Breakfast for Dessert

Today I’m serving breakfast for dessert… or is it dessert for breakfast?  My play on boiled eggs and soldiers is a sweet combo of boiled vanilla custard and mango
puree poured into sterilized egg shells.  Like the original savory toast version, the shortbread soldiers are used for dipping into the faux yolk. 

Morning coffee
has been made extra sweet in the form of a lollipop. It can be enjoyed as is or you can use it in a brewed cup to stir in strength and sweetness. 

Come on t’my house.  I’m gonna give you caaaandy.  For breakfast.

The custard eggs make a nice special occasion dessert, and they’d be really cute for the Easter table.  The original idea for these eggshell desserts was found at The British Larder (they use panna cotta), but it appears that Martha Stewart has a version too!

The coffee lollipops will probably be made bi-monthly at our house.  Like-minded coffee fiends,  you must give them a try!

Boiled Custard Eggs and Shortbread Soldiers

8-10 servings                                                                                                             [click to print]

Prepare the egg shells:

8 Jumbo Eggs or 10 Large eggs

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Place a cooling rack over a baking tray.

Crack the eggs by tapping them with a spoon on the most pointed end.  Don’t even think about trying to crack them on the sides – I tried repeatedly -this does not work.   Once egg tip is cracked, pinch away just enough of the egg shell top for the egg white and yolk to pour out.  Reserve 2 eggs for custard and save the rest of the eggs for other use.  Wash the shells in warm
water. Rub your finger on the inside to remove any bits of the membrane.

Place the cleaned egg shells onto the cooling rack and bake for 20-25 minutes.  Let the sterilized egg shells cool completely before you fill them with the custard.

Make the custard:

1 cup milk -can use heavy cream for richer custard

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Note:  Have your eggshells ready.  Place them in an egg carton standing upright. 

In a small saucepan whisk together milk and sugar and place over medium heat.  Heat until milk is very hot but not boiling. Remove from heat. Gradually pour in eggs, whisking constantly and taking care to temper the mixture slowly (you don’t want scrambled eggs in your custard). Return to heat and whisk constantly until thickened.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. 

Pour the custard into the eggshells and refrigerate until firm.  Meanwhile…

Prepare the mango “yolk”:

1 medium ripe mango

2 tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp lemon juice

Peel and slice the mango into chunks.  Puree the flesh with the sugar and lemon juice in a food processor or blender.  Transfer sweetened puree to a piping bag or a ziplock bag with a corner snipped.

When custards are firm, spoon out a small portion in the middle creating a divot for the mango puree.  Pipe in the mango puree and return to the refrigerator until ready for serving.

Make the shortbread:

2 sticks (1 cup) of unsalted butter

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat
the butter and granulated sugar until well combined. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until
incorporated. Add the vanilla extract
and mix again.  Add 1 cup of flour
and salt and mix on low speed until a dough forms. Add the last cup of flour and mix again
on low until a very stiff dough forms.

Gather dough together with your hands and place on a lightly
floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin,
roll dough until flattened to about 1” thickness. Wrap in plastic film and place on a
cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. This
dough will firm up in quickly because of the high butter content. If your dough is difficult to roll, let it
stand at room temperature for a few minutes until it is pliable.

While still cold, roll out dough to ¼” thickness.  Score with the tines of a fork. You can cut the dough into shapes with a cookie cutter, or bake the entire piece and cut them into “soldiers” after baking, while still hot. I did the latter.

Bake entire dough piece for 20-25 minutes or:

7-10 minutes for small cookies

12-15 minutes for medium cookies

17-20 minutes for large cookies

When done, shortbread will be golden brown around the edges and fragrant.

Coffee Lollipops (Coffee on a Stick)

Yield: 8-10 lollipops                                                                                                        [click to print]

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup freshly brewed espresso or very darkly brewed coffee –the stronger the coffee, the better!

1 tbsp light corn syrup

1/4 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder (not dutch process)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

White vegetable shortening for greasing pan 

8-10 Lollipop sticks

Grease two metal baking sheets with white vegetable shortening. Stagger lollipop sticks on the sheets to give the candy plenty of room to spread when you pour the hot mixture.

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, espresso or dark coffee, corn syrup, cocoa and cinnamon.  Place over medium heat stirring until the sugar has dissolved.  Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan and heat until the mixture reaches 290 degrees. 

Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla.  Mixture may sputter and bubble a little.  Using a metal (or heatproof) 1 tablespoon measure, dip out candy by the heaping tablespoon and pour over end of lollipop stick.  Let cool at room temperature until hardened.  To remove lollipops from the baking sheet, gently push the candy with your fingers or a spoon to SLIDE the candy off the edge of the baking sheet.  Do not try to lift it.

Wrap in cellophane candy wrappers or store in an airtight container.  Will stay fresh for 1 month.

Variation: Mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of espresso powder in the 1/3 cup hot coffee before adding it to the saucepan.  I loved this highly caffeinated super-strength treat! 

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Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
12 years ago

This is the cutest idea! I wish my family would be adventurous enough to try something like this at Easter. It looks so delicious.

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
12 years ago

Awesome! That is such a great idea. I love the presentation.

Cheers,

Rosa

Heather Ozee
Heather Ozee
12 years ago

Coffee Lollipops! Oh my heavens, that's awesome 🙂 I'd keep those in my desk for emergencies 😉

di_ani
di_ani
12 years ago

Wonderful idea and great photo-
I love it!
My admiration, Diana

Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking
12 years ago

These are all just creative ideas, and beautiful photos to compliment them! Thanks for sharing.

Heather
Heather
12 years ago

I am continually amazed by your creativity and execution! Bravo!

Julie
Julie
12 years ago

This is amazing. To say the least. You are one talented lady! 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

This is so fun! Beautiful photos.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

You are awesome!! I love everything you do!!

Brittany H.
Brittany H.
12 years ago

This is too creative! And I would eat them up! Thanks for the inspiration.

How's your Monday?
You Are My Favorite

Yuri
Yuri
12 years ago

So creative, Heather! Those lollipops look really fun. Before reading I thought those were actual eggs 🙂

Paula
Paula
12 years ago

Like Yuri, I really believed that they were actual eggs! This is an amazingly creative idea and my kind of breakfast indeed!

Burnt Mill Candles and Soap
Burnt Mill Candles and Soap
12 years ago

looks great!!

Andrea
Andrea
12 years ago

I Love caaaaandy for breakfast. 🙂

Johnny
Johnny
12 years ago

Oh cool! Those coffee lollipops…yes please!

Su-yin
Su-yin
12 years ago

Oh wow, I love this! My favourite is the boiled custard eggs. 😉

DessertForTwo
DessertForTwo
12 years ago

How fun! Wish I could come over and enjoy it 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

I just saw this idea but with candles in the egg shells. Look what you have done! So creative, so artistic. You really are a wonderful artist.

Becki D.
Becki D.
12 years ago

So creative! Love this whole idea….way to go!

dulce de leche
dulce de leche
12 years ago

Absolutely PERFECT!!!!!!I love this idea♥

Lora
Lora
12 years ago

Just fabulous! This is also a great April Fool's idea.

Deena
Deena
12 years ago

caffeine!!!!!!!

Amanda
Amanda
12 years ago

Oh. Em. Gee. You're a genius!

Jess @ littlegirlbigappetite
Jess @ littlegirlbigappetite
12 years ago

So cute! These would be awesome for a dinner party!

Patricia Scarpin
Patricia Scarpin
12 years ago

That has got to be the cutest thing I have ever seen. Really. 🙂

Lianne
Lianne
12 years ago

Oooh, did you get the idea for these from MasterChef? (Here? http://www.masterchef.com.au/egg-and-soldiers.htm)

I love love love the coffee lollipops, they are my new favorite thing.

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
12 years ago

I had not seen that Lianne! Love the master chef ice cream version – the chocolate pepper is really cute!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

You are nothing short of genius! I love your ideas and this one in particular is fantastic, your photographs are wonderful too. x

the decorated cookie
the decorated cookie
12 years ago

I just adore every single thing you create! Amazing. I posted a link on ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com 🙂

Sue
Sue
12 years ago

You're amazing, Heather! I've never had the savory version (or any version for that matter) of boiled eggs and soldiers, but I'd sure like to have this one! 🙂

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets
12 years ago

Amazing ideas and execution, heather! I thought of doing something like that egg idea for April Fools Day but got busy with other things.

Ken│hungry rabbit
Ken│hungry rabbit
12 years ago

You are just too clever for words. Brava!

Lisa
Lisa
12 years ago

Coffee on a stick – like I couldn't spill it on myself while driving????? Fabulous.
theenchantedoven.blogspot.com

Cookbook Queen
Cookbook Queen
12 years ago

I want to come to your house so badly. I imagine it to be like visiting Alice In Wonderland or Willy Wonka…where everything is just so much more magical than normal places.

Your posts just blow me away, truly. You inspire me!! 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Beautiful and lovely post!

paddle attachment
paddle attachment
12 years ago

This entire sweet breakfast spread is amazing! I can't wait to make the coffee pops for little gifts.

Lili
Lili
12 years ago

Oh lordy, those coffee lollipops are calling to me! Was that a heart shaped sugar patch I saw on a vintage flan pan?! I just love looking at your displays every bit as much as your creations. Another absolutely inspiring post! xo ~Lili

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Very Very cool.

Carrie Rowe
Carrie Rowe
12 years ago

I'm obsessed with this!!!

Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
12 years ago

This is so fun and just simply beautiful…almost too beautiful to eat! Fantastic idea 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Bravo lady, this is over the top! One of my favorites you have posted, what a treat to share with guests.

We Are Not Martha
We Are Not Martha
12 years ago

Holy moly, coffee on a stick?!?! I'm in HEAVEN! And I actually have all those ingredients in my kitchen currently, including lollypop sticks. You are amazing!!

Sues

Marla
Marla
12 years ago

Heather! Wowzers. How fun and creative is this post and recipes?! Guests would be floored with this presentation. Coffee lollipops? Love you even more than ever 😉

Kathy - Panini Happy
Kathy - Panini Happy
12 years ago

Wow – this is so immensely creative!

susan
susan
12 years ago

this is fantastic. you always think outside of the box and I think this is one of your most creative creations!

Diane Schmidt
Diane Schmidt
12 years ago

Oh yes, candy for breakfast..LOVE IT!!!
So fun!

Brian Samuels Photography
Brian Samuels Photography
12 years ago

This is one incredibly fun breakfast!!! Love that custard!

Cookin' Canuck
Cookin' Canuck
12 years ago

Love the idea of those broiled custard eggs. The coffee on a stick is simply brilliant!

Audrey Ellen @ My Scene and Herd
Audrey Ellen @ My Scene and Herd
12 years ago

I love your take on the classics and how you made them your own, so cute and fun.

Elizabeth and Jared
Elizabeth and Jared
12 years ago

This looks incredible! You are very talented and patient! well done!