Name: Crème Anglaise
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ½ cup whole milk (I use organic, not worth skimping here); ½ cup whipping cream (I use organic); 2 inch piece vanilla bean (split, seeded (totally worth the splurge)); 3 large egg yolks; 3 tablespoons sugar (organic, all natural, cane)

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Crème Anglaise is the most amazing vanilla custard sauce, dessert, pouring custard! A luxurious, creamy, rich sauce, that has so many uses. How could milk, cream, eggs, sugar and vanilla taste so amazing!?

What IS Crème Anglaise?

Crème anglaise (French for “English cream“) is a light pouring custard used as a dessert cream or sauce. It is a mix of sugar, egg yolks, and hot milk often flavoured with vanilla. Its name may derive from the prevalence of sweet custards in English desserts.
(source)

I first tried creme anglaise when I lived in Germany, my house mother made rote grütze (someday I will get my recipe out) and poured this creamy, vanilla custard on top. I thought I had died and gone to heaven, it’s that good!

Ways to Use Crème Anglaise

My most recent obsession, Chocolate Bread Pudding, drizzle over the top and I guarantee, it will take it over-the-top!
Over a warm berry or fruit dish of any kind; pies, crisps, cobblers, etc.
Allow fresh sliced berries to swim in this delicious sauce
Drizzle on pound cake, chocolate or otherwise.
On top of Molten Lava Cakes
Treat it like you would ice cream, heavy cream or whipping cream — if you would put one of those three things on a dish, you would put Crème Anglaise!
Oh and serve warm or cold! I dare you not to lick the spoon!

Ingredients for this Saucy Custard

½ cup organic whole milk (not worth skimping here)
½ cup organic whipping cream
2-inch piece vanilla bean, split, seeded (totally worth the splurge)
3 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons organic all natural cane sugar

Anyone can make this sauce! In just a few minutes you will have an amazing dessert sauce to wow your family and friends.

Making Crème Anglaise

In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan, combine milk and whipping cream. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; then add the bean itself. Bring milk mixture to a simmer, remove from heat.

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until light yellow. Gradually whisk hot milk mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Return custard to saucepan, stirring constantly over low heat until custard thickens and leaves a path in the back of a spoon when finger is drawn across, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to boil.

Place a fine mesh strainer over a small bowl and pour custard through strainer. Serve warm immediately or allow to cool, then cover and chill. Lasts up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Give these other simple sauces a try with your next dessert!

Like this recipe?

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Crème Anglaise

Crème Anglaise is the most amazing sauce, dessert topping, pouring custard! A luxurious, rich and creamy sauce, with many uses over many desserts.

4.67 from 3 votes

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Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Servings: servings (2 tablespoons per serving)

Calories: 99kcal

Author: Kathleen Pope

Equipment

Ingredients

▢ ½ cup whole milk I use organic, not worth skimping here
▢ ½ cup whipping cream I use organic
▢ 2 inch piece vanilla bean split, seeded (totally worth the splurge)
▢ 3 large egg yolks
▢ 3 tablespoons sugar organic, all natural, cane

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan, combine milk and whipping cream. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; then add the bean itself. Bring milk mixture to a simmer, remove from heat.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until light yellow. Gradually whisk hot milk mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Return custard to saucepan, stirring constantly over low heat until custard thickens and leaves a path in the back of a spoon when finger is drawn across, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to boil.
Place a fine mesh strainer over a small bowl and pour custard through strainer. Serve warm immediately or allow to cool, then cover and chill. Lasts up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

Notes

Uses for Creme Anglaise

My most recent obsession, Chocolate Bread Pudding, drizzle over the top and I guarantee, it will take it over-the-top!
Over a warm berry or fruit dish of any kind; pies, crisps, cobblers, etc.
Allow fresh sliced berries to swim in this delicious sauce
Drizzle on pound cake, chocolate or otherwise.
On top of Molten Lava Cakes
Treat it like you would ice cream, heavy cream or whipping cream — if you would put one of those three things on a dish, you would put Crème Anglaise!
Oh and serve warm or cold! I dare you not to lick the spoon!