Not all desserts are complicated to make. Sometimes, I like to indulge myself in simple desserts. I have been learning about French food for quite a while now and I feel that there are so many things that I have eaten but have never tried making at home. Yes, I am not a very dessert person (I mean I can survive without desserts) but I certainly do have a my favourite list if you were to ask what I like and don’t.
One of my favourite desserts is crème caramel, flan, or caramel custard. Crème caramel is a rich custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top. As much as I love crème caramel, petit pots de crème is another favourite of mine. Pot de crème is a French dessert of a baked then chilled custard served in ramekins. It translates to “pot of cream,” derived from the fact it is served in small dishes and its custard-like cream. So, the only difference between these two is that caramel is the main feature of crème caramel. As for pot de crème, it’s just plain custard.
I like the presentation of pot de crème and the taste of caramel. So, I have decided to make the best of both – use little pot to make pot de crème and add the caramel at the bottom. These desserts can be kept chilled for a few days. I feel that this little cute pot dessert is very suitable to serve during a dinner party if you are after a simple and yet very presentable dessert. Well, if you don’t have clear small pots, you can always use ramekins, which they will then be called crème caramel instead of petit pot de crème au caramel. 
Recipe: Petits Pots de Crème au Caramel
Serve 6
Ingredients:
For the caramel:
Caster sugar, 90g
For the crème:
Milk, 625ml
Vanilla pod, 1
Caster sugar, 125g
Eggs (beaten), 3
Egg yolks, 3
Method:
1. To make the caramel, put the sugar in a heavy-based saucepan and heat until it dissolves and starts to caramelize – tip the saucepan from side to side as the sugar cooks to keep the colouring even.
2. Remove from the heat and carefully add 2 tablespoons water to stop the cooking process. Pour into six 125ml ramekins (or little pots) and leave to cool.
3. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Put the milk and vanilla pod in a saucepan and bring just to the boil.
4. Mix together the sugar, eggs and egg yolks. Strain the boiling mlk over the egg mixture and stir well.
5. Ladle into the ramekins and place in a roasting tin. Pour enough hot water into the tin to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
6. Cook for 35-40 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from the tin and leave for 15 mins.
7. If you use ramekins, unmould onto plates and pour oven any leftover caramel.
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March 29th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Looks yummy and so easy to make, i will definitely give the lovely “Petits Pots de Crème au Caramel” a try soon. Nice one!
March 30th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Spectacular as always!!! I don’t think than I would be able to stop at one of these pots!!!
March 30th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
They look really great especially serving it on the little glass pot. Carlos is crazy over cream caramel so I am going to make this for him. Thanks for sharing the recipe
March 30th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
My kind of dessert! Simple yet delicious! I luv desserts and like to try making them all by myself (ambitious, huh?). But the prob is who will help me to clear them all esp those “failures”?
March 31st, 2009 at 3:51 am
Which is more beautiful, the dessert or the photography? Your recipes and your art inspire me.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:32 am
You have mad skills in making desserts! Amazing.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:00 am
Your photography is so beautiful as always. You make dessert making look so easy =D
April 1st, 2009 at 8:28 am
OOOH YUM YUM YUM!!!
April 1st, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Gorgeous and pretty. I need to find a little teaspoon to enjoy this slowly.
April 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Mike,
Yes – you should try!! You will not stop eating!!
nina,
Thank you! It’s difficult to stop.. every time I make this, I make about 6-7. And I always feel happy after I eat them.
Gertrude,
Not a problem!! I really like to serve this in small clear pot.. I have to admit that I have practised a few times to get the caramel right!
lk,
I think it’s good to be ambitious! I also wish that I could try to make all desserts that look pretty and yummy! I also have the same concern – who to clear the failed attempts!! haha
Rasa Malaysia,
Thank you for your compliment! I am still learning
noobcook,
Thank you! Well, this dessert is very simple and I believe everyone can do it
Kristin,
ehehe.. shall I send you one?
tigerfish,
Thank you! Yes – little teaspoon is good to indulge in this!!
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:30 am
you’re expert in making dessert!! call you dessert Queen now!! hahaha! I still didn’t have the urge to make any delicasse dessert yet! Now you motivate me:P
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Hi, I am Tennen-Perman,E-mail from Japan.
I visited your site sometimes so far.
You have a cool site.
I linked your site in my blog.
I administer a blog talking about cooking.
Please link to my site in your ones if you like it.
http://impact-cook.blogspot.com/
thank you!
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
beachloverkitchen,
I am not an expert!! Still learning.. so much to learn.. that I can’t be crown as queen yet.. LOL!
This one is real easy and tasty!
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Completely adorable and I’m sure completely heavenly as well!
April 5th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
This looks really good. My attention is always drawn to the simplest of recipes; my biggest kitchen weakness, perhaps.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
tennen-parman,
Thanks for your kind words!!
Sara,
It’s indeed heavenly!
Scott,
Simplest recipes are sometimes the best
May 10th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
beautiful,have to try this–where can I find these adorable pots?
May 10th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
flashofbeauty,
Thanks for ur kind words! I bought some yogurt in pots from Borough Market in London and reuse them.
May 15th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Thank you for sharing info on yogurt pots–great idea to recycle–I love your site!
May 20th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I’m making this today! this looks so delicious ( and simple?)! love the presentation in the clear small pots. Thanks!
May 21st, 2009 at 12:20 pm
flashofbeauty,
No problem! Anytime! I am glad you love my site! Keep your comments coming!
lee,
Thanks for your comments! This is definitely delicious.. it’s one of my fav desserts
August 31st, 2010 at 12:40 pm
These look awesome. One question, where do you get your small glass pots from?
August 31st, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Thank you, Tom! Those pots are recycled French yoghurt pots. Got them at Borough Market.