Caneles de Bordeaux

These crispy French custard cakes are traditionally baked in special fluted molds, but the molds were no longer available in my local shop. So I improvised with muffin tins and the results were pretty amazing. Just be sure you bake them long enough to achieve the classic crispy exterior.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 193 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup rum
• 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons beeswax

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

Step 2

Place flour, sugar, egg yolks, rum, vanilla extract, and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix and smear into a smooth paste using a spatula. Continue mixing until flour is fully incorporated.

Step 3

Place butter and pour milk into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. As soon as milk mixture comes to a simmer, remove from heat. Slowly add half the milk to the flour mixture to prevent the egg yolks from cooking. Whisk until well blended and smooth. Slowly pour in the rest of the milk mixture; whisk until batter is smooth. Batter will be thin.

Step 4

Melt 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon butter and beeswax in a skillet over medium heat. Stir with a pastry brush. Remove from heat. Brush the bottom and the sides of each muffin cup generously with the butter/beeswax mixture.

Step 5

Ladle batter into muffin cups until mixture is almost to the top. Place pan in preheated oven. Bake 10 minutes.

Step 6

Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake until canelés are very well browned, about 50 minutes.

Step 7

Allow to cool just 5 minutes. Run a thin blade around the sides and carefully remove canelés from cups. Invert onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely to room temperature to create the crispy surface.