Recipes

Floating Islands

1 Mins read
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Introduction

Discover the delightful experience of creating Floating Islands, a classic French dessert known for its airy texture and rich vanilla flavor. This recipe brings you closer to the culinary traditions that have been cherished in kitchens worldwide.

Tips for this Recipe

  • Use high-quality, fresh ingredients to ensure the best flavor and texture.
  • Be precise with measurements for egg yolk temperatures and sugar granule sizes.
  • Gentle handling of egg whites is crucial in achieving a light meringue.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Floating Islands are not just dessert; they’re an experience. The velvety custard, topped with delicate sugar islands that float like clouds on a sea of milk, offers unmatched comfort and indulgence. They epitomize the artistry in simplicity.

Ingredients

  • 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup sugar (for custard)
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 4 large egg whites
  • Pinch of salt

Adviced Equipments

For this recipe, you will need:

  1. Heavy-bottomed saucepan
  2. Strainer or sieve
  3. Mixing bowl and whisk
  4. Saucepan for poaching
  5. Rubber spatula
  6. Airtight container (for refrigerating leftovers)
  7. Sugar thermometer

History of the Recipe

Floating Islands have a rich history dating back to French culinary traditions. Originally featured in 18th-century literature, this dessert gained fame through its exquisite presentation and delicate flavors. The concept of floating islands has evolved over the centuries, but remains as much an art form as it is a gastronomic delight.

Fun Facts About This Recipe

Did you know? Creating Floating Islands is both a science and an art. The magic of this dessert lies in the precise temperature control during the custard preparation, resulting in a silken texture that’s hard to replicate without technique mastery.

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Floating Islands

Floating Islands

amanda

Equipment

  • love

Ingredients

  • 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 6 large egg yolks

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 4 large egg whites

  • Pinch of salt

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

1

Instruction 1

Scrape seeds from vanilla bean halves into heavy small saucepan; add beans. Add milk and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 10 minutes.
2

Instruction 2

Whisk yolks and sugar in heavy medium saucepan until thick, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in warm milk mixture (including vanilla beans). Stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 9 minutes (do not boil). Strain custard into small bowl. Cover and chill until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.
3

Instruction 3

Lay smooth kitchen towel on work surface. Pour milk into medium (10-inch) skillet. Bring milk to simmer over medium heat.
4

Instruction 4

Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy. Add salt and beat until whites hold soft peaks. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until whites are stiff and glossy. Scoop some meringue (about twice the size of an egg) onto large oval spoon. Using another large spoon and gently transferring meringue from spoon to spoon, shape meringue into smooth oval. Drop oval into milk. Quickly shape 2 or 3 more meringues, dropping each into milk. Simmer meringues 1 minute. Using heatproof rubber spatula, turn meringues over in milk. Simmer 1 minute longer (meringues will puff up while poaching). Using slotted spoon, transfer meringues to towel (meringues will deflate slightly as they cool). Repeat process, shaping and then poaching enough meringues to make total of 12. Transfer meringues to waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.
5

Instruction 5

Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush to dissolve any sugar crystals. Boil until syrup is pale golden color, occasionally swirling pan, about 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Let syrup cool until thick enough to fall from tines of fork in ribbons, about 8 minutes. (If caramel becomes too thick, rewarm slightly over low heat, stirring constantly.)
6

Instruction 6

Spoon some sauce into center of each plate. Arrange 2 meringues on each. Dip fork into caramel and wave back and forth over meringues so that caramel comes off in strands that harden like threads, and serve.
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