Easy Crème Brûlée Recipe | Chef Dennis

Published: Apr 5, 2022 · Modified: Apr 5, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley · 7 Comments·This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Crème Brûlée is on the top of almost everyone’s dessert list when they go out to dinner. It’s this magical, delicious dessert that everyone thinks is too hard to make at home. And that my friends is not true.

Well my friends, I’m here to dispel that myth and show you just how easy it is to make this OMG delicious Restaurant Style Dessert in your own home. You could be enjoying this creamy dessert for dinner tonight with just a few simple ingredients. Heavy cream, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla is all you need to make my creme brulee recipe.

What Ingredients do I need to make Creme Brulee?

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Creme Brulee. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

How do I make Creme Brulee?

• Add the eggs and sugar into a mixing bowl.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 2-3 minutes (You can do this with a wire whisk or hand mixer on a low setting).
• In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the cream to the scalding point (the cream should just begin to bubble around the edges. You don’t want burnt cream). Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
• Gradually pour the scalded cream into the egg mixture, making sure you keep whisking constantly so the eggs don’t curdle.
• Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Strain the custard mixture into a large measuring cup.

• Place four, one cup ramekins in a roasting pan and pour the custard mixture into the ramekins.
• Prepare a water bath for the creme brûlée by carefully pouring enough hot or boiling water into the roasting pan, to halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake for about 30 – 40 minutes (baking time can vary depending on size of ramekins and temperature of water) or just until the custards are set (a slight jiggle is okay).
• Immediately remove the custards from the water bath and cool to room temperature on a wire rack for about 15 minutes. When cooled, refrigerate the creme brulee uncovered for at least 2 hours or until cold and firm (after they are chilled they can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for about three days).
• Remove the custards from the refrigerator and sprinkle an even layer (about 1 tablespoon) of granulated sugar over the top of the custard.
• Using a handheld kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar until it is golden brown and bubbly. Place the torch about 2 inches, at an angle, over the custard and move the torch around until the sugar melts and caramelizes into a thin layer.
• Allow the sugar to cool so it firms up and serve.

This is my favorite kitchen torch and creme brulee set.

I love cracking the caramelized sugar crust on the creme brulee, it’s all part of the experience.

Then it’s time to enjoy this delicious, oh so creamy and decadent dessert. And you don’t have to tell your friends and family how easy it was to make, that will be our little secret.

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Crème Brûlée

When it comes to classical French desserts the first thing that comes to mind is Creme Brulee. And when the creme brulee is good it will be on your mind for a very long time!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Servings: 4

Calories: 475kcal

Author: Chef Dennis Littley

Ingredients

• 1½ cups heavy cream
• 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 5 large egg yolks room temperature
• ¼ cup granulated white sugar
• 4 tablespoons granulated white sugar for the topping

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees and place rack in center of oven.

• Add the eggs and sugar into a mixing bowl.

• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 2-3 minutes (You can do this with a wire whisk or hand mixer on a low setting).

• In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the cream to the scalding point (the cream should just begin to bubble around the edges). Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

• Gradually pour the scalded cream into the egg yolk mixture, making sure you keep whisking constantly so the eggs don’t curdle.

• Stir in the vanilla extract.

• Strain the mixture into a large measuring cup.

• Place four, 6-ounce ramekins in a roasting pan and pour the custard mixture into the ramekins.

• Prepare a water bath for the creme brûlée by carefully pouring enough hot or boiling water into the roasting pan, to halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

• Bake for about 30 – 40 minutes (baking time can vary depending on size of ramekins and temperature of water) or just until the custards are set (a slight jiggle is okay)..

• Immediately remove the custards from the water bath and cool to room temperature on a wire rack for about 15 minutes.

• When cooled, refrigerate the creme brulee uncovered for at least 2 hours or until cold and firm (after they are chilled they can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for about three days).

• Remove the custards from the refrigerator and sprinkle an even layer (about 1 tablespoon) of granulated sugar over the custards.

• Using a handheld kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar until it is golden brown and bubbly. Place the torch about 2 inches, at an angle, over the custard and move the torch around until the sugar melts and caramelizes

• Allow the sugar to cool and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 344mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 112mg | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 1636IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 1mg