Mmm... White Chocolate Creme Brulee

This recipe came from my friend Duncan. He said, "I have a yummy tasty White Chocolate Creme Brulee that is fabulously easy to make. I'm not a big fan of white chocolate and I love this." He got it from the Portobello Yacht Club.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4-7

Ingredients

• 5  large  egg yolks
• 1⁄2 cup sugar, divided
• 2  cups  whipping cream
• 3  ounces white chocolate, imported finely chopped
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2  tablespoons sugar

Directions

1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 300 degrees F.
2. Whisk egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl.
3. Bring cream and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar to simmer in heavy medium saucepan; reduce heat to low.
4. Gradually add chopped white chocolate to the cream mixture and whisk until smooth.
5. Gradually whisk the hot white chocolate mixture into yolk mixture, then whisk in vanilla.
6. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve, then ladle custard into four 10-oz custard cups (if you use 4 oz ramekins, it will fill about 7 of them).
7. Place the filled cups in large baking pan and add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups.
8. Bake at 300 degrees F until the custards are set in the center, about 1 hour.
9. Carefully remove the custards from water and let cool.
10. Cover (plastic wrap works fine) and refrigerate.
11. Just before serving, preheat the broiler.
12. Sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon sugar over each custard.
13. Broil until the sugar caramelizes, watching carefully, which will take about 2 minutes.
14. Serve hot, or refrigerate up to 1 hour and serve cold.
15. Makes 4 servings.