Maple Syrup Crème brûlée

This recipe uses no sugar, just pure maple syrup. Pure maple syrup can be found in almost any supermarket. It is a bit expensive though. You can find great deals from many producers at MapleHarvest.com.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Bring about 4 cups of water to boil and set aside.

2. Split vanilla bean in half lengthwise.

3. Lightly whisk maple syrup with egg yolks and set aside. Do not over beat, it will make the custard grainy.

4. Combine both creams in a heavy bottom saucepan and bring just to a boil.

5. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into hot creams along with the two pod halves; let steep for 15 minutes, then remove pod.

6. Slowly add about 1/2 cup of hot cream into egg yolk while lightly whisking. To much hot liquid at once will give you scrambled eggs.

7. Add remaining hot cream slowly while lightly whisking.

8. Pour mixture into individual ovenproof ramekins filling almost to rim.

9. Place ramekins in a baking pan, place in oven, and pour reserved hot water in pan about half way up the sides of the ramekins.

10. Bake about 1 hour until custard is just set. Custards will continue to cook a bit after taking out of oven. Time will vary depending on the size of the ramekins you use. Check after 45 minutes or so. Custards should jiggle in the middle just a bit.

11. Bring to room temperature then cover and refrigerate overnight or at least two hours.

12. Evenly sprinkle sugar on top of custards, about 1 to 2 tablespoons each. Use a blow torch or kitchen torch to caramelize sugar. Hold ramekin in your hand, keep flame a few inches from the custard. You should be able to do this without burning your hand; if you're not comfortable doing this just keep ramekin on counter top or stove top. Tilt the ramekin back and forth so the sugar topping melts and flows evenly over custard surface. This can also be accomplished using your oven's broiler setting. Turn on broiler and let it preheat; place custards on top rack a few inches from broiler burner. Do not leave the room! It will burn very quickly. Watch the whole time until top is melted and caramel color.

13. Enjoy!