that allow for quick heating and precise simmering, which is super important when making delicate dishes like creme brulee. Allow mixture to sit for about 15 minutes to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in a KitchenAid Artisan® Mini 3.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks, ½ cup of the granulated sugar and vanilla bean seeds or paste together on medium speed just until combined.
Strain the cream through a fine mesh strainer to remove the thyme leaves. With the Stand Mixer on low, gently and slowly stream in the warm cream into the egg mixture until it’s all thoroughly incorporated. You want to avoid any extra air bubbles so be careful not to whisk too vigorously.
Pour mixture into 6 5-6 oz ramekins and fill them up to almost the top, leaving about a ¼ inch of space from the top. Transfer ramekins to the Smart Oven+’s perforated Steamer Tray. Place the Smart Oven+ base pan and heating element onto the lower rack inside the oven. Then, place the Steamer attachment on top of the heating element, which will add stability to the pan, instead of having to worry about spilling water! Place the ramekins inside the Steamer attachment, then pour 4 cups of water into the Steamer’s water basin pan and place the Steamer attachment into the oven until you hear it beep, confirming the steamer and heating element are properly connected to the oven. Cook on ‘Steam’ mode for about 20-25 minutes, until custards are just set around the edges, but centers still have some wiggle to them. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature of the custards should be at least 175 F. Remove custards from the Steamer attachment and oven cavity, and allow to cool completely at room temperature (about an hour), then chill in the fridge for at least four hours, ideally overnight.
When ready to serve, divide the remaining ½ cup of sugar evenly among the top of the custards and give each a shake to evenly disperse the sugar across the surface. Using a handheld culinary torch, carefully brulee the tops, caramelizing the sugar until it’s one hard shell. Alternatively, you could also pop the custards under the broiler to caramelize the sugar. Allow to set for a minute or two, until the sugar has cooled and hardened. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and a few blackberries and enjoy!
Stay tuned for even more delicious recipes with our KitchenAid Smart Oven+ and all of the amazing powered attachments!
There’s something so special about homemade creme brulee, don’t you think? I loved topping mine with blackberries, but the sky is the limit, garnish-wise. If you make this recipe, you should definitely share how it went for you in the comments. We hope you enjoy it!
Looking for even more dessertrecipes? Check out these:
- Lavender Rhubarb Update-Down Cake
- Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Tart
- Tahini Frangipani Apple Galette with Salted Honey Rose Cream
- Spiced Pear Ricotta Muffin
