Thursday, November 10, 2011

easy coconut creme brulee and coco-contest

Coconut-based creme brulee? What's not to like?

Holidays like Thanksgiving can be stressful, especially for vegans and vegetarians who want to wow and amaze their meat-centric families with knock-your-socks-off recipes that disprove all the eye-rolling, smirks and nose wrinkles. That's why I wrote Celebrate Vegan: 200 Life-Affirming Recipes for Occasions Big and Small.  And I'm not the only one watching your plant-based back. Have you tried the incredible holiday nogs from So Delicious? I practically chugged down the entire carton of Chocolate Mint in one sitting. And the Classic Nog is richer and creamier than any nog you've ever tasted, dairy-and-egg laden versions included. In fact, I like to use it as a coffee and tea creamer--it's that decadent.
The Classic Nog inspired me to create an easy, coconut creme brulee recipe. You don't even need to buy a fancy creme brulee torch [though you're certainly welcome to use one if you have one]; you "burn" the sugar topping by placing the gelled brulees under the broiler for a few minutes. [BrulĂ©e means "burnt" in French, in case you were wondering]

Before I hand over the recipe, I'd like to announce another contest. The winner will get not one, but TWO coupons for a free So Delicious product. To enter, simply leave a comment and tell me your favorite Thanksgiving food. I'll announce the random winner in a few days.

So Delicious nogs: another yummy reason to love autumn

Easy Coconut-Nog Creme Brulee
  • 2 cups So Delicious Coconut Nog
  • 1 1/2 T agar flakes or powder
  • About 1/2-3/4 cup light brown sugar

Serves 4

Pour the nog into a saucepan. Add the agar powder or flakes, stir and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Place on stove and bring it to a boil slowly over medium-high. Boil for one minute, stirring to ensure agar dissolves.

Pour into serving ramekins or serving dishes. Place in 'fridge and allow to cool for at least an hour.

Turn on broiler. Sprinkle the top of each serving with a generous coating of brown sugar, at least 2 T. Place under the broiler and broil until the sugar starts to bubble and darken slightly, about 5-7 minutes [Be sure to check every minute or so, at this point]. Or alternately, torch the sugar with a creme brulee torch.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 30 minutes. Refrigerate for another hour or two and serve.



54 comments:

cbg said...

It's a toss up for my favorite Thanksgiving food between pumpkin pie and stuffing.

Rachel said...

Cornbread stuffing!

Anne said...

I like stuffing. It's all about the carbs for me.

Also, I've been hooked on Sweetzel's Ginger Snaps ever since you mentioned in your blog that they're vegan!

Bianca said...

I reviewed these products today too! And I still have some nog left, so I should definitely give this creme brulee a try!

Chef Amber Shea said...

I love this super-simple recipe!

My favorite is pecan pie. Hands down.

Lee Ann said...

stuffing with gravy

janet @ the taste space said...

My favourite Thanksgiving food has always been rouladen... since going vegan, I have no substitute. :(

Kelly said...

I love all the traditional Thanksgiving foods (sans turkey, duh), but I have to choose stuffing because I never ever eat it except at Thanksgiving! :)

foodfeud said...

My favorite Thanksgiving food is probably my aunt's succotash! I only had it for the first time about 3 years ago and I really look forward to it now.

Molly G said...

I've never had nog, vegan or otherwise! My favorite thanksgiving food is Brussels sprouts! and stuffing. and green beans with almonds. and pumpkin pie. I love it all!

Sarah C said...

Favorite Thanksgiving food is totally stuffing! YUMM.

Jenni (aka Vegyogini) said...

Hmmm...probably my homemade stuffing, but my homemade cranberry sauce is a close second! Thank you for the giveaway and recipe!

Book and Cat Librarian said...

Apple pie!

Michelle said...

Pumpkin pie

Lauren (PB&G) said...

Hmmm... mashed potatoes. Or sweet potatoes.. ok can I just love it all?? This will be my first vegan Thanksgiving.. and we'll be on our way home from SC. Hooray for vegan airport options!!

Marie said...

Cranberry sauce!

M said...

How I love the cranberry dishes!

Danielle said...

It's so hard to choose a favorite! As much as I love the stuffing & mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, mashed sweet potatoes with roasted dandies, pumpkin pie and all the rest, I would have to make winning favorite to brussel sprouts. I love them dressed with an apple cider dressing. Yum..

DDiva said...

sweet potatoes and mashed turnip!!!

Joanie said...

Pumpkin and apple pie, but our yam bake is a close second!

Melissa said...

Stuffing!

Vegiegail said...

Ooh la la! That looks so delicious! I have a container of coconut nog in the fridge right now that's just screaming to become creme brulee!

Matt said...

If only we had that holiday nogg in Australia, we have nothing we could similarly use.. Grr!

Do you like their normal coconut milk? We had it at a Good Food and Wine Show last weekend, and all the people tasting it said it was awful. I wasn't a fan, either.

Suburban Snow White said...

Hmm....favorite food? I love my Gramma's party potatoes, WHICH (I'm proud to say) I've recently veganized and which taste even better than the original. My family will be shocked this year. :)

supercarrot said...

it's all about the combinations of stuff for me. it's not a thanksgiving without the stuffing and green bean casserole.

Cynthia said...

I have never had eggnog so I will definitely have to try this product. Even before going vegan I never really enjoyed stuffing, yet every year I try some again to remind myself why I don't like it. So my favorite food is definitely green beans with olive oil and garlic. I also love homemade cranberry sauce with pears.

Natalie @ Angst Loves Spinach said...

I'm a total sucker for mashed potatoes

radioactivegan said...

mmmm ... that creme brulee looks great! My favorite T-giving food is dressing. My mouth waters a little just thinking of it (and I haven't even had it in five years! maybe this will be the year of the vegan dressing!).

Sarah (sshoemakerAThotmailDOTcom said...

I make vegan shepherds pie with mashed potatoes, onions and mushrooms, TVP and sweet potatoes all layered together and it's always a hit even among the non-veg :)

Thanks for the giveaway!

sshoemakerAThotmailDOTcom

Sarah Creighton said...

My fave has always been mac 'n cheese but now it's the vegan version!
-Sarah
veggie-kids.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Stuffing , Stuffing, stuffing! I LOVE my homemade stuffing filled with brown and wild rice, multi-grain gluten free bread, fresh herbs, mushrooms, celery,onions, dried fruit and mushroom broth.YUM!YUM!YUM!!!

Richa said...

we dont really celebrate thanksgiving.. but i love all the sweet potato dishes, and green beans and pies! and ofcourse breakfast pancakes..

just posted some Tiramisu pancakes for the holidays!

I got the vegan diner book btw.. thank you so much.. it is an amazing collection! and a very pretty book. hubbs usually doesnt like cookbooks, but loves this one!

Richa @ Hobby And More Food Blog

Angels521 said...

Cranberries and pumpkin pie:-)

Arlene said...

Pie!!!

kelly g. said...

Mashed potatoes with gravy!

jenni g said...

i love green bean casserole, especially because i got my family to love the vegan version

Theresa said...

I'm not entering the contest, because there is no nog, soy or otherwise, for sale here. But, that creme brulee sounds amazing, and I'm going to try it out with some spiced coconut cream, I think...

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love pumpkin pie. Nothing compares!

Chris said...

Stuffing! Homemade or Arrowhead Mills.

Lisa G said...

My favorite recipe is my Aunt's stuffing. Sadly, we lost her almost a year ago, but her stuffing recipe will always be cherished and passed down to all of her grandchildren!

Cheryl said...

Weird, maybe, but I love the canned cranberry sauce. Eating it only at Thanksgiving and Christmas somehow makes it special.

Anonymous said...

My favorite Thanksgiving dish is mashed potatoes withe gravy. It's a boring answer, I know, but me and the o were meant to be!

Anonymous said...

Mashed potatoes! They're really the only Thanksgiving food I like.

vegAnn said...

Love some pecan pie

Belle said...

I'm torn between stuffing and mashed root vegetables of all kinds. Carbs!

bassrocks9 said...

I once had Canadian thanksgiving with a friend and her mom made an amazing butternut squash soup! It was creamy and slightly sweet, I couldn't stop eating it, and to this day I am obsessed with all things butternut squash.

GraceP said...

Most definitely mashed potatoes. YUM. Last year we ate Thanksgiving at the Chicago Diner (all vegan restaurant) and I had tofurkey, mashed taters, stuffing, the whole shebang. It was delish!

jhemphillm said...

Sweet potatoes are the best, any incarnation.

Melissa said...

My favorite thanksgiving food is roasted sweet potatoes!!

xmeliss182x (at) yahoo (dot) com

Lisa said...

Ooooh! Creme Brulee! Haven't even ventured into that area of dessert yet!

I just found your blog through So Delicious' facebook page! It's really great! :)

I'm from http://gobakeorgohome.blogspot.com/

Thanksgiving 2011 said...

pumpkin pie vs. stuffing vs. yams! yum! Hither and Yon

Jess A. said...

My mom's homemade cranberry sauce- it's delish!

Cooking Classes said...

The stuffing is so good, this recipe looks so perfect to make coconut creme brulee.

Cooking School said...

This recipe is really great, simple but turns out to be very sweet and tasty. Thanks for Sharing the Recipe