Introduction
Desserts that incorporate custard and caramel are sensational, and if served in a pie crust, they become irresistible. It is an ideal sweet dish to serve on special occasions or have it during a regular day. All you really need is some warm homemade pie.
Ingredients
Let’s divide all the necessary ingredients into 3 different categories.
For the Caramel
• 1/2 cup sugar • 1/2 cup cream • 2 tablespoons of water • 2 tablespoons of butter • 1 pinch of salt
For Custard Filling
• 3 Large Eggs • 1.5 cups Whole Milk • 1/2 cup Sugar • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream • 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract • 1/4 teaspoon Salt • Cornstarch Optional
For Pie Crust
• 1 pre-brought Pie Crust or your homemade pie crust.
Instructions
Now that we have all the necessary ingredients, we can start.
Preparing Caramel
- Combine Suger and water in a medium saucepan, place it over medium heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture gently until the sugar is dissolved. From this point, avoid stirring the sauce, let it come to a simmer by itself.
- Allow it to cook until we have a golden amber color, this will take around 5 to 7 minutes, however it is important to grasp that the timing is not ideal for every kitchen and will change. Also, try not to burn the sugar.
After the caramel gets to the right hue, swirl in the butter and mix until it is completely melted.
Gently pouring in the heavy cream (You will have to be careful since the cream will bubble a bit), sprinkle a dash of salt, and after that, remove it from When done, turn off the.
The custard preparation followed
In a bowl of medium size, pour in some sugar and eggs then whisk them together.
Now take another saucepan, throw in whole milk as well as some heavy cream and place it on a medium low heat. Remember to stir every now and then, but allow it to simmer, rather than boil.
Gradually pour the hot milk mixture into the omelette equally ensuring to constantly whisk it to after curdling the eggs.
Once the custard has been separately combined, pour it back into the saucepan and place it on a medium low flame, all the while stirring it, until the mixture turns thick and the cooking time to achieve that is anywhere between 5 to 7 minutes. If you will be using cornstarch, dissolve it in a tablespoon of milk and wait until the custard thickens to add it into the mixture.
Next, remove the pot from the stove top and mix in some salt and vanilla extract with the custard.
Now it’s time to assemble the pie.
Start by adjusting the temperature of your stovetop to a Farenheit of 350 which roughly equals 175 in Celsius.
Then take the pie crust out and place it in the non stick pie dish and bake it until it’s golden brown and the insides have properly cooked.
When the pie crust has cooled, add the mixture of custard into the pie shell, making sure to use a spatula for an even top.
Now Add the Pie to the Oven:
Bake and cool the pie:
The first step is to prepare the pie by heating up an oven. In a pre-heated oven, the pie should be placed at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the pie is placed, it will be in the oven for about thirty to thirty five minutes. To check whether the pie is ready, shake it a little. The center of the pie should wiggle a little while being semi-solid. Once done, grab the pie while wearing mittens so that you don’t burn your hands. After that, you have to keep the pie at room temperature for about fifteen minutes and then place it in a refrigerator. Now you will have to wait for at least two hours if not more for the pie to cool off.
Finish with caramel:
When it comes to finishing the pie, you need to add sauce to the top of the pie. The sauce that should be used is caramel, which should have already been prepared before hand. While pouring the sauce, make sure that you pour it evenly so that the entire top layer is covered completely. When finished, you can also sprinkle some sea salt if you want a stronger flavor.
Serve:
Once the pie has cooled off, it is time to eat it. But first grab a knife and slice the pie into pieces. Once sliced, grab a plate, place the pie on the plate and enjoy the sweet and creamy pie and the classic taste.
Hints for Success:
When preparing caramel, ensuring that it doesn’t get burnt is important so keep a regular check on it. If the caramel does tend to smoke, immediately stop cooking it otherwise it will ruin the pie instead of enhance the smell. One against baking should always be put in charge for stirring as the eggs have to be placed structurally. Biologically thinking the Tamago shouldn’t be taken on an architecture level but enhancing the creaminess is important.
Allow for Pie: Before storing the pie in a refrigerator, it is advised to chill the pie at room temperature. This enables the custard to set appropriately.
Health Benefits:
Consequently, despite the richness and decadence of this pie, I do get some health benefits from the eggs (protein), milk (calcium), and a bit of fat from the cream/butter. Still, moderation is key since it remains a dessert that is quite calorie-dense.
Nutritional Assessment (One serving – 8 servings per dish):
Calories: 350 – 400 kcal
Protein: 5g
Fat: 20g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 30g
Sodium: 150mg
Calcium: 10% DV
Iron: 4% DV
Variations and Substitutions:
Flavor it: You could flavor the custard with nutmeg or cinnamon or even orange zest.
Dairy-free: Replace the milk and cream with almond or coconut milk, dairy-free butter for the caramel.
Crust Alternative: use graham cracker or shortbread cookie crust instead.
Alcoholic: Just a dash of rum or bourbon into the caramel to enhance the cocktail taste.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- Is it possible to prepare this pie a day or two ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the pie one or two days in advance by placing it in the fridge. Please note that you will still need to add the caramel sauce right before serving for the best taste.
- What will I do if my caramel cools too much? In the event that the caramel gets too cold, one can always put it back on a low flame and heat it up after adding a little bit of cream to it.
- Can you freeze a caramel pie? One can freeze the pie without the caramel sauce but it’s not recommended. To put it in the freezer, one should carefully wrap the pie with foil and plastic wrap to ensure it stays secure. To thaw, put the pie in the fridge. If it’s time to serve, take it out and pour the caramel sauce over it, as follows:
- What will tell when my custard is done? A custard that is properly done would have a firm center but slightly jiggly. One can check this by inserting a knife into the middle, if it comes out clean with just a few crumbs stuck to it, the custard is good to go.
Conclusion:
Caramel lovers will absolutely adore this creamy caramel custard pie as it is rich in flavor and has that extra creamy texture that sets it apart. The buttery pastry, soft custard, and beautiful shiny caramel make this pie a big hit. So whether you are making it for someone special or just as a dessert for yourself, it is guaranteed to be impressive!