Smooth and Creamy Creme Caramel

Oooo-La-La! So creamy and decadently delicious. Tried and true Gale Gand recipe. She's a 'go-to' queen maven of desserts if you want perfection.

• Ready In: 6 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 3  cups sugar
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 4  cups  whole milk (lower in fat milk is fine too)
• 1⁄2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (refer to note below)
• 4  eggs
• 8  egg yolks

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Pour 2 cups sugar into the center of a deep saucepan. Carefully pour the water around the sugar, trying not to splash any sugar onto the sides of the pan. Do not stir; gently draw your finger through the center of the sugar twice, making a cross, to moisten it. (this method prevents crystallization).
3. Over medium high heat, bring to a boil without stirring. Reduce the heat to a fast simmer and cook without stirring until amber-caramel in color for 5 - 10 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat.
4. Meanwhile, set a 9" cake pan nearby. When the caramel is cooked, quickly pour into the cake pan and swirl to coat the sides (do this very carefully to not burn yourself) . Set aside to cool.
5. In a saucepan, bring the milk and vanilla bean to a boil over medium heat. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside to infuse.
6. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, additional egg yolks, and the remaining 1 cup sugar.
7. Whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture. Whisk the remaining hot milk into the egg mixture. Strain the mixture into a pitcher to smooth it and to remove the vanilla bean, scraping seeds of vanilla bean and returning it to the egg mixture. Discard vanilla bean shell.
8. Pour the mixture into the caramel-lined cake pan and place in a hot water bath.
9. Bake in the center of the oven until dry and set in the center, 45 - 50 minutes.
10. Remove from the water bath and let cool. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or refrigerate until ready to serve (up to 24 hours). Turn onto a serving platter.
11. NOTE: Vanilla bean is always preferred because it imparts a pure deep flavor as opposed to vanilla extract. I've used vanilla extract (do not use imitation) many a time due to the cost of the vanilla bean. The next best thing to vanilla bean is pure vanilla bean paste - Nielson Massey brand carries this item. But if you can afford it, go with the vanilla bean!