Crème Brûlée

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: ~4 hours (includes chilling)

Servings: 4

Country of Origin

France

Description

A timeless French classic, Crème Brûlée consists of a rich, velvety custard base infused with real vanilla bean. It is famously topped with a brittle layer of hardened, caramelized sugar that shatters delightfully at the tap of a spoon.

Presentation & How It's Eaten

Served chilled in shallow ramekins so the custard-to-sugar ratio is perfectly balanced. It is torched immediately before serving so the sugar shell is warm while the custard underneath remains cool.

Ingredients

• 500ml heavy cream

• 1 vanilla bean (split and scraped)

• 5 large egg yolks

• 50g granulated sugar (plus extra for the crust)

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Heat Cream: Heat heavy cream and vanilla bean seeds/pod in a saucepan until just simmering. Remove from heat and let infuse for 10 minutes.

2. Whisk Yolks: Whisk egg yolks and 50g sugar together until pale and slightly thickened.

3. Temper: Slowly temper the warm cream into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.

4. Bake: Pour into 4 shallow ramekins. Place them in a baking dish and fill the dish with hot water halfway up the sides of the ramekins (bain-marie). Bake at 160°C (325°F) for 35–40 minutes until the edges are set but the centers still jiggle slightly.

5. Chill: Remove from the water bath, let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

6. Caramelize: Just before serving, sprinkle a thin, even layer of granulated sugar over the chilled custard. Use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize the sugar until golden brown and bubbly.

Optional

• Flavor Variations: Infuse the cream with lavender buds, orange zest, or a splash of espresso liqueur instead of vanilla.

Cooking Tips

• No Torch Method: If you don't have a kitchen torch, place the sugar-topped ramekins under a preheated oven broiler close to the heat source for 1–2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.

Nutrition Facts

(Estimated per serving)

• Calories: ~490 kcal

• Total Fat: 45g

• Saturated Fat: 28g

• Cholesterol: 310mg

• Sodium: ~45mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 18g

• Dietary Fiber: 0g

• Sugars: 17g

• Protein: 5g