Now, my cravings for desserts is always on another level. I have tried so many of them until I heard the hype around this special piece of dessert, flottante dessert. This French dessert is also known as ile flottante but popularly goes by the name ‘floating island.’ Now, I tried it and I can’t say really that I missed making one of my cravings. It combines the lightness of baked meringue with the richness of caramel and crème anglaise.
Now let’s evoke the sensations that will linger long after the last spoonful has been savored. I want to unravel the secrets behind preparing the perfect flottante dessert and guess what! You are going to love it I swear, stay with me now!
Preparing the Perfect Flottante Dessert
Preparing flottante dessert requires a delicate touch and attention to detail. Begin by gathering high-quality ingredients, such as fresh eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and your choice of fruit or sauce for topping. Since you are a regular baker, I know your kitchen cabinet is full of these!
Ingredients for Flottante Dessert
Now if you didn’t have a clue on what these simple ingredients do, let me steal the show for you:
Eggs: The foundation of the flottante dessert, eggs provide the light and airy texture that makes this treat so delightful. Whisked to perfection, they create a delicate base for the floating islands.
Sugar: Sweetness is essential in any dessert, and sugar plays a crucial role in bringing out the flavors of this heavenly creation. From caramelizing into golden peaks on top of each island to sweetening the creamy vanilla sauce, sugar adds that touch of indulgence.
Vanilla Extract: With its warm and aromatic essence, vanilla extract infuses every bite with a heavenly fragrance. Just a few drops elevate the flavor profile of both the islands and sauce.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Flottante Dessert
Preparing the meringue base requires whisking egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in vanilla extract and cornstarch to create a light and fluffy mixture that will serve as the foundation for our Flottante dessert.
Assembling the dessert involves dolloping spoonfuls of the meringue onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Creating wells in each mound allows us to later fill them with delectable custard.
The careful placement of these little clouds ensures uniformity while leaving enough space for them to rise beautifully during baking.😋
Baking and serving our Flottante dessert is another experience on its own. After being baked to perfection, these meringues are gently placed on a bed of velvety crème anglaise, allowing their pillowy texture to float effortlessly. Safe travels to cloud nine because this is the real deal guys!
Serving and Presentation
Consider adding a touch of citrusy zing with fresh lemon zest or vibrant berry coulis for an explosion of fruity goodness.
For those who crave richness like me, drizzle some warm caramel sauce over the meringue clouds and watch as it cascades down, creating tantalizing ribbons that beg to be devoured.
Creative Flottante Dessert Presentation Ideas
Try to be creative, I know you love going the extra mile and these three presentations will really mean alot. You can infuse these ideas any time any day:
Edible Flower Garnish: Elevate your flottante dessert presentation with a touch of elegance and natural beauty. Add delicate edible flowers as a garnish, creating a visually stunning dish that is almost too pretty to eat.
Chocolate Drizzle Art: Turn your dessert into an edible masterpiece by using melted chocolate to create intricate designs on the plate.
Miniature Glass Domes: Give your flottante dessert a twist by serving individual portions in miniature glass domes. Mimicking the appearance of whimsical terrariums, this creative presentation adds a playful element to the dining experience.
Pairing Flottante Dessert with Complementing Flavors
- Citrus Zest and Berries: This enhances the lightness of the flottante dessert by adding bright citrus zest and fresh berries as toppings.
- Caramelized Nuts and Spiced Syrups: Pair your flottante dessert with caramelized nuts like almonds or hazelnuts, along with drizzles of spiced syrups like cinnamon or cardamom-infused syrup.
- Coffee Infusion: Infusing it with coffee essence or serving it alongside a shot of espresso.
Why Flottante Dessert Will Leave You Breathless
Let me for the last time ignite your appetite on why you are going to fall in love again and again with this dessert as it’s not your ordinary icing in the cake:
A Visual Feast: The Flottante Dessert captivates with its exquisite presentation, a work of art that ignites the senses. Each delicate meringue island floats gracefully on a sea of creamy custard, adorned with vibrant fruits and drizzles of luscious sauces. It is a sight to behold, an invitation to indulge in pure decadence.
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Magic: The meringue clouds dissolve effortlessly on your tongue, releasing bursts of sweetness that dance harmoniously with the velvety smoothness of the custard below. Light as air yet rich in flavor, this dessert leaves a lingering sensation that will transport you to culinary bliss.
Perfect Occasions for Serving Flottante Dessert
Romantic dinner dates become even more enchanting when you surprise your partner with the heavenly delight of flottante dessert. Try and make a difference of a lifetime with that evening treat with your life-member, it works any day, I have tried it ooh😉
Celebrate your wedding anniversary in style with the indulgence of flottante dessert. This exquisite treat will serve as a sweet reminder of years filled with love, joy, and shared experiences. It’s the perfect way to honor your special day and create new memories together.
Holiday celebrations like Christmas and New Year, are made even more memorable when you serve up flottante dessert. Its lightness on the palate perfectly complements festive feasts. My family has been preferring this dessert to others.
Tips for a Successful Flottante Dessert Presentation
Choose elegant and visually appealing serving dishes and utensils to enhance the presentation of your flottante dessert. Opt for transparent glass bowls or delicate porcelain plates.
Garnish with fresh fruits or edible flowers. The vibrant colors and natural textures will add a touch of freshness and elegance to your dessert, making it irresistible to both the eyes and taste buds.
Complete your flottante dessert presentation by serving it with a side of flavored sauce or coulis. Whether it’s a rich chocolate sauce, tangy berry coulis, or zesty citrus drizzle.
This Dessert is the Best out there …
The Flottante dessert is truly a show-stopping crowd-pleaser that will leave your guests in awe. Its unique and elegant presentation is guaranteed to impress even the most discerning food enthusiasts.
Viral TikTok Flottante Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE CRÈME ANGLAISE
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 6 cardamom pods lightly crushed
- ½ vanilla bean halved lengthwise
- 2 strips lemon peel
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 egg yolks
FOR THE MERINGUES
- 2 egg whites
- ⅛ tbsp cream of tartar
- salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup toasted pistachios roughly chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the crème anglaise: Put half-and-half in a saucepan over medium heat and add cardamom, vanilla bean and lemon peel. Bring milk to just under a simmer and remove from heat. Let steep 10 to 15 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Add egg yolks and whisk to a creamy consistency. Place mixing bowl over a pot of boiling water (making a double boiler), making sure water does not touch bottom of bowl. Slowly add the hot milk to the mixture and cook mixture, whisking continuously. When ready, after 5 minutes or so, it should coat a spoon and resemble thick cream. Remove from heat. Strain through a fine sieve, then cool over an ice bath, whisking occasionally. Refrigerate. (May be prepared up to a day in advance.)
- Make the meringues: Put egg whites in a clean mixing bowl with cream of tartar and salt. Whip whites until stiff, then add sugar and continue beating until shiny peaks form.
- Put milk in a wide saucepan and bring to a simmer. Spoon meringue into 6 cloud shapes and place in simmering milk. Cover pan and cook for about 5 minutes, until meringues are firm. Remove with a slotted spoon.
- To serve, pour ½ cup crème anglaise into each of 6 shallow bowls. Top each with a meringue. Garnish with cherries and a drizzle of cherry syrup. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
