It’s time again for another Tuesdays with Dorie, and I’m starting to feel rather warm and nostalgic now towards my ‘recent’ acquisition. Although the sheer volume of Baking: From My Home to Yours
This recipe is one I had never heard of before this challenge, so I really felt a bit adrift at first (get it? adrift? *drumroll* 
) but it seemed simple enough. I’ve made meringues and I’ve made custard, and floating islands are basically a combination of the two. The simplicity of this dish, where the sum of the components creates a whole that is greater than each of its parts, also goes a long way towards making it a household staple.
According to Dorie:
For the French, this dessert is not only a classic, but often a childhood touchstone. In a country where people are more likely to buy their desserts from a neighbourhood patisserie than prepare them at home, îles flottantes remains a mainstay in the make-at-home repertoire, in some part because it is so easy and in some part because it’s a naturally showy dessert.
Excerpted from Baking: From My Home to Yours
From beginning to end I found this recipe particularly easy to follow. Make sure that your milk is simmering rather rapidly, otherwise the meringues will not expand (see below) and set on the outside as well as they should. I learnt this with the first two ‘islands’ that I tried.
My favourite part of making this recipe was drizzling the caramel. I quickly realized that by holding my fork in the air for an extra second or two, my caramel would begin to harden and I’d essentially be spinning sugar! As this was something I had only seen done on television, I got quite giddy. Within seconds I was twisting, twirling and looping away, and I think the results were rather attractive if I do say so myself Jason quickly tried to jump in on the action, drizzling onto his own islands with careful deliberation (see right). As the caramel strands set they created a delicious crunchy counterfoil to the airy ‘nothingness’ of the meringues and the creamy egginess of the custard. Definitely a delightful dessert, and one that Jason has already told me several times, I -must- make again
P.S: For the recipe, visit Shari of Whisk: A Food Blog, who picked Floating Islands as this week’s challenge.
About Sarina
Passionate foodie, founder of Trinigourmet and Caribbean Lifestyle Maven. Author of "Glam By Request: 30+ Easy Caribbean Recipes"
This month marks the third installment of my “CookALong” series where a prominent (usually) Caribbean personality follows one of my recipes, and sometimes throws in a few of their own This week however I’m shaking things up a bit by ...
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That looks incredible! I’d love to try that with sugar sometime, and that texture combination sounds really good.
I would love to join TWD but I don’t think I can afford to do weekly challenges like that. I think I need the book anyway, though.
Thanks so much Anna, it really was a lot of fun
I believe TWD only looks for participation twice a month although one can take part more. I myself only take part every other week and I bought the book secondhand on Amazon. At the moment membership is closed to new enrollments but the owner said she may open it up again later in the year. So it may be something you can consider for the future 
That looks incredible! I’d love to try that with sugar sometime, and that texture combination sounds really good.
I would love to join TWD but I don’t think I can afford to do weekly challenges like that. I think I need the book anyway, though.
Thanks so much Anna, it really was a lot of fun
I believe TWD only looks for participation twice a month although one can take part more. I myself only take part every other week and I bought the book secondhand on Amazon. At the moment membership is closed to new enrollments but the owner said she may open it up again later in the year. So it may be something you can consider for the future 
I love your caramel strands. They’re very pretty.
Wendy’s last blog post..{TWD} Floating Islets
I love your caramel strands. They’re very pretty.
Wendy’s last blog post..{TWD} Floating Islets
Thanks Wendy!
Thanks Wendy!
Beautiful picture! Mmmmm mmmmmm! This was heavenly!
Beautiful picture! Mmmmm mmmmmm! This was heavenly!
Wow. girl – the way those caramel strands are looking, that dessert could win Queen of the Bands 2009!
Awww I like that one E, thanks
The caramel put me into a ‘zone’ 
Wow. girl – the way those caramel strands are looking, that dessert could win Queen of the Bands 2009!
Awww I like that one E, thanks
The caramel put me into a ‘zone’ 
Your caramel looks perfect! I’m so glad you enjoyed this dessert!
Shari’s last blog post..Tuesdays with Dorie—Floating Islands
Your caramel looks perfect! I’m so glad you enjoyed this dessert!
Shari’s last blog post..Tuesdays with Dorie—Floating Islands
Beautiful photos for this post! Love the backlit caramel.
Thanks so much Lydia and Shari
I can’t wait to make it for ‘company’ … just have to figure out the timing, the assembly is so last minute! 
Beautiful photos for this post! Love the backlit caramel.
Thanks so much Lydia and Shari
I can’t wait to make it for ‘company’ … just have to figure out the timing, the assembly is so last minute! 
Your caramel swirls are beautiful.
Margaret’s last blog post..Dorie’s Island Vacation
Thanks so much Margaret
Your caramel swirls are beautiful.
Margaret’s last blog post..Dorie’s Island Vacation
Thanks so much Margaret