Orange Vanilla Custard Recipe

Servings: 6

The combination of orange and vanilla flavors along with the lusciousness of the texture makes this a delicious and satisfying dessert.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs, very fresh
• 2 large egg yolks, very fresh
• 1/3 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 vanilla bean pod, cut in half, seeds scraped
• 2 tsp. finely grated orange zest

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 300° F.
2. Place six 4-oz. ramekins in a deep baking pan, large enough to hold them with space in between each ramekin.
3. In a heavy-bottomed pot, bring the milk to a simmer on medium-low and then remove from heat.
4. Place the eggs, yolks, sugar, salt, vanilla seeds, and pods in a separate bowl and mix well.
5. Add a little bit of the milk to the eggs and whisk to warm the eggs up and then add everything back to the pot and whisk to combine.
6. Let vanilla steep in the milk for about 10 minutes.
7. Strain the mixture into a clean bowl and add the orange zest.
8. Pour the mixture into the cups and place the pan on a rack in the middle of the oven.
9. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cups.
10. Bake until the custards are just set (they will still be a little loose in the center), 30 to 35 minutes.
11. Let the custards cool in the water bath for about 2 hours and then serve at room temperature or chilled.