The Best Creme Brulee Recipe (2024)

This Crème brûlée is restaurant delicious and one of the easiest dessert to make at home with only 5 ingredients!

This crème brûlée recipe is shockingly easy to make at home – but it can be our little secret. Crème brûlée radiates elegance, indulgence and luxury, characterized by the crisp caramelized sugar shell giving way to the lusciously creamy custard. All you need are egg yolks, heavy cream, vanilla, salt and sugar to make this recipe. And don’t worry, you do NOT need a crème brûlée torch – I’ll show you how to make the solid caramelized sugar topping in your oven! This foolproof crème brûlée recipe includes step-by-step photos and tips for success so you can make thebest crème brûlée recipe of your life. You will also love that this crème brûlée recipe is make ahead friendly!

If you enjoy this crème brûlée recipe, don’t miss these other decadent favorites: Crème Brule French Toast, Chocolate Éclair Cake, Chocolate Mousse Cake, Chocolate Lava Cake and Red Velvet Cheesecake.

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Crème Brûlée Recipe

Crème brûlée is one of my favorite desserts of all time! I wanted to bring you this sensational crème brûlée recipe in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day, because it is swoon worthy. The textural difference between the brittle crystalized sugar crust that cracks when you gently tap it with a spoon to reveal the creamiest, velvety smooth, rich, custardy layer is sublime. Top the crème brûlée with fresh berries and you have the most decadent, show stopping dessert.

So, if you love crème brûlée and are looking for the best, easy, most foolproof crème brûlée recipe – this is it! It’s every bit as fabulous as any restaurant version I’ve tried, at a fraction of the price for 6! This classic French dessert may look fancy and intimidating, but I promise it’s easier to make than you think! After I made it once, I had it memorized and whipped it out in minutes the next day so I could experiment with the boiler brûlée (as opposed to torch) method. Here’s what you should know:

• Easy! Because crème brûlée is mostly served at restaurants, many assume it is difficult or finicky to make at home, however, it is made with just a handful of pantry friendly ingredients, with very little rep time! All you do is mix up a few egg yolks with sugar, add warmed cream and bake, chill, then caramelize the sugar on top – 1000X easier than cake!
• No special tools required! When I’ve told a few friends that they have to make the crème brûlée recipe I’m posting Tuesday because it’s incredible and SO EASY, the first question is always, “Do I need a cream brûlée torch?” The answer is NO! You can use your oven broiler instead. All you do need are some ramekins, but the great news is you can use what you have – any size can work!
• Make ahead friendly. This easy crème brûlée recipe is one of my favorite desserts for special occasions or to serve guests (pre pandemic) because it’s an awesome make-ahead dessert. You can bake the custards days in advance, refrigerate then just caramelize the tops when ready to serve!

WHAT IS CREME BRÛLÉE?

Pretty much the creamiest dessert on the planet! Crème brûlée is an easy dessert served in individual ramekins with a rich custard base made out of eggs, sugar, heavy cream and vanilla. The topping is made out of a thin layer of granulated sugar which is caramelized with a torch to create textually contrasting hard candy-like shell.

There are two methods for making the custard. In the “hot” custard method, egg yolks are whisked with sugar over a double broiler then heavy cream and vanilla are added. In this recipe, we are using the easier “cold” custard method in which the egg yolks and sugar are whisked together off heat and then warmed cream is gently whisked in. It really is one of the easiest desserts you can make!

WHAT DOES CREME BRÛLÉE MEAN?

Crème brûlée means “burnt cream” in French and is also known as Trinity Cream. Burnt cream is a nod to torching the top of the custard so the custard takes on the appearance of “burnt cream,” although it is actually the sugar that is caramelized and not the custard.

WHAT DOES CREME BRÛLÉE TASTE LIKE?

Crème brûlée is not just any custard! The base of crème brûlée is lusciously creamy which contrasts beautifully with the hardened caramelized sugar topping. The flavor ofcrème brûlée is something in between vanilla and caramel, with a hint of butterscotch – basically all your favorite flavors wrapped up in one decadent dessert!

Where does creme brûlée come from?

Crème brûlée is the quintessential French dessert, although England and Spain also claim to be the true country of origin. But as they say, the proof is in the pudding, or in this case the custard, because the earliest known recipe forcrème brûléeappears in French chef François Massialot’s cookbook in 1691. The name “burnt cream” was used in the 1702 English translation of his recipe.

In Massialot’s recipe and other early versions of crème brûlée, a prepared disk of caramelized sugar was placed directly onto the custard instead of caramelizing the sugar directly on the dessert. The actual burning of the sugar on the top of the custard is said to be invented at Trinity College in Cambridge, England in 1879 when a student branded the school crest into a topping of sugar, thus earing the other popular names of creme brûlée: “Cambridge Cream” and “Trinity Cream.”

Crème brûlée kept a low profile in America until the 1980s until one of New York’s swankiest restaurants,Le Cirque, introduced it to their menu. It then became the darling of the restaurant boom and swept across the nation, being featured on every restaurant menu until it gained mainstream popularity nationwide. Today, crème brûlée is a household name. There is crème brûlée French toast (so good!), crème brûlée flavored ice cream, donuts, cupcakes, and even coffee creamer. But in my opinion, the original crème brûlée in custard form cannot be beat.

Creme Brûlée Ingredients

This dessert intimidates many people — but it shouldn’t! You can see from the ingredients list below that this recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients, with heavy cream being the only “special” ingredient.

Here’s what you’ll need to make the best crème brûlée recipe from scratch:

• Heavy cream: Also called heavy whipping cream. Please use full-fat heavy cream for this recipe — now isn’t the time to cut calories! Using half and half or another lower fat alternative will result in a less creamy, less heavenly crème brûlée.
• Egg yolks: Give crème brûlée its signature golden color, smoothness, richness and thickness. Save the egg whites for your morning omelette!
• Granulated sugar: Is used to sweeten the vanilla custard and is also sprinkled on top before being brûléed (i.e., caramelized with a kitchen torch). Some recipes insist on superfine sugar, but I’ve tried it with both and didn’t notice a difference.
• Salt: Don’t omit the salt! You need a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness of the custard and to enhance the vanilla flavor.
• Vanilla extract: Please use pure vanilla extract for this crème brûlée recipe. Because the ingredients list is so short, it’s important that you use only the highest quality ingredients to achieve the richest, best flavor.

Creme Brûlée Ramekin Recommendations

Restaurant-style creme brûlée is served in wide, shallow ramekins which promotes maximum surface area for the brittle sugar crust – YUM.

My favorite size ramekins to use are 5-ounce ramekins (shown in this recipe). I find the ratio of topping to custard the most satisfying. The wide surface means more caramelized sugar without the custard being too thin. I suggest these 5 ounce ramekins if you are purchasing them anyway. They are an investment, but less expensive than purchasing multiple crème brûlée orders at a restaurant and you can use them again and again!

Can I use a different size?

The good news is, you can pretty much use any ramekin size you have. If you have 4-ounce ramekins, use those, if you have 6-ounce ramekins, use those! You will need enough ramekins to hold 30 ounces of liquid.

How to Make Crème Brûlée

Making crème brûlée from scratch is incredibly easy, but you do need to follow the recipe closely to achieve perfect results. Here’s an overview of how to make crème brûlée:

Step 1: Warm the Heavy Cream

• Combine the heavy cream and salt in a saucepan. Place it over medium heat and bring the cream just to a simmer. Once simmering, remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla.
• Tip: Let the heavy cream cool for 10 minutes. This helps prevent the egg mixture from curling. While the cream is cooling, you can beat the eggs and sugar and line the ramekins in a roasting pan.

Step 2: Beat eggs and sugar

• Add the egg yolks and ½ cup granulated sugar to a mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. If you don’t have an electric mixer, you can whisk by hand – it will just take a little more elbow grease.
• Tip: Keep those leftover egg whites. Leftover egg whites can be stored in a sealed container and refrigerated for up to 4 days OR they can be frozen for several months. (Use an ice cube tray if you want to keep them in individual, easy-to-measure portions.) Use them for omelets,soufflé, angel food cake,pavlova, royal icing or candied nuts.

Step 3: Temper the Egg Yolks

• This step is key to the success of your entire crème brûlée recipe, but don’t worry, it’s easy! You can’t just add the warmed heavy cream to the egg yolk and sugar mixture all at once or the eggs will scramble. Instead, we will temper the egg yolks, which simply means, slowly raising the temperature of the egg yolks by whisking in a little warmed cream at a time. It is best to go slow and gradually whisk in a little cream and then a little more and then a little more before adding the rest- but always keep that whisk moving!
• Tip: For smooth crème brûlée, skim the foam off. After whisking the cream and eggs together, your custard will be foamy on top. Skim off the foam otherwise the bubbles will rise to the top of the crème brûlée once baked and create a bumpy texture.

Step 4: Prepare the Crème Brûlée for Baking

• Transfer the custard to a liquid measuring cup (or pitcher) so it’s easy to pour. Divide the custard between 6-8 ramekins (depending on size).
• Place the ramekins into a roasting pan with high sides. Carefully pour boiling water or just-off-the-boil water into the pan around the custard until it reaches about ¾ up the sides of the ramekins.

How to carefully add the hot water bath

You don’t want any water splashing onto your custards from the water bath so here are 4 tips:

• Place the pan with the custards in the ovenand thenfill it with water
• Use a pitcher or liquid measuring cup
• Rest the spout on the corner of the roasting pan
• Add the water very slowly

Why use a water bath for crème brûlée?

A hot water bath is used to cook custards in the oven to create a humid environment which helps the custards cook evenly and prevents curdling or cracking. The proteins in the eggs are very heat sensitive and need to be cooked with gentle heat to keeps the eggs soft and smooth. Awater bathinsulatescustardsfrom the direct heat of the oven because thewatercan’t exceed 212°F, unlike the air in a 350°F oven.

Step 5: Bake the Crème Brûlée

The depth of the ramekins will determine how long it takes for the custards to bake. Shallow 5- and 6-ounce ramekins that are less than 1 inch deep will take about 25 or 30 minutes. Deeper, narrower ramekins, about 2 inches deep, will require 40-50 minutes.

4 Ways to tell when the custard is done baking:

• Temperature: No matter what size of ramekin you use, you can ensure the custard is the perfect temperatures if you use an instant read thermometer which should register 170 degrees F.
• Consistency: If you don’t have a thermometer, just pay attention to the “jiggle.” You want the top of the custard to be set so it’s not liquidly, but you still want it to wobble when moved from side to side. The custard will continue to firm up as it cools which will remove the jiggle. If the sides jiggle while the center sloshes a bit, it’s not ready.
• Touch: When you lightly touch the center of a custard (without breaking through the surface), it should spring back just a bit, leaving your finger mostly clean.
• Appearance: The custard should have an even, color across the surface without any wet spots. The entire surface should look glossy.

Signs that you’ve over-baked your custards:

• If the custards don’t jiggle or barely jiggle, they are over-baked. They will still be delicious, but they will be less creamy and denser, and taste slightly eggy. Overbaked custards should be eaten soon after they’re chilled because they will continue to firm up in the oven.
• If the custards have actually begun to rise in the middle, then the eggs are cooked and they cannot be salvaged.

Step 6: Let the Crème Brûlée Cool

Remove the ramekins from the oven and carefully remove them from the water bath. Let the crème brûlée cool on a wire rack at room temperature for 1 hour. Then, pop the ramekins into the fridge for at least 4 hours but best if overnight.

Step 7: Brûlée the Tops

Now comes the fun part: caramelizing the tops of the custard! This step is super simple, but elevates the recipe from custard to crème brûlée! It involves sprinkling the surface of each custard with granulated sugar and using a torch to first melt the sugar then caramelize the sugar into a solid blanket of YUM.

Tips for the Perfect Caramelized Topping:

• Cover custard completely with sugar: You want to cover the top of each custard completely with a thin layer of sugar, because any exposed custard will curdle when you torch it. The amount of sugar will depend on the width of your ramekins. Narrow, deep ramekins will require closer to 1 teaspoon of sugar whereas wider, shallow ramekins will require closer to 2 teaspoons of sugar.
• Evenly distribute sugar. The key to the perfect topping is to create a thin, even layer of sugar. To accomplish this, swirl the sugar all around the ramekin so it reaches edges then shake the ramekins from side to side to evenly distribute the sugar.‘

How to Make Crème Brûlée with a Torch

Hold the creme brulee torch torch about 4 to 5 inches from the sugar, and maintain a constant, slow, side to side motion. You should see the sugar melt first. If there is a patch of raw sugar, continue to torch it from side to side until it melts.

Next, it’s time for the sugar to caramelize. This process should be gradual, using a medium strength flame (you can dial the flame up or down) to create the most uniform caramelized topping. A stronger flame will require less time but is guaranteed to result in burnt speckles or entire burnt patches. Instead, patience, with a medium flame, is the name of the game for the most gorgeous golden curst.

One last hint is to stop torching just before the desired degree of doneness is reached because the sugar will continue to cook for a few seconds after the flame has been removed. If you remove the flame and still want deeper caramelization, then just go back over the surface again.

Creme Brûlée Torch Recommendation

The sugar topping needs direct high heat in order to caramelize into a solid layer. I highly recommend a professional kitchen torch (I use this one) for this purpose because you can control the heat source, which means you deliver perfectly uniform, golden sugar shells every time, plus it’s awesome for my s’mores molten lava pies, and s’mores Nutella pie! A kitchen torch is an investment but it pays for itself if you make the crème brûlée more than once this year!

How to make creme brûlée without a torch

No kitchen torch? No problem! Many people shy away from making crème brûlée because they don’t have a kitchen torch. While I highly recommend a kitchen torch for the most even caramelization, you can also get by using your oven broiler, your crème brûlée will just look a little more rustic with spatters and clusters of dark sugar and maybe slightly blackened round the edges – but you will still be rewarded with that coveted hard candy shell!

To brûlée in your oven, arrange a rack in the oven in the highest position. I suggest only broiling half of your creme brulee at a time so you can rotate the ramekins more easily.

Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and place on the top rack and then turn on the broiler. You don’t want to preheat the broiler because we want to gradually melt the sugar on the top before it gets caramelized. By placing the creme brulee in a cold oven, they also don’t get too warm throughout and caramelize more evenly. It is much easier to burn the creme brulee if you place them beneath a preheated broiler.

Because the broiler is not preheated, the creme brulee will take closer to 5-10 minutes (mine took 7 minutes, not pictured). You’ll want to rotate the ramekins frequently with tongs so that they broil evenly. Watch the crème brûlée very closely towards the end because the tops can go from caramelized to burnt in a matter of seconds. Remove them from the oven when the tops are golden brown and bubbling. If you remove them from the oven and find you want more caramelization, just pop them back in.

See Also

Creme Brulee Without Torch RecipeAvoid These Common Mistakes and Make a Flawless Crème BrûléeFoolproof Crème BrûléeWhat Makes a Perfect Crème Brûlée?

Creme Brulee Recipe tips

• Use full-fat ingredients: For the most velvety creme brulee, use full-fat heavy cream and egg yolks. You need all that fat to create a rich, creamy custard. You may use half and half but it won’t be as creamy.
• Invest in ramekins: I know ramekins aren’t a staple in every household, but they’re necessary for this crème brûlée recipe. If you try to make crème brûlée in a larger baking dish, the custard will likely burn around the edges while the middle remains runny. The good news is; however, you can pretty much use any ramekin size you have. If you have 4-ounce ramekins, use those, if you have 5-ounce ramekins, use those, if you have 6-ounce ramekins, use those!
• Don’t forget the butane: If you invest in a kitchen torch, then it will also need butane which you can order online or pick up at Home Depot. I don’t want you to be excited to unwrap and use your shiny new toy only to find it doesn’t have fuel!
• Use real vanilla extract: Pure vanilla is a must when making crème brûlée. The combination of cream, vanilla, and egg yolks results in a super rich, thick custard. If you use imitation vanilla, the flavor won’t be as strong.
• How to bring eggs to room temperature: Room temperature eggs combine easier with the sugar for a creamier filling. To quickly bring eggs to room temperature, fill a large bowl with warm water (not hot) and carefully add eggs. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Let the crème brûlée cool completely: You MUST let the crème brûlée cool first at room temperature, and then in the fridge (ideally overnight). The custard requires the cooling time to finish cooking and the chilling time to set fully before it can be torched.
• Strain custard if needed: If you slowly whisk the cream into the eggs, you shouldn’t need to strain the custard. If you notice that your custard isn’t luxuriously smooth after adding all of the cream, however, then you will want to strain it. To do this, simply place a fine mesh sieve over a liquid measuring cup or pitcher – whatever you are going to use to pour the custard into the ramekins.
• Don’t overcook crème brûlée: Crème brûlée are done when an instant read thermometer registers170°F, and the custard is still jiggly but not liquidly. Make sure to check the crème brûlée right at 25 minutes then closely monitor it after that if more time is needed.
• Chill custard overnight: The longer the custard can chill, the better! The flavors meld and become deeper and richer.
• Don’t burn the sugar topping. The sugar topping should be a beautiful deep caramel color and not black. I’ve seen many recipes with black speckles which can taste like bitter, burnt sugar. Make sure to torch the sugar evenly over medium heat so the caramelization is a gradual process so you can stop before it’s burnt!
• Don’t chill too long after adding topping: Once you caramelize the topping, don’t refrigerate the crème brûlée longer than 30 minutes because the gorgeous hardened top will deteriorate and become soft.

MAKE AHEAD TIPS FOR CRÈME BRÛLÉE

Crème brûlée is a fabulous make ahead dessert because it can be prepared almost entirely ahead of time, or you can prepare it in stages. Here are options for making ahead:

• Uncooked custard: can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for 3 days before baking. You can either store it in one container or go one step further and divide it between ramekins (make sure to cover all of the ramekins with plastic wrap as well).
• Baked custards WITHOUT brûléed sugar topping: can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Crème brûlée (baked custards WITH brûléed sugar topping): If prefer more lukewarm crème brûlée, then let custards sit for 30 minutes at room temperature before serving. Alternatively, if you prefer chilled crème brûlée, store the them in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes before serving. Do not refrigerate any longer after brûléeing the tops or you risk the sugar absorbing moisture and the brittle top softening. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work well to torch the top again to try crisping it back up.

How to Serve Crème Brûlée

This easy crème brûlée recipe is perfect as is, but you can also garnish it with berries, whipped cream, and more. Here are a few serving suggestions for crème brûlée:

• Fresh berries
• Cinnamon
• Citrus zest
• Whipped cream
• Caramel sauce
• Chocolate sauce
• Finely chopped nuts

Is creme brûlée served cold?

I personally find frigid crème brûlée not nearly as appetizing and am always disappointed when it is served this way. This had me wondering why sometimes crème brûlée at a restaurant is some-what chilled and sometimes it is chilled throughout? So, is creme brûlée served hot or cold?

The temperature of the creme brûlée depends on if it is being served immediately after the top has been caramelized (some-what chilled) or if has been stuck back in the refrigerator after it’s been brûléed (chilled throughout).

The best crème brûlée will be freshly torched and only somewhat chilled. This caramelizing process warms the top of the custard, while leaving the center slightly cool. I, however, prefer to take the chill off even more by letting the custard sit for 15 minutes or so at room temperature before torching.

Crème brûlée can also be served cold if that is your personal preference. To serve cold crème brûlée, place it back in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes after torching. For the hardest, crunchiest topping, however, crème brûlée is best served right after torching.

Easy Creme Brûlée Storage

How Long Does Crème Brûlée Last?

The baked custard will last up to three days in the fridge. Once torched, it’s best enjoyed right away as the topping becomes less crisp over time, but it may be refrigerated for 30 minutes without losing the crunchy topping.

Can I Freeze Crème Brûlée?

No, I do not recommend freezing crème brûlée. Custarddoes notfreezewell, it has a tendency to split and the topping will become soft when thawed.

Creme Brulee Recipe FAQs

Looking for More Easy Dessert Recipes?

• Chocolate Lava Cakes
• Chocolate Eclair Cake
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• All of my dessert recipes!

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