Drunken Pecan Crème Caramel

Crème brûlée, pots de crème, flan, crème caramel. They’re all just perfect. Slightly sweetened, soft-baked cream base, some with the addition of a sugar crunch, some with a warm caramel blanket. Here’s our favorite take–

Drunken Pecan Crème Caramel— Artisan pecan liqueur, vanilla-bean cream base with a thin layer of darkened homemade caramel hosting a crunchy pecan brittle crown.

[Keep reading for more… and a cat photo.]

I’ve always been sorta mesmerized by the obsession which many people have with the cream-based desserts, like crème brûlée. I guess the delicious simplicity that they radiate just draws people in. Cream and sugar has always been a winner, right?

I always get in a bit of a giggle to myself when friends come over and I serve one of these desserts after dinner. “Ohhhhhhh… Ahhhh!”. It never fails to bring a response of shock and regal assumption. They must think I’ve been in the kitchen all damn day. Just for them. [In reality, I actually just cooked some cream in a pan and dumped them in the oven the day before.]

Sure. I love you, friends. But no, I didn’t put much effort into this. I decided to spend my free time taking cat photos instead of planning something more elaborate. Acceptable, right? I think so.

Fendi– Such a baller.

The simplicity of a crème caramel might surprise you. Now, y’all know I am usually a stickler for the specifics when it comes to baking. I would normally tell you to get out that thermometer, scale, etc. Not this time. We have more cat pictures to take, remember? Some sugar, water and a touch of lemon juice (to deter from the dreaded crystallization). Done.

Since we have a bit of caramel left (because obviously we are going to make more than we need so that we have an excuse to eat it), we’ll make some tasty little decorations. Everyone loves a crunchy sugar brittle. In my book, why have a decoration if you can’t eat it? A simple dark caramel brittle with some fresh Georgia pecans. I had a bag of Pearson Farms pecan halves that I had miraculously not eaten yet, so I used those. Some of the best I’ve ever had. With my family being from Georgia, I just couldn’t leave them out.

The important part of making a consistently creamy custard is in the baking. You really need a buffer zone. Baking these with water around the ramekins will help them bake evenly and not too quickly.

Since these are going to become drunken pecan crème caramels, we should probably address the drunkenness. Tossing pieces or whole pecans in the cream might be just dandy and all, but a little brandy for all sounded better. Candy is dandy…. but a boozy baker is better.

I was recently given the chance to preview Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur. This. Stuff. Y’all. I just don’t even have the words to describe how incredible it is. This is some of the most smooth, perfectly balanced, flavored liqueur that I have ever had. Brandy-based (the smooth, caramel liqueur — not Moesha herself), this pecan essence infused 60-proof bottle of perfection has to be the absolute best way to get a perfect pecan flavor into anything that you are baking… or just into your mouth, for that matter.  This is currently #1 on my new liqueur discoveries for this year.

Once these babies come out of the oven, you just let them cool to room temp and toss them in the fridge. I usually do this the day before I plan on serving, although you could just serve them an hour or so after baking. They are best chilled in my opinion.

It’s pretty amazing to me that the caramel base just sorta slides right out after these are baked. You would think that it would just harden and end up being an all-day cleaning project instead of an insanely tasty dessert project. It’s black magic, I tell ya. Delicious, creamy black magic.

Getting this thing on a plate is the fun (?) part. It’s ride or die at this point. Finish that glass of wine and hope for the best. Place your plate inverted on top of the ramekin, hold your breath, take a xanax… caaaaalm down, flip!

You should immediately see the caramel running on the plate. Slowly remove the ramekin and stare at your masterpiece. You’ve done it. Start drafting your small café and bakery plans. You are basically a chef now.

If you haven’t eaten every single one of the pecan brittles, go ahead and throw one of those on each plate too. If you maybe, possibly, sorta ate them all– well, just throw a pecan on there or something. It’ll be our little secret.

Darkened caramel sauce blanketing the light, creamy vanilla bean and pecan-infused custard cream, all topped with a sweetened pecan brittle. It just doesn’t get any better than this. Luckily, it doesn’t get any easier, either.

Enjoy, y’all.

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