Crème Brûlée Recipe
Crème Brûlée is a classic French dessert that offers the perfect balance between creamy vanilla custard and a crispy caramelized sugar topping. This recipe provides a step-by-step guide to achieving restaurant-quality Crème Brûlée at home. With simple ingredients like heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla, you can create a luxurious treat that's both elegant and easy to make. Follow these tips to ensure your custard is smooth, your sugar topping is perfectly caramelized, and enjoy this indulgent dessert with your loved ones.
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Ramekins
- Baking dish
- Kitchen torch for caramelizing the sugar
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 vanilla bean
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar plus more for topping
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- 1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (160°C).2. Prepare Vanilla Cream: In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream and the vanilla bean (split and scraped) over medium heat. Bring just to a simmer and remove from heat.3. Whisk Egg Yolks: In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks with ½ cup sugar and salt until the mixture becomes pale and smooth.4. Temper the Eggs: Slowly pour the warm cream into the egg yolk mixture while constantly whisking to prevent curdling.5. Strain: Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove any lumps or vanilla bean solids.6. Fill Ramekins: Divide the mixture among the ramekins.7. Water Bath: Place the ramekins in a baking dish and add hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.8. Bake: Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the custard is just set but still jiggly in the center.9. Cool: Remove from the water bath and let cool. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.10. Caramelize Sugar: Before serving, sprinkle a thin, even layer of sugar over the top of each custard. Use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize the sugar until golden and crispy.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, infuse the cream with vanilla a day ahead.
- Adjust the caramelization to your desired level of crispiness by torching the sugar a little longer.
- Garnish with fresh berries or a mint sprig for a beautiful presentation.
