Inspired by a recipe from Williams Sonoma Home Baked Comfort, this recipe adds a few twists to the French classic: blood orange zest flavors vanilla custard which sits atop bittersweet chocolate ganache, all crowned with caramelized blood orange rounds.
For years, Valentine's Day for me was about dessert. I mean that in the strictly professional sense of the word. Like most, the restaurant where I worked as a pastry chef would create a special dinner menu, and I would jump at the chance to feature something lusciously out of the ordinary. The owner, who also held the title of executive chef though he spent most of his time running other aspects of the restaurant, wasn't a chocolate person and frequently blocked my chocophiliac tendencies from the menu. Valentine's day was my one chance of the year to splash out.
I would pour love into my Valentine's day desserts. One year it was an airy chocolate roulade cake filled with white chocolate mousse and served over a blood orange compote. Another it was a deep, dark chocolate chile pot de crème topped with pepita brittle.
But to my dismay, the desserts never sold. We would run the special for several days afterward trying to use it up, but most of it ended up either in the staff or the compost.
I was perplexed. The usual chocolate desserts always sold heads and tails above the others – double chocolate buñuelos with crème anglaise, or chocolate rum tres leches cakes – so I knew the V-day diners weren't chocolate haters. I had no explanation. I just figured people didn't like what I was offering, and for this reason I was too ashamed to discuss my frustration with any of my coworkers.
The last Valentine's day I worked was a different matter. Knowing that the desserts never sold, I planned something especially special. I cooked up a batch of sweet lemon crepes which would be pan-fried to order and garnished with a dollop of Pisco sabayon and blood orange supremes. I made about 10 orders of the labor-intensive components, of which I figured we'd sell only a few as per usual.
The head chef, Santos, came in as I was leaving. "I hope you made a lot of dessert 'cause we gonna sell A LOT tonight."
I froze. "Why?"
Santos explained that the reason the specials never sold was that the servers neglected to tell the customers what the specials were. "Tonight," he declared, "we printing the menus!"
In shock at learning the true reason for the abysmal special dessert sales, further proof of the poorly-managed restaurant, I showed Santos how to plate the crèpes and gave the plate to the servers to taste, decreasing our count from 10 to 9 orders. They sold out within the first hour of service, for which I of course got a talking to from my boss. The spirit of Valentine's day was certainly not in that air.
Thankfully, my days of maddening restaurant work are far behind me, and I can make tiny portions of dessert and know that they will be eaten. By me and my chocophiliac sweetie. So I put together these crème brûlées inspired by this recipe from William's Sonoma, originally published in Home Baked Comfort, which was beautifully photographed by my buddy Eric Wolfinger. I add a layer of chocolate to the bottom, blood orange zest to the custard, and I torch the orange rounds with sugar to create a crunchy crust.
I hadn't made crème brûlée in a while – since my pastry chef days, actually – and it was a pleasure to pull out my kitchen torch and feel a bit bad-ass again.
Speaking of dangerous kitchen equipment, I want to take a moment to rave about my new chef's knife. It's the one recommended by America's Test Kitchen, by the makers of Swiss Army Knives, Victorinox, and it vanquishes the competition every time in their thorough tests and costs half as much. It sliced through the dense chocolate wafers like butter, and it's lightweight and comfortable to hold. I'm in love! this Valentine's day, why not give your valentine the gift that says, "I trust you with sharp objects?"
Crack through the bronzed sugar crust and your spoon dips into softly-set custard that tastes like the most decadent creamsicle you've ever had, and below that is a layer of bittersweet chocolate ganache. The juices from caramelized blood orange segments mixes with it all for an eye-opening (and eye-catching) take on the French classic. Bon appetit.
More Dessert Recipes:
- Chocolate Coconut Milk Pots de Crème with Rum
- Chocolate Almond Olive Oil Cake {gluten-free}
- Ricotta Crèpes with Whipped Ricotta, Citrus, Honey and Mint {gluten-free}
- Mushrooms for Dessert: Candy Cap Creme Caramels
- Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée: a video collaboration
- Chocolate and Coconut Milk Pots de Crème {with Tahitian Vanilla and Rum}
*Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this blood orange creme brulee recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.*
Blood Orange Chocolate-Bottom Crème Brûlée
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
For the chocolate layer:
- 1 ounce chopped bittersweet (65-70% cacao mass)chocolate (30 grams)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (2 ounces / 60 mL)
For the crème brûlée custard:
- 1 cup heavy cream (8 ounces / 236 mL)
- 1/2 teaspoon packed blood orange zest (from 1/2 a medium blood orange)
- 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
- 3 large egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons organic blonde cane sugar (1 ounce / 30 grams)
- pinch salt
To finish:
- a few tablespoons organic blonde cane sugar, as needed
- 1-2 smallish blood oranges
Instructions
Prepare things:
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300ºHave ready 2 (6-ounce)or 3 (4-ounce)heatproof ramekins, canning jars, bowls, or cappuccino cups, a small roasting pan, and a piece of aluminum foil. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
Make the chocolate layer:
- Place the chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream just to a boil over a medium flame, swirling the pan occasionally. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, let it sit for 1 minute, then whisk gently until smooth.
- Pour the chocolate goodness into the waiting ramekins and place them in the freezer to firm up.
Make the custard:
- In the same saucepan, combine the cream, orange zest, and vanilla pod and scrapings. Over a medium flame, heat the mixture, swirling frequently, until small bubbles appear around the sides of the pot and the mixture is hot and steamy. Remove from the heat, cover, and steep 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk in the sugar and salt to combine. When the cream has steeped, gradually whisk in the hot cream, whisking constantly. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and into a pitcher, pressing on the good stuff to extract the flavor. (You can rinse and dry the vanilla pod and use it to make vanilla extract or sugar.)
- Place the chilled, chocolate-bottomed ramekins in the roasting pan, and divide the custard mixture among the ramekins. Cover with the foil, poke a few holes in it, and peel back a corner. Place the whole thing on the oven rack and carefully pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Close the oven door and bake the ramekins until the custards wobble like Jell-o when you give them a jiggle, 25-35 minutes. Be careful not to overbake or the custard will turn grainy; if bubbles appear around the sides of the custards, remove them immediately.
- Remove from the oven and let cool until you can remove them from the water, then cool completely. Cover and chill the custards until firm, 2-4 hours or up to 3 days.
Finish the custards:
- Sprinkle a chilled custard with enough sugar to coat it in a thin, even layer, about 1 teaspoon. Tilt the ramekin and tap it around to even out the sugar layer if need be. Use a crème brûlée torch held a few inches away from the sugar and pointing straight down to gently caramelize the sugar. If it starts to blacken, pull the torch further away, and use a circular motion to evenly torch the whole top. Now repeat with a second teaspoon of sugar; this will make a thick lid that is pleasing to crack. Repeat with the remaining crème brûlée(s). Chill for 10-20 minutes to harden the lid and cool the custard back down.
- Meanwhile, cut the ends off of the blood oranges and place one cut-side-down in a cutting board. Use a sharp knife (I like a serrated knifto pare away the peel and white pith, following the curve of the orange. When the pith is removed, turn the orange on its side and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
- Place 2-3 rounds atop each crème brûlée, sprinkle them with another teaspoon of sugar, and torch the sugar with the crème brûlée torch. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Blood Orange Chocolate-Bottom Crème Brûlée
This recipe makes a petite batch of crème brûlée, serving 2-3. If you don't have individual 4-6 ounce baking dishes, small canning jars can be used to good effect. A kitchen torch makes these a breeze, but you can try sticking these a few inches under the broiler, watching them like a hawk to prevent scorching. Or you can skip the sugar lids altogether for a divine layered pot de crème situation. The custards can be cooked and stored, covered tightly, in the fridge for up to 3 days. Torch them to order, bien sûr.
Makes 2-3 servings
For the chocolate layer:
1 ounce (30 grams) chopped bittersweet (65-70% cacao mass) chocolate
1/4 cup (2 ounces / 60 mL) heavy cream
For the crème brûlée custard:
1 cup (8 ounces / 236 mL) heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon packed blood orange zest (from 1/2 a medium blood orange)
1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
3 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons (1 ounce / 30 grams) organic blonde cane sugar
pinch salt
To finish:
a few tablespoons organic blonde cane sugar, as needed
1-2 smallish blood oranges
Prepare things:
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300ºF. Have ready 2 (6-ounce) or 3 (4-ounce) heatproof ramekins, canning jars, bowls, or cappuccino cups, a small roasting pan, and a piece of aluminum foil. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
Make the chocolate layer:
Place the chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream just to a boil over a medium flame, swirling the pan occasionally. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, let it sit for 1 minute, then whisk gently until smooth.
Pour the chocolate goodness into the waiting ramekins and place them in the freezer to firm up.
Make the custard:
In the same saucepan, combine the cream, orange zest, and vanilla pod and scrapings. Over a medium flame, heat the mixture, swirling frequently, until small bubbles appear around the sides of the pot and the mixture is hot and steamy. Remove from the heat, cover, and steep 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk in the sugar and salt to combine. When the cream has steeped, gradually whisk in the hot cream, whisking constantly. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and into a pitcher, pressing on the good stuff to extract the flavor. (You can rinse and dry the vanilla pod and use it to make vanilla extract or sugar.)
Place the chilled, chocolate-bottomed ramekins in the roasting pan, and divide the custard mixture among the ramekins. Cover with the foil, poke a few holes in it, and peel back a corner. Place the whole thing on the oven rack and carefully pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Close the oven door and bake the ramekins until the custards wobble like Jell-o when you give them a jiggle, 25-35 minutes. Be careful not to overbake or the custard will turn grainy; if bubbles appear around the sides of the custards, remove them immediately.
Remove from the oven and let cool until you can remove them from the water, then cool completely. Cover and chill the custards until firm, 2-4 hours or up to 3 days.
Finish the custards:
Sprinkle a chilled custard with enough sugar to coat it in a thin, even layer, about 1 teaspoon. Tilt the ramekin and tap it around to even out the sugar layer if need be. Use a crème brûlée torch held a few inches away from the sugar and pointing straight down to gently caramelize the sugar. If it starts to blacken, pull the torch further away, and use a circular motion to evenly torch the whole top. Now repeat with a second teaspoon of sugar; this will make a thick lid that is pleasing to crack. Repeat with the remaining crème brûlée(s). Chill for 10-20 minutes to harden the lid and cool the custard back down.
Meanwhile, cut the ends off of the blood oranges and place one cut-side-down in a cutting board. Use a sharp knife (I like a serrated knife) to pare away the peel and white pith, following the curve of the orange. When the pith is removed, turn the orange on its side and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
Place 2-3 rounds atop each crème brûlée, sprinkle them with another teaspoon of sugar, and torch the sugar with the crème brûlée torch. Serve immediately.
Kristin @ Tasty Joy says
Oh my, this looks heavenly. Time to fuel up my kitchen torch!!
Alanna says
DO IT! :)
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Citrus, creme brûlée and chocolate all wrapped up into one desert. Can this be heaven? http://www.theroadtohoney.com
Alanna says
I hope heaven tastes so good...
Rebecca Winkler says
So pretty!
Is it weird that I am very upset about those desserts that were wasted back in the day because no one knew about them? I would have loved to eat all those things!!
Alanna says
Aw, thanks Rebecca!! I wish I could have gotten them to a more appreciative audience such as yourself! :)
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Chocolate bottomed!?! Ahhhhhh this needs to appear in my kitchen immediately. So yummy!
Alanna says
Yay! Do it!! :)
Christine says
As I was reading this, I kept thinking "What is wrong with people? Those desserts she made sound amazing!!" and completely felt your dismay that your v-day dessert specials went un-ordered during your restaurant days. Just absurd, because I bet they were super. Maybe the servers didn't tell people because they secretly wanted to eat them all up themselves? I really love creme brulee and I need to get myself one of those little kitchen torches! This is beautiful, Alanna! xo
Alanna says
Haha, thanks for understanding Christine! I wouldn't have put it past those silly servers. ;) Highly recommend the kitchen torch! I want to see the vegan version you come up with. Hint hint to your hubby!
justputzing says
This is THE most badass Valentine's Day dessert I've ever seen. I wish you lived closer so I could hang out in your kitchen all day and beg for scraps!
Alanna says
You and me both, missy - I need all the help I can get!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak says
Wow. This is just perfection. If I had been dining at that restaurant I TOTALLY would have ordered your desserts. I'm a chocoholic always. How crazy that the servers weren't told to share the specials?!?! How the heck were people supposed to know about them? Crazy. These sound wonderful.
Alanna says
Ugh, that whole place was so ridiculous - thanks for understanding! And for the super sweet words. <3
Michelle Lopez says
Love, love, love! What Sara said above ^^^. This really is perfection; the flavors must be heavenly!
Alanna says
Aw, thank you Michelle! :)
Eileen says
Oh man, these are so pretty! I love the beautiful blood orange against that perfect crackling crust.
Alanna says
Aw, thanks!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
These are really beautiful! I would totally order these at a restaurant! And I know the feelings you are talking about here. It would drive me NUTS when people would come in on holidays and still order the same regular eggs benedict that we served every.single.weekend. But there's duck confit and buckwheat crepes! GAH! Oh well. Better staff meals those weeks. :-)
Alanna says
Haha, nice! I would have ordered the crepes and confit in a heartbeat. :)
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life says
I would just like to live under your kitchen table for a little while, please? I don't take up too much room and I'm excellent at washing dishes :) All I ask for is a little creme brulee and a spoon to crack its golden top.
These are one of the most romantic desserts I have seen so far this Valentine's Day, and I know my beloved will be delighted by them. If not, more for me :) and what's more lovely than two treats for one!
Alanna says
Washing dishes? Well then by all means! :)
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Utterly gorgeous!!
Alanna says
Thank you Kiran!
Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen says
While I should in no way be complaining of not getting to try your sweet creations...I am SUPER jealous of your Valentine right now. Also - LOVE the little cups you got to put them in!
Alanna says
Ah thank you! Ana got me my first one and then I ended up on a total propping spree at Crate and Barrel getting the rest :/
london bakes says
The servers didn't tell the diners about the specials?! That's madness! Especially when they sounds like they'd be mindblowingly good. I mean, if I'd had dinner at your restaurant and then later found out that I'd missed out on that chile chocolate pot, I'd be pretty pissed ;)
This is simply stunning too - those blood oranges are gorgeous and such a good combo with the chocolate.
Alanna says
Ah, thanks Kathryn! It was so confusing and then frustrating... just one small part of why I'm still recovering from my time in the kitchen. :p
Sarah | Broma Bakery says
Absolutely stunning. And your servers didn't talk about specials?! That's awful. Must've felt so good for the crepes to sell out within the first hour. If I were there, I would've ordered all of them myself :)
Alanna says
Aw! Yeah, I'll admit it was quite gratifying. :D
Joshua Hampton says
Wow, it's nasty how you've put in so much work on your V-Day desserts, only for your efforts to be wasted just because the servers failed to do their job. Anyhow, this creme brulee looks divine. I could eat it all day.
Alanna says
Thanks, Joshua! Writing about it here has been cathartic and I'm touched by all the sweet notes. :)
Yvonne says
this is stunningly beautiful.....
can't wait to try this....have all of the ingredients in my fridge!!!
Alanna says
Woohoo!
Jennifer @ Delicious Everyday says
W O W. What an interesting recipe. I love creme brulee and this twist that you've put into it has gotten so intrigued!
Alanna says
Ah thank you!!
Julia Gartland says
So gorgeous, Alanna! Love this idea for citrus ;)
Alanna says
Oh thank you Julia.
themanhattanfoodproject says
I'm loving all the of citrus-centric recipes you've been posting lately, and I may need to bring out the culinary torch and make this. Or the crepes you posted before.
As for that mis-management, while I laughed because of course the lack of sales was for a really silly reason, I can't imagine how frustrating that must have been, particularly after getting a talking-to like that!
Alanna says
Yes, 'tis the season! And yes, that place was RIDICULOUS! Thanks for understanding. :)
Melinda @ RecipeFiction says
wow, not sharing the specials on valentines day! as a former front of the house person I'm amazed it took years for this to be noticed. but that's the past right? and this dessert looks amazing. it's as if you read my mind (creme brulee with caramelised blood oranges) but added chocolate! delicious!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
So pretty, the blood orange topping is just striking!
Alanna says
Aw, thank you Laura!!
Suzy Allman says
Hi: I'm really enjoying this recipe (I'm at the "chill the custard" stage). My only question was whether the whole pan should be covered with foil, or the individual pots! I covered the pan.
Thanks for the recipe!
Alanna says
That's perfect - sorry for the confusion!