I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the Tocino de Cielo recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparation of Tocino de Cielo. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What is Tocino de Cielo?
Tocino de Cielo is a traditional Spanish dessert which means “bacon from heaven”, although, it doesn’t contain the bacon. It is a rich, custard-like dessert prepared from sugar and egg yolks, often favoured with citrusy lime juice or orange. The dessert is famous for its shiny, creamy and smooth texture.
It originated from Andalucia and is also enjoyed in the Philippines as a sweet treat. It is a nice way to finish a meal, providing a great balance of richness and sweetness. Its simple and elegant style makes it great for a gathering or special occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Decadent Flavor: The combination of egg and sugar, provides a creamy and sweet custard that melts in your mouth. The light zesty taste provides a refreshing contrast to the richness.
- Simple Ingredients: You can prepare this recipe with just simple ingredients such as water, sugar, egg yolks and a little citrus juice.
- Elegant Presentation: This dessert is visually amazing. Its smooth texture and golden and shiny surface make it stand out for any event or gathering.
- Versatility: This recipe is versatile. You can try serving it with fresh fruits, whipped cream or alongside a spoon of ice cream. It also goes well with coffee or tea, providing a nice way to end any meal.
- Cultural Connection: This recipe is derived from Spanish and Filipino cuisine, allowing you to explore and celebrate various culinary traditions.
Tips
- Use Fresh Eggs: This recipe contains a lot of egg yolks, fresh and high-quality eggs that will improve the texture and flavour of the custard.
- Careful with the Caramel: While preparing the caramel, keep an eye on it to prevent burning. As soon as it reaches a golden amber colour, remove it from the heat otherwise, it may taste not very pleasant.
- Avoid Cooking the Eggs: While adding the warm sugar syrup to the egg yolks, perform it slowly and keep mixing to avoid the yolks from cooking. It provides a smooth texture to the custard.
- Strain the Mixture: For more smooth custard, strain the egg yolk mixture through a fine-mesh sieve before pouring it into the dish with caramel. It avoids any bits of cooked egg and provides a silky texture.
- Water Bath (Bain-Marie): Baking the custard in a water bath helps maintain the temperature and prevent the edges from cooking too quickly. Ensure that the water is halfway up the sides of the ramekins or baking dish.
Variations
- Chocolate Tocinillo: You can mix melted dark chocolate or cocoa powder into the custard mixture for a rich chocolate flavour. This variation is great for chocolate lovers.
- Coconut Tocinillo: You can mix coconut milk into the custard for a tropical flavour. You can also use shredded coconut for more flavour and texture.
- Nutty Tocinillo: You can mix ground nuts such as pistachios or hazelnuts into the custard mixture for better texture.
- Fruit-Topped Tocinillo: You can serve tocino de cielo with toppings of fruits such as kiwi, mango, and berries for a refreshing flavour which balances the rich custard.
- Caramel Tocino de Cielo: Before serving, you can drizzle caramel sauce on top for an additional layer of sweetness and flavour.
Serving Suggestions
- Coffee or Espresso: You can serve coffee or espresso with tocino de cielo which balances the sweetness of the dessert, as the bitterness of the coffee improves the flavour.
- Ice Cream: You can add a scoop of coconut or vanilla ice cream which provides a creamy cool flavour which goes well with the hot custard, offering a delicious mix.
- Nuts: You can try serving chopped nuts such as hazelnuts or pistachios for a crispy and nutty texture which improves both the taste and presentation.
- Whipped Cream: You can add a spoonful of whipped cream which provides a creamy and airy texture, balancing the rich sweetness of tocino de cielo.
- Mint Leaves: You can try fresh mint leaves as a garnish, adding contrast and refreshing flavour which makes the dish look brighter and taste better.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let it cool completely at room temperature.
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let it cool completely at room temperature.
- You can tightly wrap it in aluminium foil and plastic wrap or put it in an air-tight freezer-safe container.
- You can put it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the tocinode cielo is a delicious dessert which brings a touch of luxury and tradition to your table. With its rich, sweet flavour and creamy texture, this is enough to satisfy your cravings or for a special occasion. Whether you enjoy it with fruit toppings, caramel or whipped cream it is sure to impress everyone.
Don’t forget to experiment with toppings or variations to make your taste. So, grab your ingredients and start preparing this delicious dessert. Don’t forget to share your experience in the comments below.
Read More:- Mango Bread Recipe
Tocino de Cielo Recipe
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- For the Caramel:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- For the Custard:
- 10 large egg yolks
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- Zest of 1 lemon or orange optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- In a saucepan,mix water and sugar over normal flame. Mix until the sugar dissolved.
- Once it is dissolved, stop mixing and let it boil until it forms a golden amber color. Ensure to avoid burning it.
- Now quickly pour the caramel into small ramekins or into a round baking dish, tilting to coat the bottom evenly. Keep it aside to cool and harden.
- In a separate saucepan, mix water and sugar. Heat over medium flame until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Remove it from the flame and let it cool a little.
- In a bowl, mix egg yolks until they are thoroughly mixed. Gradually add the warm water syrup to the egg yolks while mixing continously to avoid the eggs from cooking.
- You can also add orange zest, lemon or vanilla extract to the mixture.
- Set the temperature of the oven to 175 C (350 F). Pour the custard mixture over the caramel in the ramekins or baking dish.
- Put the baking dish or ramekins in a large pan containing hot water to evenly cook the custard.
- Bake until the custard is set but still a little jiggly in the center, it may take around 30-40 minutes.
- Remove it from the oven and let it cool at room temperature. Then, put it in the refriegrator until cooled, it may take atleast 2 hours.
- For serving, run a knife around the edges of the custard to loosen it, then invert onto a plate. The caramel will flow over the top.