Crème Brûlée is probably one of those desserts that I will always order if it’s in the menu. Creamy silky custard with the burnt caramelized sugar on top waiting to be cracked. It’s a dessert so easy to make that one shouldn’t wait for restaurant visit to enjoy it.
What is Crème Brûlée?
Crème Brûlée is baked custard topped with granulated sugar which is blow torched to burn and caramelize. As you crack the crystalized crystal sugar with a gentle snap the creamy custard oozes out. At every spoon you get a little crunch from the burnt sugar with creamy custard! It is this contrast of texture that makes it Crème Brûlée so delightful and divine.
You need just 5 basic ingredients
- Heavy Cream
- Sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Crème Brûlée is always prepared in individual size portions, and a shallow ramekin is the best choice.
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Steps to prepare Crème Brûlée
In a pan, warm the heavy cream along with sugar. Stir around to dissolve the sugar.
Whisk the egg yolks in a separate bowl. Add ¼ cup of the warm milk to the egg yolk and whisk as you pour. This will temper the egg yolk.
Then pour rest of the warm cream and whisk to mix everything.
Strain the custard and pour it in ovenproof individual bowls. (VERY IMPORTANT STEP)
The cast will be baked in the oven on a water bath. Place the bowls in a deep casserole. Cover the individual bowls with an aluminum foil. Pour hot water to the casserole until it reaches halfway through the bowls. Bake at 325 F for 40 minutes.
Then place the bowls in the refrigerator for a few hours to set.
Just before serving, add the sugar on top and caramelize it.
How to caramelize the sugar without a blow torch?
Once you cool, the baked custard in the refrigerator for few hours. Sprinkle a layer of sugar on the custard and place the bowls on a cookie sheet. Place the cookies’ sheet on the top rack of the oven and broil for 5 minutes. Do keep an eye as you broil, as it might take more or less time to caramelize the sugar.
Can you make Crème Brulé eggless?
YES! Instead of egg, you can thicken the heavy cream by using corn flour instead. Eggless crème Brulé doesn’t need to be baked.
You can pour the strained custard in the individual bowl and let it set in the refrigerator.
Add sugar and caramelize it before serving.
Crème Brûlée is a delightful dessert which a beautiful texture contrast between silky card and crystallized burnt sugar. I kept the flavor simple here with vanilla extract, but you can use your choice of flavors here.
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Crème Brûlée
Crème Brulee is probably one of those desserts that I will always order if it’s in the menu. Creamy silky custard with the burnt caramelized sugar on top waiting to be cracked. It’s a dessert so easy to make that one shouldn’t wait for restaurant visit to enjoy it.
Ingredients
- Heavy Cream - 3 cups
- Sugar - 1/2 cup plus 7 teaspoons to sprinkle on top of the baked custard for brulee
- Egg Yolks - 5
- Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl
- Pour the heavy cream, and sugar to a heavy bottom pot and warm it in low heat. Do not boil, just warm the cream and keep stirring to avoid the cream from getting burnt at the bottom of the pan.
- Once the cream is warm, switch off the heat and let it cool down for a few minutes.
- Next, pour 1/4 cream at a time to the egg yolk and keep whisking as you pour. After pour 1/4 cup a few times, pour the rest of the warm cream and whisk to mix everything.
- Preheat the oven to 325 F
- Strain the whisk custard mix and then divide into 7 individual ramekins or small baking bowls.
- The custard will be baked using water bath technique. Place the bowls on a bigger baking dish or casserole and pour hot water to the baking dish carefully without pouring water on the custard. Pour almost halfway through.
- Place the dish carefully in the middle rack of the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes.
- Once baked, it will be a little wobbly in the center. Let it cool down completely in the refrigerator for at least 4 to 5 hrs or overnight. You can make this 3 to 4 days in advance.
- Just before serving, sprinkle sugar on top of the custard and using a blow torch caramelized the sugar. If you don't have a blow torch, place the custard bowls in a cookie sheet and place it on the top rack of the oven and broil for 5 minutes. Keep as eye as you broil, as it might take more or less time to caramelize.
- Serve right away!
Notes
Can you make Crème Brulé eggless?
YES! Instead of egg, you can thicken the heavy cream
by using corn flour instead and add gelatin to set it.
You can pour the strained custard in the individual bowl and
let it set in the refrigerator.
Add sugar and caramelize it before serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 323Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 272mgSodium 70mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 0gSugar 5gProtein 7g
All nutrition information presented are intended for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Comments are closed.
Krithi
February 12, 2011 at 5:04 PMWow.. It is indeed awesome… Kudos to your self-motivation!!
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Manu
February 12, 2011 at 5:52 PMYum!!!! One of my favourite desserts!!!! I love the crunchy bits! 🙂
yummychunklet
February 12, 2011 at 7:02 PMI’ve loved making creme brulee ever since my sister gave me a kitchen blow torch for my birthday! This individual portion recipe looks great!
Vimitha
February 12, 2011 at 8:09 PMWow dear… Looks damn tempting…
Motoko
February 12, 2011 at 8:32 PMCreme Brulee is my favorite dessert, I would like to try.
Priyanka
February 12, 2011 at 9:33 PMIts yummy…..I made one the other day and added some caramelized banana…thats when I started liking Creme Brulee…..And yours look so tempting I need one today 🙂
Raji
February 13, 2011 at 2:19 AMWhat a nice result of watching a good movie…lovely creme brulee.
Amy
February 13, 2011 at 2:50 AMYour creme brulee looks perfect and delicious! I can’t wait to go make some!
Amy
http://utry.it
sushma
February 13, 2011 at 5:36 AMlooks lovely 🙂
amelia
February 13, 2011 at 6:13 AMCreme Brulee is my favorite dessert to order when I go out! Your looks delicious. 🙂
I love that you made two servings for you…have a great day.
Priya
February 13, 2011 at 7:31 AMAm an addict to this creme brulee, havent had since a long, u r tempting me with ur clicks..
Elyse @ The Cultural Dish
February 13, 2011 at 10:35 AMGlad you decided to try the creme brulee!
Sandra
February 13, 2011 at 3:21 PMThis is fantastic! Mouthwatering photos!! Yummy!
briarrose
February 14, 2011 at 12:40 PMThe cook always deserves an extra serving. 😉 It’s a rule. This looks delicious. I’ve never tried to make this at home before.
Cheryl and Adam
February 15, 2011 at 11:55 AMDelicious! One of our favorite deserts. And you do deserve 2, we all do!
Lisa @ Sweet as Sugar Cookies
February 18, 2011 at 4:17 PMThis looks so elegant. I bet it impresses everyone you serve it to. Thanks for linking this up to Sweets for a Saturday.
Kiran
March 31, 2011 at 10:35 AMThanks for publishing this indeed an awesome dessert…
aarthi
August 14, 2011 at 8:39 PMI always want to make this…But afraid of doing it thinking whether it will set or not…Yours look way easy and better..Should try it..