Mandarin Orange Creme Caramel

Do you love orange flavored sweet and creamy desserts? This Mandarin Orange Creme Caramel is a luscious orange-scented custard with a decadent sweet and tangy glaze that will delight all of you orange lovers.

Satsuma Mandarin Oranges are my favorite winter fruit.  Luckily they are grown close to me and right now are in abundance at the local orchards and stores. I just love their vibrant color and the attached stems and leaves.

Not sure of the difference between an orange or a cutie. Here is a great description of the different types of oranges by S & J Mandarin Grove from New Castle, California.

• Oranges are second in size to the grapefruit. This citrus fruit has a thick skin, is round in shape, and has a tart flavor.
• Mandarins are a type of orange and the overarching category that Tangerines, Clementines, and Satsumas fall into. They are generally smaller and sweeter than oranges, a little flatter in shape, and they and have a thinner, looser skin that makes them easier to peel.
• Tangerines are a specific type of mandarin orange. They are a bright orange color, slightly tougher skins, and their flavor is a little less sweet and a bit more tart.
• Clementines are the smallest type of mandarin orange. They are super sweet, seedless, and have red-orange skins that are smooth and shiny. The mandarins you see in grocery stores called Cuties and Sweeties are Clementines. They are easier to peel than tangerines, but not as easy to peel as Satsumas.
• Satsuma Mandarins are a specific type of mandarin orange, originating in Japan more than 700 years ago. They are a lighter orange, sweet, juicy, and seedless. They are also the easiest variety to peel. The most tender, easily damaged type of mandarin, Satsuma mandarin oranges are harder to find fresh in stores.

Not only are mandarins great for snacking on but I love to use them in my cooking and baking. Satsumas flavor is tangier and more intense than regular oranges and just perks up the flavors of your baked goods.

Today’s recipe is one of my favorite desserts, it is Creme Caramel but with a twist, of course, it has the added flavor from the Satsuma Mandarins.  And, if you prefer, another citrus will work just as well.

There are a few steps to making this  Mandarin Orange Creme Caramel dessert.

The first step is grating and juicing the mandarins. After grating them, smash the peeled mandarines with a fork to release the juice.

Next, make the orange caramel by cooking sugar and the mandarin juice until it turns an amber color; then pour the caramel into a loaf pan.

Now, scald the cream, milk, a little of the juice and the mandarin peel and slowly whisk into the eggs and sugar.  Pour this strained mixture over the orange-caramel and place in a water bath for an hour, or until the custard is set.

After the custard has cooled turn out on a platter and watch the caramel drizzle over this silky-smooth dessert.

Looks delicious, doesn’t it?

4.67 from 3 votes

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Mandarin Orange Creme Caramel

This creme caramel dessert is silky smooth and flavored with tangy Mandarin oranges. Bake this dessert in a loaf pan for easy slicing. 

Course Dessert

Cook Time 1 hour

Servings 8 slices

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 each whole eggs
• 3 each egg yolks
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 each Satsuma Mandarin oranges usually you get 3 tbls. of juice per mandarin

Instructions

1. Grate three mandarins and set aside.

2. Peel the grated mandarins and put in a bowl to juice. The best way to do this is smash the mandarin with a fork to release the juice, then strain.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Making the Caramel

1. In a small saucepan add 3/4 cups of sugar and the remainder of the mandarin juice, about 6 tbls. Bring to a boil, swirling the pans to dissolve the sugar.  Let the mixture slow boil until it turns a dark amber. Do not stir.  This can take approximately 5-8 minutes.  The mixture will be reduced and thickened.

1. Pour the caramel into a loaf pan and set aside.

Making the Custard

1. In a medium saucepan, add the cream, milk, 3 tbls. of juice and the zest.  Scald the mixture over medium heat.

2. In a bowl add the eggs and remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and vanilla.  Whisk together, then slowly pour the milk mixture into the eggs while whisking.

3. Strain the milk mixture then pour over the custard.

4. Set the loaf pan into a larger pan and pour hot water into the larger pan so it comes up halfway to the loaf pan.   Set in oven and bake for 1 hour or until set. Remove from the water bath and let cool for 1 hour, then put in the refrigerator to chill for several hours.

5. Run a knife around the edges of the pan and unmold by flipping the pan onto a serving plate.

6. Keep this dessert in the refrigerator

All done and ready to serve.  

Looking for more Mandarin Orange recipes? These Sweet Mandarin Orange Scones are a favorite.

Need some orange inspiration for your kitchen?