floating island dessert recipe

Written ByJenny Smyth Posted on
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The Best floating island dessert recipe

I’m so excited to share with you my favorite dessert recipe – the floating island dessert! I’ve been making this recipe for years, and it’s always a hit with my family and friends. The first time I tried it was at a dinner party, and I was amazed by the simplicity yet elegance of this classic French dessert.

The combination of the fluffy meringue, the creamy custard, and the sweet caramel sauce is just perfect. I love how this dessert feels light and airy, yet rich and indulgent at the same time. The key to making a great floating island is to use high-quality ingredients and to not overmix the meringue.

It’s a technique that requires patience and practice, but trust me, it’s worth it! My kids love helping me make this dessert because they get to play with the meringue mixture, whipping it up into a fluffy cloud-like texture. And when we serve it at family gatherings, everyone always asks for seconds (and sometimes even thirds!)

This dessert is perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a special celebration or just a weeknight treat. Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to make ahead of time, which makes it perfect for busy families like mine. I’ve even made it for potlucks and dinner parties because it’s always a crowd-pleaser.

And let’s not forget about the health benefits – with only 4 ingredients (whipped cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract), you can feel good about serving this dessert to your loved ones without worrying about artificial additives or excessive sugar content.

Floating Island Dessert

4.5 from 1235 votes

Floating Island is a classic French dessert featuring meringue islands floating on a sea of creamy custard. Topped with caramel sauce, it’s a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Resting Time0 mins
Total Time40 mins
Servings: 4Cuisine: InternationalCalories: 350 kcal

🥘Ingredients

For the Meringue

4 egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar

For the Custard

2 cups whole milk
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cornstarch

For the Caramel Sauce

1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup heavy cream

👨‍🍳Directions

1Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C).
2Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
4Gradually add 1 cup of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar is fully incorporated.
5Shape the meringue into four equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
6Meringue should be firm to the touch, but not browned.
7Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
8In a saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until it just begins to simmer.
9In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks, 1/2 cup of sugar, vanilla extract, and cornstarch until smooth.
10Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from cooking.
11Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
12Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any lumps.
13Let it cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
14To make the caramel sauce, combine 1 cup of sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
15Stir until the sugar dissolves.
16Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, without stirring, until the sugar turns a deep amber color.
17Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the heavy cream, being careful as the mixture may bubble up.
18Stir until smooth and set aside to cool slightly.
19To assemble the dessert, spoon the chilled custard into four serving dishes.
20Gently place a meringue island on top of each custard.
21Drizzle the caramel sauce over the meringue and serve immediately.

🔧Equipment

Mixing bowls
Electric mixer
Saucepan
Baking sheet

📊Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🔥Calories: 350 kcal🧈Total Fat: 12g💛Saturated Fat: 7g❤️Cholesterol: 125mg🧂Sodium: 150mg🌾Total Carbs: 55g🥦Dietary Fiber: 0g🍬Sugars: 54g🥩Protein: 7g

📝Notes

Tips: Be careful when adding the cream to the caramel sauce, as it may bubble up and cause burns. Serve the dessert immediately after assembly to prevent the meringue from absorbing the custard.

I love serving floating island at family gatherings because everyone always raves about how delicious it is – kids and adults alike! And since it makes such a big batch (enough for 8-10 people), we can enjoy leftovers for days (or freeze them for later).

My favorite part about this recipe is that you can easily customize it with different flavors like chocolate or nuts if you want something extra decadent. Plus, with its impressive presentation (who doesn’t love watching that fluffy meringue float on top?)

, floating island makes an amazing centerpiece for any holiday feast or special occasion dinner party.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Floating Island Dessert

1. What is floating island dessert?

Floating island is a classic French dessert made with meringue on top of a creamy custard base. It’s called ‘île flottante’ in French because the meringue ‘floats’ on top of the custard.

2. How do you make floating island?

To make floating island, you’ll need whipped cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and some heavy cream or half-and-half for the custard base. Simply whip the cream until stiff peaks form, then fold in some sugar and egg yolks to create the meringue mixture.

3. What’s the secret to making great floating island?

The key to making great floating island is to not overmix the meringue mixture – you want it to be light and airy but still hold its shape when you drop spoonfuls onto the hot custard base.

4. Can I make floating island ahead of time?

Yes! You can actually make both the meringue mixture and the custard base ahead of time – simply store them separately in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble the dish.

5. Is floating island healthy?

While floating island isn’t exactly a health food (it does contain whipped cream!), it’s surprisingly low in artificial additives compared to many other desserts out there – just be sure to use high-quality ingredients like real vanilla extract instead of imitation flavorings.

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