Ingredients
2
cups whole milk
1
vanilla bean
1/2
cup sugar
1/3
cup cornstarch
6
egg yolks
1/4
cup butter, softened, cut into small cubes
32
Oreo chocolate creme sandwich cookies
1/2
cup butter, melted
1
bag (14 oz) caramels, unwrapped
1/3
cup evaporated milk (from 12-oz can)
1/2
teaspoon salt
Preparation
Pour whole milk into large saucepan. With sharp paring knife, cut slit down middle of vanilla bean. Scrape seeds from inside bean; add seeds and bean to milk. Slowly heat to boiling over low heat.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix sugar and cornstarch with whisk. Add egg yolks; mix with whisk until combined. Slowly add about 1/2 cup of the hot milk to egg mixture, stirring constantly. Return mixture to saucepan; cook and stir until thickened. Remove from heat.
Press custard through fine-mesh strainer into bowl. Add 1/4 cup butter, one piece at a time, stirring with whisk until incorporated. Press plastic wrap on surface of custard. Refrigerate until completely cooled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Heat oven to 350°F. Place cookies in food processor. Cover; process with on-and-off pulses until fine crumbs form. (Or place cookies in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and finely crush with rolling pin or meat mallet.) In medium bowl, mix cookie crumbs and melted butter. Press mixture into bottom and up side of 11-inch tart pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until set. Cool.
In medium saucepan, heat caramels and evaporated milk over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted. Stir until smooth; stir in salt. Remove from heat.
To assemble, pour salted caramel into crust; spread evenly. Let stand at least 15 minutes to set up. Remove custard from refrigerator and stir with whisk until smooth. Carefully spread custard over caramel layer. Serve immediately.
