The Simplest Crème Brûlée Recipe for Sweet Success

Creamy, silky, and utterly decadent, this easy crème brûlée recipe promises pure dessert magic with minimal effort.

Pastry chefs might guard their secrets, but now you can master this classic French delicacy right in your own kitchen.

Every spoonful delivers a luxurious custard base topped with a perfectly caramelized sugar crust that shatters like delicate glass.

The rich vanilla-infused cream melts seamlessly on your tongue, creating an elegant dessert that looks far more complicated than it actually is.

Sophisticated yet surprisingly simple, this recipe requires just a few basic ingredients and some careful technique.

With a kitchen torch or broiler, you can transform humble ingredients into an impressive finale that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Dive into this classic dessert and unleash your inner pastry chef with confidence.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes

Calories: 392 kcal

Servings: 5

What You Need to Make Crème Brûlée

• Heavy Cream: Luxurious foundation that creates silky smooth texture and rich decadence.
• Vanilla Extract: Aromatic essence that infuses deep, warm flavor into the custard.

• Granulated Sugar: Provides balanced sweetness and helps caramelize the top layer.
• Egg Yolks: Crucial for creating velvety, custardy consistency and adding luxurious richness.

• Hot Water: Essential for gentle, even cooking in a water bath, preventing custard from cracking or curdling.

Tools to Torch and Bake Crème Brûlée Right

• Large Saucepan: Essential for heating and infusing cream smoothly.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending egg yolks and sugar until pale and creamy.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Needed for combining cream and egg mixture.
• Fine-Mesh Sieve: Crucial for straining custard and ensuring silky texture.
• Ramekins (8, 6-ounce): Key for individual serving and even baking.
• Large Baking Pan: Used for creating water bath during baking.
• Kitchen Torch: Ideal for caramelizing sugar top perfectly.
• Wire Rack: Great for cooling custards after baking.
• Measuring Cups: Helpful for accurate ingredient proportions.

Crème Brûlée Made in a Few Steps

• Creamy Canvas

Start with selecting high-quality heavy cream and fresh egg yolks for a luxurious dessert experience. The quality of ingredients determines the final texture and flavor.

• Flavor Infusion

Gently warm cream with vanilla, allowing the aromatic essence to permeate slowly. This step creates a rich, deep flavor profile that elevates the entire dessert.

• Silky Mixture

Whisk egg yolks and sugar until the combination transforms into a pale, velvety consistency. The technique ensures a smooth, luscious base for your crème brûlée.

• Gentle Tempering

Slowly incorporate warm cream into egg mixture, blending carefully to prevent curdling. This delicate process creates a perfectly smooth custard.

• Water Bath Magic

Nestle ramekins in a deep baking pan, surrounding them with hot water. The water bath technique guarantees even, gentle cooking that prevents cracking.

• Baking Perfection

Bake until custards are just set with a delicate wobble in the center. Precise timing is crucial for achieving the ideal creamy texture.

• Chilling Moment

Refrigerate custards to develop a rich, cool consistency. Patience allows flavors to meld and texture to set perfectly.

• Caramel Crown

Sprinkle sugar and caramelize using a kitchen torch, creating a crisp, golden shell. The dramatic crack of the sugar top is the hallmark of a perfect crème brûlée.

Tips to Elevate Your Crème Brûlée Game

• Crème Brûlée Magic: Expert Flavor Twists
• Flavor Infusion Tricks: Experiment with lavender, orange zest, or coffee beans during cream heating to introduce unexpected taste dimensions that complement the classic vanilla profile.
• Spice Swap Adventure: Replace traditional vanilla with exotic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, or star anise to transform the traditional dessert into a unique culinary experience.
• Texture Enhancement Techniques: For extra silky results, strain the custard mixture twice and use room temperature egg yolks to ensure maximum smoothness and prevent any potential curdling.
• Alternative Caramelizing Methods: When torch-free, use a preheated broiler set on high, keeping the ramekins 2-3 inches from heat source and rotating for even caramelization. Watch carefully to prevent burning the sugar topping.
• Dietary Modification Hacks: Create lighter versions by substituting half-and-half for heavy cream or using coconut milk for a dairy-free alternative that maintains the luxurious, creamy texture.

Serve Crème Brûlée Like a Restaurant Chef

• Elegant French Dessert Companion: Pair this classic crème brûlée with a delicate shortbread cookie on the side for added texture and crunch.
• Beverage Harmony: Serve alongside a small glass of sweet dessert wine like Sauternes or a light espresso to complement the rich, creamy custard's subtle vanilla notes.
• Fruit Accent Plate: Garnish with fresh berries like raspberries or sliced strawberries to add a bright, tangy contrast to the sweet, smooth custard and provide a beautiful visual presentation.
• Seasonal Presentation Twist: During summer, consider adding a small mint leaf or edible flower on top for a refreshing and elegant touch that elevates the dessert's visual appeal and adds a subtle herbal note.

Storing Leftover Crème Brûlée the Smart Way

• Fridge-Friendly Storage: Wrap each ramekin individually with plastic wrap to prevent absorbing other food odors. Crème brûlée stays deliciously fresh for 2-3 days in the refrigerator, maintaining its silky smooth texture.
• Smart Advance Preparation: Complete the custard and chilled stages up to two days before your event. Caramelize the sugar topping just before serving to ensure maximum crispness and that signature crackling sound when you tap the surface.
• Temperature Transition Tricks: Remove chilled crème brûlée from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes before caramelizing. Letting it sit at room temperature helps create a more even sugar crust and prevents potential thermal shock to the delicate custard.
• Leftover Love Strategy: If any ramekins remain uneaten, keep them sealed tightly in the refrigerator. Consume within 48 hours for optimal flavor and texture, remembering that the sugar topping will soften as it sits.

Heavenly Crème Brûlée Recipe

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• Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

French pastry chefs’ beloved Crème Brûlée dessert offers silky custard topped with caramelized sugar. Crisp caramel cracks beautifully under a spoon, revealing creamy vanilla-infused delight you’ll savor with pure pleasure.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups (946 ml) heavy cream
• 6 large egg yolks
• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• 1 ½ tsps (7.5 ml) vanilla extract
• 1 vanilla bean (split and scraped)
• Hot water (for water bath)

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Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Calibrate the oven to 325°F, establishing an optimal thermal environment for delicate custard development.
2. Infuse Cream: Gently heat cream in a saucepan until it approaches a soft boil, then remove from heat and introduce vanilla essence, allowing flavors to harmonize and permeate.
3. Prepare Egg Base: Whisk egg yolks and sugar until the mixture transforms into a lustrous, pale emulsion, creating a smooth custard foundation.
4. Temper Mixture: Gradually incorporate warm cream into the egg mixture, using a careful streaming technique to prevent curdling and maintain a velvety consistency.
5. Assemble Custards: Strain the infused mixture into ramekins positioned within a spacious baking dish, ensuring precise distribution and uniform depth.
6. Create Water Bath: Pour scalding water around the ramekins, establishing a protective cooking environment that promotes consistent heat circulation and gentle cooking.
7. Bake and Set: Position the baking pan in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, monitoring until custards develop a subtle, seductive tremor when gently nudged.
8. Cool and Chill: Remove from oven, allow brief resting in the water bath, then transfer to a cooling rack before refrigerating for a minimum of three hours to achieve optimal set and texture.
9. Caramelize and Serve: Sprinkle sugar surface, using a culinary torch to transform the top into a golden, crackling caramel layer that contrasts beautifully with the creamy interior.

Notes

• Maintain Low Heat: Use 325°F to gently cook custard, preventing curdling and ensuring smooth, silky texture.
• Infuse Flavor Carefully: Warm cream briefly with vanilla to develop rich, deep taste without scalding ingredients.
• Master Tempering Technique: Slowly add hot cream to egg mixture, stirring constantly to prevent scrambling and create luxurious consistency.
• Achieve Perfect Texture: Look for subtle wobble when moved, indicating custard is perfectly set but still delicately soft.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 392
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 60 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 21 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 210 mg