White Chocolate-Cranberry Crème Brûlée

Ingredients

• 5  egg yolks 
• 6 servings ice cubes 
• 6 servings garnish: sugared cranberries and mint 
• 0.5 cup sugar divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 cups whipping cream 
• 4 ounces chocolate white
• 15 oz whole-berry cranberry sauce canned

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan
• oven
• whisk
• wire rack
• sieve
• ramekin
• roasting pan

Directions

1. Combine 1/2 cup cream and white chocolate in a heavy saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate is melted.
2. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and remaining 1 1/2 cups cream.
3. Whisk together egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until sugar is dissolved and mixture is thick and pale yellow.
4. Add cream mixture, whisking until well blended.
5. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large bowl.
6. Spoon 1 1/2 Tbsp. cranberry sauce into each of 6 (4-oz.) ramekins.
7. Pour cream-and-egg mixture evenly into ramekins; place ramekins in a large roasting pan.
8. Add water to pan to depth of 1/2 inch.
9. Bake at 300 for 45 to 55 minutes or until edges are set. Cool custards in pan on a wire rack 25 minutes.
10. Remove ramekins from water bath; cover and chill 8 hours.
11. Sprinkle 1 1/2 to 2 tsp. remaining sugar evenly over each ramekin. Fill a large roasting pan or 15- x 10- x 1-inch jelly-roll pan with ice; arrange ramekins in pan.
12. Broil 5 inches from heat 3 to 5 minutes or until sugar is melted and caramelized.
13. Let stand 5 minutes.
14. Garnish, if desired.
15. White Chocolate-Banana Creme Brulee: Prepare recipe as directed through Step Slice 2 bananas into 1/4-inch-thick slices; toss bananas with 1/3 cup sugar. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
16. Add bananas, and cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Line bottoms of 6 (4-oz.) ramekins evenly with banana slices.
17. Pour cream mixture evenly into ramekins; place ramekins in a large roasting pan.
18. Add water to pan to depth of 1/2 inch. Proceed with recipe as directed.