Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Caramel Custard

Ingredients

1 cup               Sugar

1 /3 cup          Water

6                      Eggs

3 /4 cup          Sugar

1 1 /2 Tbsp     Vanilla extract

1 /8 tsp            Salt

3 1 /2 cups     Milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Arrange eight oven-proof bouillon cups in a baking dish, the sides of the baking dish should be as tall as the bouillon cups. Place one cup sugar and the 1 /3 cup water in a skillet with a flat, heavy bottom. Place over medium heat and cook until sugar caramelizes. Pour liquid caramel into bouillon cups.

Meanwhile, heat milk and half of the sugar in a small saucepot just until it begins to boil. Combine eggs, remaining sugar and vanilla and whisk together. Slowly poor hot milk into the egg mixture while stirring constantly. Divide the mixture into the bouillon cups. Poor boiling hot water into the baking dish and cover the cups with a sheet of parchment paper. Bake 40 minutes.

Chill completely. Use a paring knife to go around the custards and unmold onto serving dishes. Yield: eight

Recent Recipes

Robert’s Christmas Turkey 2025

There's nothing like a well-roasted turkey to anchor a holiday table, and no one made it quite like my grandmother. She didn't wait until Thanksgiving to serve it. She'd roast a turkey once a month throughout the year, never mind the occasion. It was a staple at her table. My mother, on the other hand, always made a formal Christmas Eve dinner, complete with turkey, dressing, and gravy. As kids, the excitement of Christmas Eve was almost too much to bear. Those big dinners felt like the beginning of Christmas itself. It’s a memory that comes to mind every time I cook a turkey or make gravy. And a good gravy can make or break the meal. Making sure the roux browns just right and finishing the gravy with a touch of lemon juice or fresh herbs are tricks worth remembering. A little extra attention to the gravy goes a long way.

Read more

Bayou Bacon & Cheddar Spread

I can lay waste to a block of cream cheese with pepper jelly and crackers in a matter of minutes. It’s a weakness. No matter how hard I try to exercise self-control, I always find myself standing over the plate at a cocktail party, making it disappear without even thinking. This spread hits the same notes, but with a smoky, savory punch that’s hard to beat. It’s become a go-to for Christmas parties, and if you’re smart, you’ll double the recipe because it’ll be gone before you know it. It’s best when made a day in advance—giving all the flavors time to mingle.

Read more

Orange and Bourbon Glazed Duck for Drew

My brother Drew and I were always wound up on Christmas Eve. He was four years older, but you’d never know it by how excited we both were. He’d be bouncing off the walls, too keyed up to sleep, while I’d follow his lead like I always did. When we finally did drift off, it wouldn’t be long before he’d shake me awake before dawn, eyes shining like he hadn’t slept a wink. Those early mornings felt like magic. Now, Christmas means he’s usually out duck hunting in the Delta, his favorite place on earth. He loves the hunt and the calm that comes with being out in the field before the sun rises. I thought of him when I put together this recipe. It’s a little bit of Drew—those wild December mornings in the Delta and the quiet way he’s always looked out for me.

Read more