Description
A rich and creamy dessert that fuses the velvety texture of pots de crème with the caramelized charm of an upside-down cake. Perfect for intimate gatherings or personal indulgence, this small-batch treat features a silky custard base with a beautifully caramelized fruit topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Pots de Crème Base:
- 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free option)
- 2 egg yolks
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (or maple syrup for refined sugar-free option)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or melted chocolate (for flavor variation)
Upside-Down Topping:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
- ½ cup sliced fruit (berries, bananas, or citrus slices)
Instructions
Preparing the Topping:
- Melt the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until it turns amber in color.
- Pour the caramel into the bottom of ramekins, tilting to coat evenly.
- Arrange fruit slices over the caramel layer.
Making the Pots de Crème:
- In a saucepan, heat the cream until warm but not boiling.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar.
- Slowly add the warm cream to the egg mixture while whisking constantly (to prevent curdling).
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve for a smooth consistency.
Assembling and Baking:
- Pour the custard over the caramelized fruit in each ramekin.
- Place the ramekins in a baking dish and fill with hot water until halfway up the sides.
- Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 30–35 minutes or until the custard is set but slightly jiggly in the center.
- Cool completely before unmolding.
Notes
- For extra caramelization, use a kitchen torch to caramelize the top before serving.
- Experiment with flavors like coffee, matcha, or salted caramel.
Use dairy-free substitutes like coconut milk and non-dairy butter for a vegan-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ramekin
- Calories: ~250
- Sugar: ~18g
- Sodium: ~30mg
- Fat: ~15g
- Saturated Fat: ~9g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: ~22g
- Fiber: ~1g
- Protein: ~4g
- Cholesterol: ~90mg