Best 9 Favorite Creme Brulee Recipes

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Indulge in the classic French dessert, crème brûlée, with our collection of carefully curated recipes. From the traditional vanilla crème brûlée to unique and delightful variations, this article offers a journey into the world of this creamy, caramelized custard.

Discover the art of creating the perfect crème brûlée, with step-by-step instructions and helpful tips. Whether you prefer a smooth and silky texture or a rich and dense custard, our recipes cater to all tastes. Explore the secrets of achieving that perfect caramelized sugar topping, the hallmark of this iconic dessert.

Along with the classic recipe, we present creative variations that elevate the crème brûlée experience. From the tantalizing chocolate crème brûlée to the refreshing citrus crème brûlée, each recipe adds a unique twist to the beloved dessert. For those with dietary restrictions, we offer gluten-free and vegan crème brûlée options, ensuring that everyone can relish this culinary delight.

With detailed instructions, helpful tips, and stunning visuals, this article equips you to master the art of crème brûlée. Impress your friends and family with this sophisticated dessert, perfect for special occasions or as a delightful treat. Embark on a culinary journey and discover the magic of crème brûlée today!

Let's cook with our recipes!

CREME BRULEE



Creme Brulee image

This is a very nice dessert to serve when entertaining. Delicious served over mangos sprinkled with rum, or strawberries with Grand Marnier® or Cointreau®.

Provided by COOKALOT

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     French

Time 2h40m

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 5

6 egg yolks
6 tablespoons white sugar, divided
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
  • Beat egg yolks, 4 tablespoons white sugar and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl until thick and creamy.
  • Pour cream into a saucepan and stir over low heat until it almost comes to boil. Remove the cream from heat immediately. Stir cream into the egg yolk mixture; beat until combined.
  • Pour cream mixture into the top pan of a double boiler. Stir over simmering water until mixture lightly coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Remove mixture from heat immediately and pour into a shallow heat-proof dish.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to broil.
  • In a small bowl combine remaining 2 tablespoons white sugar and brown sugar. Sift this mixture evenly over custard. Place dish under broiler until sugar melts, about 2 minutes. Watch carefully so as not to burn.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool. Refrigerate until custard is set again.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 561.4 calories, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 416.7 mg, Fat 50.1 g, Protein 5.8 g, SaturatedFat 29.3 g, Sodium 55.3 mg, Sugar 20.4 g

CREME BRULEE



Creme Brulee image

Make Alton Brown's foolproof Creme Brulee recipe, a French classic with vanilla bean and caramelized sugar, from Good Eats on Food Network.

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     dessert

Time 3h30m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 quart heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 cup vanilla sugar, divided
6 large egg yolks
2 quarts hot water

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Place the cream, vanilla bean and its pulp into a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and reserve for another use.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and it just starts to lighten in color. Add the cream a little at a time, stirring continually. Pour the liquid into 6 (7 to 8-ounce) ramekins. Place the ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake just until the creme brulee is set, but still trembling in the center, approximately 40 to 45 minutes.
  • Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days. Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top. Divide the remaining 1/2 cup vanilla sugar equally among the 6 dishes and spread evenly on top. Using a torch, melt the sugar and form a crispy top. Allow the creme brulee to sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.

FAVORITE CREME BRULEE



Favorite Creme Brulee image

The allure of creme brulee, French for "burnt cream," is in the textural contrast between the brittle caramelized topping and the smooth, creamy custard beneath.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes

Yield Makes 6

Number Of Ingredients 4

4 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
7 large egg yolks

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  • In a small saucepan, combine cream, vanilla bean and seeds, and 3/4 cup granulated sugar; place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbles start to form around the edges of the pan. Do not boil. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Whisk egg yolks in a large bowl; while whisking constantly, slowly add hot cream mixture to egg yolks. Continue whisking until smooth. Strain custard mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large liquid measuring cup; discard solids.
  • Place six shallow 7-ounce ramekins in a roasting pan; transfer roasting pan to oven. Fill each ramekin to the top with custard mixture. Add enough hot water to baking pan so that it comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until custard is set and trembles slightly when shaken, about 40 minutes.
  • Remove ramekins from water bath and transfer to a wire rack; let cool for 30 minutes. Transfer ramekins to refrigerator and let chill for at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.
  • To serve, sprinkle each ramekin of custard with 1 tablespoon remaining granulated sugar. Using a kitchen torch held 4 to 5 inches from the surface, melt sugar using a slow and even motion, until sugar is caramelized. Serve immediately.

PERFECT CREME BRULEE



Perfect Creme Brulee image

I have made creme brulee many times, and have been perfecting it over time.

Provided by Bobo

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     French

Time 3h5m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 egg yolks
¼ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Move a rack to the bottom of the oven.
  • Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla together in a stainless steel bowl until smooth. Bring the cream just to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat; pour into the egg yolk mixture, whisking continually until combined.
  • Bring a couple of inches of water to a simmer in an oven-safe saucepan over medium low heat; set the bowl with the cream mixture over the saucepan to form a double boiler.
  • Place the entire double boiler into the preheated oven; bake until the mixture sets, about 30 minutes.
  • Chill in refrigerator 2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
  • Combine the brown sugar with 2 tablespoons of white sugar in a bowl; sprinkle evenly over the cold creme.
  • Heat under the preheated broiler until the sugar melts and browns, 2 to 3 minutes; return immediately to the refrigerator and chill until the sugar is set, about 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 333.3 calories, Carbohydrate 24.3 g, Cholesterol 235.1 mg, Fat 25.3 g, Protein 3.2 g, SaturatedFat 14.9 g, Sodium 29.6 mg, Sugar 22.3 g

CLASSIC CREME BRULEE



Classic Creme Brulee image

My favorite dessert is this creme brulee recipe. Recently I was at a party where the guests finished off their own desserts "broiling" the sugar on their portions with a small torch. What a great idea! -Joylyn Trickel, Helendale, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 5

4 cups heavy whipping cream
9 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Brown sugar

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, combine the cream, egg yolks and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Stir in vanilla. , Transfer to eight 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Place cups in a baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until centers are just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove ramekins from water bath; cool for 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours., One hour before serving, place custards on a baking sheet. Sprinkle each with 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar. Broil 8 in. from the heat for 4-7 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 551 calories, Fat 50g fat (29g saturated fat), Cholesterol 402mg cholesterol, Sodium 53mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (22g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 6g protein.

CREME BRULEE



Creme Brulee image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     dessert

Time 2h

Yield 5 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 extra-large egg
4 extra-large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for each serving
3 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the egg, egg yolks, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together on low speed until just combined. Meanwhile, scald the cream in a small saucepan until it's very hot to the touch but not boiled. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cream to the eggs. Add the vanilla and orange liqueur and pour into 6 to 8-ounce ramekins until almost full.
  • Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the custards are set when gently shaken. Remove the custards from the water bath, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until firm.
  • To serve, spread 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on the top of each ramekin and heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar carmelizes evenly. Allow to sit at room temperature for a minute until the caramelized sugar hardens.

THE BEST CREME BRULEE



The Best Creme Brulee image

We wanted a rich and creamy custard that wasn't too sweet, so we could fully enjoy the signature crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on top. By only using egg yolks, we achieved a soft and creamy texture. We tried using milk and half-and-half but, in the end, we landed with heavy cream for its richness. Whole vanilla beans give a more intense, pure vanilla flavor that you can't get from extract. We also like seeing the vanilla seeds flecked throughout the custard.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
12 tablespoons sugar
7 large egg yolks

Steps:

  • Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line a large heavy roasting pan (a turkey roasting pan works great) with a clean kitchen towel and place 4 six-ounce ramekins on top of the towel spaced a few inches apart.
  • Heat the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Using the back of a paring knife, scrape the vanilla seeds from both halves of the pod. Add the seeds and pod to the cream. Whisk in the salt and 3 tablespoons of the sugar and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat.
  • Vigorously whisk the yolks and 3 more tablespoons of the sugar in a large bowl until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer on high speed and beat until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 1 minute.
  • Whisking the yolks constantly, add a couple of teaspoons at a time from 1 cup of the hot cream, then increase to a steady stream until the cream is fully incorporated. (Don't pour too much hot cream at once or you'll end up with scrambled eggs.) The yolks are now tempered. Whisk the tempered yolks back into the remaining hot cream until combined. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or medium pitcher for easier pouring; discard the vanilla pods.
  • Skim the foam off the top of the custard by placing a clean paper towel on top and lightly pressing down so it touches the surface and absorbs some of the liquid. This will make for a completely smooth and silky custard. Fill the ramekins with the custard, about 3/4 cup per ramekin.
  • Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins without getting any water in the custard. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake until the custard is set around the edges but still has a slight jiggle in the center, 35 to 45 minutes. Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and transfer the ramekins to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. Then refrigerate until very cold, about 3 hours.
  • Just before serving, evenly spread 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the top of a custard. Hold a kitchen torch 2 inches above the surface. Starting in the center of the ramekin, move the flame in a circular motion and work your way out to the edges to caramelize the sugar. Repeat with the remaining sugar and custards.
  • Alternatively, arrange a rack in the top position of the oven and heat the broiler on high. Place the ramekins on a rack set inside a baking sheet and broil until deep golden brown, 15 to 60 seconds, checking every 10 seconds.
  • Freeze the custards for 5 minutes before serving (see Cook's Note).

VANILLA CRèME BRûLéE



Vanilla Crème Brûlée image

Five simple ingredients - cream, vanilla, salt, eggs and sugar - make for an exquisitely rich and elegant dessert. Most crème brûlée recipes require the use of a small propane torch to achieve the crackly sugar top, but this version offers a simpler (and safer) solution: your oven's broiler. One thing to note: Be sure to let the custard set for several hours in the refrigerator before brûléeing the top, otherwise you'll end up with soupy custard.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     custards and puddings, dessert

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups heavy or light cream, or half-and-half
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar, more for topping

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a saucepan, combine cream, vanilla bean and salt and cook over low heat just until hot. Let sit for a few minutes, then discard vanilla bean. (If using vanilla extract, add it now.)
  • In a bowl, beat yolks and sugar together until light. Stir about a quarter of the cream into this mixture, then pour sugar-egg mixture into cream and stir. Pour into four 6-ounce ramekins and place ramekins in a baking dish; fill dish with boiling water halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until centers are barely set. Cool completely. Refrigerate for several hours and up to a couple of days.
  • When ready to serve, top each custard with about a teaspoon of sugar in a thin layer. Place ramekins in a broiler 2 to 3 inches from heat source. Turn on broiler. Cook until sugar melts and browns or even blackens a bit, about 5 minutes. Serve within two hours.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 407, UnsaturatedFat 15 grams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 41 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 121 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams

ULTIMATE CRèME BRûLéE



Ultimate crème brûlée image

With a rich, creamy vanilla custard and crunchy, caramelised topping, our crème brûlée makes the ultimate indulgent dessert. Follow our professional tips for mastering this classic French sweet

Provided by Angela Nilsen

Categories     Dessert, Dinner

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cartons double cream, 1 large (284ml) plus 1 small (142ml)
100ml whole milk
1 vanilla pod
5 large egg yolks
50g golden caster sugar, plus extra for the topping

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Sit four 175ml ramekins in a deep roasting tin at least 7.5cm deep (or a large deep cake tin), one that will enable a baking tray to sit well above the ramekins when laid across the top of the tin.
  • Pour the large and small cartons of double cream into a medium pan with the milk.
  • Lay the vanilla pod on a board and slice lengthways through the middle with a sharp knife to split it in two. Use the tip of the knife to scrape out all the tiny seeds into the cream mixture. Drop the vanilla pod in as well, and set aside.
  • Put the egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl and whisk for 1 min with an electric hand whisk until paler in colour and a bit fluffy.
  • Put the pan with the cream on a medium heat and bring almost to the boil. As soon as you see bubbles appear round the edge, take the pan off the heat.
  • Pour the hot cream into the beaten egg yolks, stirring with a wire whisk as you do so, and scraping out the seeds from the pan.
  • Set a fine sieve over a large wide jug or bowl and pour the hot mixture through to strain it, encouraging any stray vanilla seeds through at the end.
  • Using a big spoon, scoop off all the pale foam that is sitting on the top of the liquid (this will be several spoonfuls) and discard. Give the mixture a stir.
  • Pour in enough hot water (from the tap) into the roasting tin to come about 1.5cm up the sides of the ramekins. Pour the hot cream into the ramekins so you fill them up right to the top - it's easier to spoon in the last little bit.
  • Put them in the oven and lay a baking sheet over the top of the tin so it sits well above the ramekins and completely covers them, but not the whole tin, leaving a small gap at one side to allow air to circulate.
  • Bake for 30-35 mins until the mixture is softly set. To check, gently sway the roasting tin and if the crème brûlées are ready, they will wobble a bit like a jelly in the middle. Don't let them get too firm.
  • Lift the ramekins out of the roasting tin with oven gloves and set them on a wire rack to cool for a couple of minutes only, then put in the fridge to cool completely. This can be done overnight without affecting the texture.
  • When ready to serve, wipe round the top edge of the dishes, sprinkle 1½ tsp of caster sugar over each ramekin and spread it out with the back of a spoon to completely cover.
  • Spray with a little water using a fine spray (the sort you buy in a craft shop) to just dampen the sugar - then use a blow torch to caramelise it. Hold the flame just above the sugar and keep moving it round and round until caramelised. Serve when the brûlée is firm, or within an hour or two.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 620 calories, Fat 59 grams fat, SaturatedFat 34 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 17 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 13 grams sugar, Protein 6 grams protein, Sodium 0.01 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Make sure the cream and milk are very cold before starting.
  • Do not overcook the custard base. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, but not too thick.
  • Let the custard base cool completely before pouring it into the ramekins.
  • Bake the crème brûlée in a water bath to prevent the custard from curdling.
  • Chill the crème brûlée for at least 4 hours before serving.
  • Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar on top of the crème brûlée just before serving.

Conclusion:

Crème brûlée is a classic French dessert that is sure to impress your guests. With its rich, creamy custard base and caramelized sugar topping, it is a delicious and elegant treat. Follow these tips to make the perfect crème brûlée every time.

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