Divide the custard base evenly among the four ramekins in the baking pan. There should be a little more than an inch of custard in each ramekin; it should not come all the way to the rim. Slowly pour hot water from the teakettle into the baking pan (don’t get any water in the ramekins) until the water comes about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the ramekins.
Carefully transfer the baking pan to the center of the oven, taking care not to slosh hot water onto yourself or into the ramekins. Lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the pan. Bake the custards until the edges are set about 1/3 inch in from the sides of the ramekins and the center is slightly jiggly (like Jell-O), 40 to 55 minutes. To test for doneness, reach into the oven with tongs and give one of the ramekins a gentle shake or nudge. If the custard responds with a wavelike motion rather than a slight jiggle, it’s not firm enough; bake for another 5 minutes and check again. (If you’re not sure about the doneness, stick an instant-read thermometer into the center of a custard—don’t worry about making a hole; you’ll cover it with sugar later—it should register 150° to 155°F.) The custards should not brown or rise.
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