Vanilla-Thyme Crème Anglaise

Name: Vanilla-Thyme Crème Anglaise
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D1H0M
Total time: PT0D1H0M
Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients: 2 cup whole milk; 5 thyme sprigs; 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved; ¼ cup sugar; 6 large egg yolks; ⅛ tsp. kosher salt

It doesn’t get more decadent than this sweet, custardy sauce that’s perfect with desserts of all kinds.

Serves
2 cups
Time
1 hour

YOSSY AREFI

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated on November 30, 2022

Crème anglaise—the classic “English” vanilla custard sauce—gains a faint herbal note thanks to a few sprigs of thyme in this no-fuss recipe, which pairs wonderfully with everything from English sticky toffee pudding to molten ch o colate cake.

Ingredients

2 cup whole milk
5 thyme sprigs
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved
¼ cup sugar
6 large egg yolks
⅛ tsp. kosher salt

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Instructions

Step 1

Fill a large bowl halfway with ice water and set a smaller bowl inside it. To a medium pot set over medium heat, add the milk, thyme, and vanilla bean and seeds and bring to a simmer.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the sugar and yolks. Gradually whisk ½ cup of the hot milk mixture into the eggs, then pour the egg mixture into the pot. Cook, stirring continuously with a silicone spatula, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the spatula, 5–7 minutes.

Step 3

Remove from the heat and strain into the bowl in the ice bath (discard the solids). Stir until cooled slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the ice bath, cover the surface with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.