Crème caramel with apple compote

Ingredients for 8 servings:

• 250 g sugar
• 1 vanilla pod(s)
• 600 ml milk
• 2 stalk(s) cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• Apple compote:
• 1 lemon(s), untreated
• 800 g apples (Elstar, Cox orange or Boskop)
• 100 g sugar
• 100 ml white wine
• 200 ml apple juice, clear
• 50 ml Calvados
• 1 ½ tsp cornstarch

Instructions

Working time approx. 1 hour; Total time approx. 1 hour

can be prepared excellently

For the crème caramel, put 150g of sugar in a saucepan, melt until dark brown caramel, and pour evenly into a 1L ring mold or into 8 single-serve molds. Split open the vanilla pod and scrape out the seeds. Bring the milk, cinnamon, and vanilla to a boil and remove the cinnamon sticks. Whisk the eggs and egg yolks with the remaining sugar. Slowly whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture and pour through a fine sieve. Pour the egg mixture into the ring mold or single-serve molds. Place the mold(s) in a large roasting tin on the second shelf from the bottom (or use the drip tray). Fill with very hot water to just below the rim of the mold(s). Bake in a preheated oven at 150°C for 1.5 hours, then remove and allow to cool. Cover the mold(s) with cling film and refrigerate, ideally overnight. Before serving, loosen the crème caramel from the side of the dish with a small knife and turn out onto a platter. Or serve in a ramekin. For the apple compote, very thinly peel the zest from half a lemon. Squeeze 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Quarter, core, and peel the apples and cut into 1.5 cm cubes. Immediately mix the apples with the lemon juice. Caramelize the sugar in a saucepan, deglaze with white wine, apple juice and Calvados. Cook until the caramel has dissolved. Mix the cornstarch with a little cold water and use this to thicken the stock. Add the apples, cinnamon sticks and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, then remove the cinnamon sticks. Transfer the compote to a bowl and let it cool in a cold water bath. Serve the crème caramel with the apple compote.