Basic Desserts Recipes - Creme au Beurre

Ingredients

• 60ml water

• 75g caster sugar

• 2 egg yolks

• 150g unsalted butter, softened

• For the flavorings

• Citrus: replace water with orange, lemon or lime juice and 10ml grated rind

• Chocolate: add 50g plain chocolate, melted

• Coffee: add 10ml instant coffee granules, dissolved n 5ml boiling water, cooled

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Method:

1. Bring the water to the boil, remove from the heat and stir in the sugar. Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Then boil rapidly until the mixture becomes syrupy, or  reaches the "thread" stage. To test, place a little syrup on the back of a dry teaspoon. Press a second teaspoon on to the syrup and gently pull apart. The syrup should form a fine thread. If not, return to the heat, boil rapidly and re-test a minute later.

2. Whisk the egg yolks together in a bowl. Continue to whisk while slowly adding the sugar syrup. Whisk until thick, pale and cool.

3. Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg mixture  gradually, beating well after each addition, until thick and fluffy. For Chocolate or Coffee Creme au Beurre, fold in the flavoring at the end. If you prefer a citrus flavor, follow the instructions above.