Creme Brulee
Creme Brulee is a luxurious French dessert made with a rich vanilla custard and a crispy caramelized sugar topping. Easy to make at home, this elegant dessert is perfect for special occasions, with a smooth custard base and a satisfying crack of caramelized sugar on top. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, this Creme Brulee recipe will surely impress your guests with its perfect balance of textures and flavors.
- Prep Time: 20min
- Cook Time: 45min
- Total Time: 2hours
- Yield: 4servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for caramelizing)
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Place 4 ramekins in a baking dish, ensuring they don’t touch each other.
- Heat heavy cream and vanilla bean (or extract) in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes if using a vanilla bean.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt until smooth and pale.
- Slowly pour the hot cream into the egg mixture while whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
- Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into another bowl to remove any vanilla remnants or cooked egg bits.
- Pour the custard into prepared ramekins, filling them almost to the top.
- Add hot water to the baking dish, ensuring the water reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the custard is just set but slightly wobbly in the center.
- Remove ramekins from the water and let them cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, sprinkle a thin layer of sugar on top of each custard and caramelize with a kitchen torch or under a broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve and enjoy the smooth custard with the crispy sugar topping.
Notes
- Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Refrigerate without the sugar topping and caramelize it just before serving.
- You can experiment with other flavors like chocolate, coffee, or citrus.
- Avoid using the microwave to reheat, as it can alter the smooth texture of the custard.
Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/creme-brulee/
