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Creme Anglaise

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

40 minutes, plus 2 days chilling

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 2 cups)

Creme Anglaise

Ingredients

½ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise1 ½ cups whole milk 5 large egg yolks ¼ cup sugar Pinch salt

Before You Begin

If you cannot find a vanilla bean, stir 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the finished sauce. Be sure to heat the custard slowly, stirring continuously, over low heat. When stirring, run the spoon along the sides and bottom of the saucepan to prevent the yolks from curdling.

Instructions

  1. With paring knife, scrape vanilla seeds free from pod. Place seeds, bean pod, and milk in medium saucepan and heat mixture over medium heat until steaming, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 20 minutes. Uncover, return mixture to medium heat, and heat until steaming, about 1 minute.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk yolks, sugar, and salt together in medium bowl until pale yellow in color, about 1 minute. Following illustrations 1 and 2, slowly pour 1/2 cup hot milk into yolk mixture to temper, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture thickens slightly, coats back of spoon with thin film, and registers 175 to 180 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 5 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour mixture through fine-mesh strainer into medium bowl. Transfer to clean, airtight container, pressing piece of plastic wrap flush against surface to prevent sauce from forming skin. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 days.
Creme Anglaise
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Elle Simone.

Creme Anglaise

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

40 minutes, plus 2 days chilling

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 2 cups)

Ingredients

½ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
1 ½ cups whole milk
5 large egg yolks
¼ cup sugar
Pinch salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

½ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
1 ½ cups whole milk
5 large egg yolks
¼ cup sugar
Pinch salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

½ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
1 ½ cups whole milk
5 large egg yolks
¼ cup sugar
Pinch salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

We found that slow, continuous stirring over low heat gave us the smoothest crème anglaise recipe. Running the spoon along the sides and bottom of the saucepan prevented the yolks from curdling.

Before You Begin

If you cannot find a vanilla bean, stir 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the finished sauce. Be sure to heat the custard slowly, stirring continuously, over low heat. When stirring, run the spoon along the sides and bottom of the saucepan to prevent the yolks from curdling.

Instructions

  1. With paring knife, scrape vanilla seeds free from pod. Place seeds, bean pod, and milk in medium saucepan and heat mixture over medium heat until steaming, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 20 minutes. Uncover, return mixture to medium heat, and heat until steaming, about 1 minute.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk yolks, sugar, and salt together in medium bowl until pale yellow in color, about 1 minute. Following illustrations 1 and 2, slowly pour 1/2 cup hot milk into yolk mixture to temper, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture thickens slightly, coats back of spoon with thin film, and registers 175 to 180 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 5 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour mixture through fine-mesh strainer into medium bowl. Transfer to clean, airtight container, pressing piece of plastic wrap flush against surface to prevent sauce from forming skin. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 days.

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