With the holidays around the corner I thought I’d share How to Make Creme Brulee. It’s not a flan or a pudding, it’s a rich custard topped with a hard caramel. The fun part in reaching that thick vanilla custard is breaking through that hard caramel topping!
Some people would think this to be a difficult dessert to make, but it is seriously easy with minimal ingredients and hands down is one of my top 5 desserts. And this is coming from a tried and true chocoholic.
What’s Creme Brulee?
It’s not a flan or a pudding, but a rich vanilla flavored custard topped with a hard caramel.
What is in Creme Brulee?
It’s pretty simple and the ingredients are heavy cream, eggs, vanilla and sugar. That’s it and there is no tempering of the cream and eggs with this recipe!
My Creme Brulee is extremely easy to make, is super rich in texture and is such an amazingly delicious dessert.
Creme Brulee is a classic French recipe with four simple ingredients. I have experimented with adding cinnamon or other flavorings in lieu of the vanilla to the liquid mixture prior to baking, but the vanilla is still the classic king.
Let me show you how to make creme brulee and see that there is no big mystery or special tools needed. If you don’t have a hand kitchen torch, you can place the entire tray of the ramekins under the broiler and watch the sugar caramelize. That’s what the French term “brulee” comes from and the recipe name basically translates to burned cream.
If you like French desserts like this, try my Chocolate Creme Brulee, Cinnamon Creme Brulee, or one of my all time favorite desserts, Piret’s Chocolate Mousse. Enjoy!
Below is a video to show you how to make creme brulee. It’s easier than you think!
How To Make Creme Brulee
Ingredients
- 10 large egg yolks (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 cups whipping cream (room temperature)
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sugar for caramelizing tops after cooking
Instructions
- Preheat oven 300°F. Separate egg yolks from whites and save egg whites for another use.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the egg yolks with the sugar until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is a pale yellow.
- Add the whipping cream and vanilla, and beat on low until well blended.
- I pour the mixture through a strainer into your 8 ramekins (See Note 1) or custard cups to get rid of any foam or bubbles (See Note 2). Pour up to a 1/4 inch from top of ramekin or cup.
- Place the filled ramekins into a large roasting pan with sides (13x9") and carefully pour hot water around ramekins so that the water almost reaches the top of ramekins. Bake until set, about 50 minutes.
- Carefully remove pan from oven and leave in the water bath until cooled.
- Remove ramekins from water bath, wipe water off and place in refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.
- Prior to serving, remove from refrigerator and sprinkle about 1-2 teaspoons of sugar over each custard top. Using a small, hand-held torch melt the sugar until a burnt caramel is made. If you don't have a torch, place ramekins under broiler 2 to 3 inches from the heat source. Turn on broiler and cook until sugar melts and browns or even blackens a bit, about 5 minutes. *Optionally - Re-chill the ramekins to harden the sugar for 5 minutes then serve. (See Note 3)
Video
Notes
- The size I use here are 3 1/4" in diameter, 1 1/4" deep and hold roughly a 1/2 cup.
- I find pouring through a strainer eliminates any foam and leaves a smooth surface. This is purely optional.
- If not serving right away, do not do the sugar topping part. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days. Top with sugar and torch/broil before serving. It will not stay completely hard if done more than 3 hours prior.
This was fabulous. However, I tasted the butane from the handheld torch. Do you also have this problem? If so, and ideas to mitigate beside putting it under the broiler? Thanks again with sharing your recipe. Simply perfect!
Thanks so much Tara! Nope, I’ve never had that issue with butane and my other way would be to go under the broiler.
This was amazing! Easy, less dishes than a lot of other recipes, and came out better than restaurant (often frozen) versions. I have a party and will make 40 in a few weeks, I will let you know how they come out!
So glad you enjoyed this one Kelly. Have a great party, too! 🙂
I absolutely love creme brulee but have never attempted to make it. I can’t wait to try your recipe because it looks like it’s not too difficult from your instructions! I want to make it for my family. It looks wonderful.
Watch the video and the instructions are so easy. This is always a hit! Thanks Millican!
I made this Creme Brulee last weekend and it turned out great! It was the easiest recipe I have ever seen. I served cut up fruit on the side and everyone raved about it. Though I poured it through a strainer, the top looked a little bubbly, but you couldn’t see it with the carmelized sugar. It was creamy perfection! Thanks Kevin.
This is one of my all time favs, so happy you enjoyed this as much as I do Connie. Glad it was a success! 🙂