Indulge in a sweet symphony of flavor and texture with this delightful orange creme caramel with toffee shards recipe. The velvety smoothness of the caramel custard, paired with the delicate citrus notes from the orange peel and the crunch of toffee shards, creates a truly unforgettable dessert experience.
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While most of the ingredients are readily available, you may want to pay extra attention while sourcing the orange peel. Opt for organic oranges to avoid any pesticides or wax on the skin. The orange peel infuses the dessert with a subtle, yet distinctive, citrus note that beautifully complements the sweet caramel and toffee.
Ingredients for Orange Creme Caramel with Toffee Shards
Granulated sugar: Acts as the primary sweetener and forms the caramel.
Water: Used to dissolve the sugar for the caramel.
Milk: The base for the custard, lending its creamy texture.
Salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Pure vanilla extract: Adds depth and rich flavor to the caramel.
Eggs: They help in setting the custard.
Orange peel: Infuses the custard with a subtle citrus flavor.
One reader, Farrel Mazur says:
This orange creme caramel with toffee shards recipe is a game-changer! The creamy texture of the flan combined with the zesty orange flavor and the crunch of toffee shards is simply divine. It's a showstopper dessert that wows every time. I highly recommend trying it out for a delightful treat!
Mastering the Techniques Behind This Delectable Dessert
How to make caramel: Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture becomes a light brown syrup. Holding the handle of your pan, gently tilt the pan off the heat to distribute syrup evenly. Immediately pour into a bundt pan or pie dish. Coat the base of the pan evenly by tilting the pan/dish and swirling the syrup around the base. Set aside and allow to cool.
How to make flan: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, and orange peel. Stir to dissolve the sugar in through the milk and bring to a slow simmer on medium-low heat. Allow the milk to simmer for 20 minutes. Stir through the vanilla, remove milk from heat, and allow to cool for an hour until completely cool. Adjust oven rack to the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, beat the eggs with a hand-held mixer at medium speed for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Once the milk has completely cooled, remove orange peel and pour it through a fine strainer. Gradually beat the cooled strained milk into the eggs. Beat on low speed until air bubbles are out. Pour flan mixture into pan/dish and place into a larger oven-proof pan. Pour hot water into the larger pan to within 1-inch of the top of the flan pan or dish. Place pan on the middle rack of the oven. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until set to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave in the water bath until cooled. Remove pan/dish from water and refrigerate overnight.
How to unmold and serve: Place a serving plate (topside down) on top of the flan. Flip the custard pan onto the plate and carefully lift off the cake tin.
How to make toffee shards: Melt sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until it turns into a golden brown caramel. Pour the caramel onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and allow it to cool and harden. Once hardened, break the toffee into pieces with a knife.
How to serve: Serve the flan with toffee shards and optional orange slices.
How To Make Orange Creme Caramel with Toffee Shards
Creme caramel is a beautiful dessert to serve during a Christmas dinner. This recipe has silky texture, toffee pieces, and a hint of orange flavor.
Serves:
Ingredients
For Caramel:
- 1cupgranulated sugar
- ¼cupwater
For Flan:
- 5cupsmilk
- 1cupsugar
- ½tspsalt
- 1tbsppure vanilla extract
- 6largeeggsroom temperature
- 3stripsorange peel
Instructions
Caramel:
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Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture becomes a light brown syrup.
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Holding the handle of your pan, gently tilt the pan off the heat to distribute syrup evenly.
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Immediately pour into a bundt pan or pie dish. Coat the base of the pan evenly by tilting the pan/dish and swirling the syrup around the base. Set aside and allow to cool.
Flan:
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In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, and orange peel. Stir to dissolve the sugar in through the milk and bring to a slow simmer on medium-low heat. Allow the milk to simmer for 20 minutes.
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Stir through the vanilla, remove milk from heat and allow to cool for an hour until completely cool.
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Adjust oven rack to middle of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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In a bowl, beat the eggs with a hand-held mixer at medium speed for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
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Once the milk has completely cooled, remove orange peel and pour it through a fine strainer.
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Gradually beat the cooled strained milk into the eggs. Beat on low speed until air bubbles are out.
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Pour flan mixture into pan/dish and place into a larger oven-proof pan.
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Pour hot water into the larger pan to within 1-inch of top of the flan pan or dish. Place pan on the middle rack of the oven. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until set to the touch.
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Remove from the oven and leave in the water bath until cooled. Remove pan/dish from water and refrigerate overnight.
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To unmold and serve, place a serving plate (topside down) on top of the flan. Flip the custard pan onto the plate and carefully lift off cake tin.
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Break up toffee into pieces with a knife, and serve flan with toffee and (optional) orange slices.
Nutrition
- Calories: 172.78kcal
- Fat: 4.26g
- Saturated Fat: 2.01g
- Trans Fat: 0.01g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 1.31g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.51g
- Carbohydrates: 28.99g
- Fiber: 0.04g
- Sugar: 28.97g
- Protein: 4.76g
- Cholesterol: 77.38mg
- Sodium: 832.96mg
- Calcium: 105.19mg
- Potassium: 129.18mg
- Iron: 0.37mg
- Vitamin A: 65.15µg
- Vitamin C: 0.51mg
Elevate Your Skills with This Essential Technique Tip
When making the caramel, it's crucial to keep a close eye on the sugar as it heats. Sugar can quickly go from a beautiful amber color to burnt. The moment it reaches the desired color, remove it from the heat immediately. Also, when adding the orange peel to the milk, ensure to only use the orange part and avoid the white pith as it can impart a bitter taste. Lastly, when unmolding the flan, run a thin knife around the edge of the pan to help release the custard smoothly.
Time-Saving Tips for Preparing Orange Creme Caramel
Prep ahead: Prepare the caramel and flan mixture the night before and refrigerate separately. This will save time on the day of baking.
Use a blender: Instead of beating the eggs with a hand-held mixer, use a blender to quickly and evenly mix the flan ingredients.
Bain-marie shortcut: Instead of using a water bath, consider using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot for a quicker cooking time.
Make toffee in advance: Prepare the toffee shards a day or two before making the flan to save time on the day of serving.
Double the recipe: If you have a large gathering, consider doubling the recipe and making two flans at once to save time and effort.
Pre-slice oranges: Pre-slice the oranges and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator to save time when serving the flan.
Substitute Ingredients For Orange Creme Caramel with Toffee Shards (Orange Caramel Flan) Recipe
granulated sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar can be used as a healthier alternative to granulated sugar, and it adds a subtle caramel-like flavor to the caramel sauce.
milk - Substitute with coconut milk: Coconut milk can be used as a dairy-free alternative, adding a rich and creamy texture to the flan while infusing a hint of coconut flavor.
sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup can be used as a natural sweetener, adding a unique depth of flavor to the flan and caramel sauce.
pure vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract can be used to impart a nutty and aromatic flavor to the flan, providing a delightful twist to the traditional vanilla flavor.
eggs - Substitute with silken tofu: Silken tofu can be used as a vegan alternative, providing a creamy texture and binding properties similar to eggs in the flan mixture.
orange peel - Substitute with lemon peel: Lemon peel can be used to infuse a citrusy aroma and flavor into the flan, offering a refreshing twist to the orange creme caramel.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Crafting This Delightful Treat
- Saucepan: A deep cooking pan with a handle and a lid, used for cooking sauces, boiling liquids, and simmering.
- Bundt pan or pie dish: A round, deep baking pan with a central tube, used for baking cakes and flans.
- Hand-held mixer: A kitchen appliance with beaters used for mixing, whipping, and blending ingredients.
- Fine strainer: A kitchen tool with a fine mesh used for straining liquids and removing impurities from sauces and custards.
Preserving Perfection: Storing and Freezing Your Creations
To store the orange creme caramel, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 5 days. The caramel will continue to soften and develop flavor over time.
If you want to freeze the creme caramel, it's best to do so before adding the toffee shards. Wrap the cooled custard tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 1 month.
To thaw, transfer the frozen creme caramel to the refrigerator and let it defrost overnight. Once thawed, remove the wrapping and let it come to room temperature before serving.
The toffee shards are best stored separately in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. This will help maintain their crunchy texture and prevent them from becoming soggy due to the moisture in the refrigerator.
When ready to serve, unmold the creme caramel onto a serving plate and garnish with the toffee shards just before serving to ensure the best texture and presentation.
How To Reheat Leftovers
- The best way to reheat leftover orange creme caramel with toffee shards is to use a water bath. Place the flan in a baking dish and fill the dish with hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the flan. Heat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until the flan is heated through.
- Another option is to reheat the flan in the microwave. Place the flan on a microwave-safe plate and heat it in 30-second intervals, checking the temperature after each interval. Be careful not to overheat the flan, as it can cause the texture to become rubbery.
- If you want to reheat the toffee shards separately, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and heat them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes or until they are warm and slightly softened.
- For a quicker reheating method, you can also use a steamer. Place the flan in a steamer basket over a pot of simmering water and steam for 5-10 minutes or until heated through. This method helps to retain the moisture in the flan and prevent it from drying out.
- If you have a torch, you can also use it to reheat the top of the flan and create a caramelized effect. Hold the torch about 4 inches away from the surface of the flan and move it in a circular motion until the top is lightly browned and heated through.
Discover an Intriguing Fact About Orange Creme Caramel
Creme caramel is also known as flan in Spanish-speaking countries and is a popular dessert in many parts of the world.
Is Preparing This Dessert at Home Cost-Effective?
The cost-effectiveness of this orange creme caramel with toffee shards recipe largely depends on the availability and price of ingredients in your area. While the recipe requires basic pantry staples, the use of orange peel and toffee may increase the overall cost. However, the yield of the recipe can serve a household of 4, making it relatively cost-effective for a special dessert. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people may range from $10-$15, considering the use of quality ingredients. Overall Verdict: 8/10.
Is This Decadent Dessert Healthy or Unhealthy?
The orange creme caramel with toffee shards recipe is a delightful dessert, but it does have some aspects that make it less than healthy. Here's a breakdown of the recipe's nutritional profile:
- High in sugar: The recipe calls for a significant amount of sugar, both in the caramel and the flan itself. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to various health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- High in saturated fat: The recipe uses whole milk, which is high in saturated fat. While some saturated fat is essential for a balanced diet, consuming too much can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
- Low in fiber: This dessert lacks fiber, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system and promoting feelings of fullness.
- Nutrient-poor: The recipe is primarily composed of simple carbohydrates and fats, lacking essential vitamins and minerals.
To make this recipe healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Reduce the sugar content by using a sugar substitute or decreasing the amount of sugar used in both the caramel and the flan.
- Replace whole milk with a lower-fat alternative, such as 2% milk or a plant-based milk like almond or coconut milk.
- Incorporate more nutrient-dense ingredients, such as fresh fruits, to increase the dessert's fiber and vitamin content. For example, serve the flan with a side of fresh berries or a citrus fruit salad.
- Use a smaller portion size to limit the overall intake of sugar and saturated fat.
Editor's Take: A Delightful Twist on a Classic Dessert
The orange creme caramel with toffee shards recipe is a delightful and elegant dessert. The combination of creamy flan infused with the citrusy aroma of orange and the sweet crunch of toffee creates a harmonious balance of flavors and textures. The smooth, velvety custard contrasts beautifully with the crunchy toffee, providing a delightful sensory experience. The use of fresh orange peel adds a refreshing and aromatic touch to the dessert. Overall, this recipe offers a sophisticated and indulgent treat that is sure to impress and satisfy any sweet tooth.
Why trust this Orange Creme Caramel with Toffee Shards (Orange Caramel Flan) Recipe:
This recipe offers a delightful fusion of flavors and textures, combining the luscious creaminess of creme caramel with the zesty brightness of orange. The caramel is meticulously crafted to achieve the perfect balance of sweetness and depth, while the flan is infused with the aromatic essence of orange peel. The addition of toffee shards provides a delightful crunch, elevating the sensory experience. With a harmonious blend of milk, sugar, and vanilla extract, this recipe promises a decadent and satisfying dessert that will surely captivate your taste buds.
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