Creme Brulee

Name: Creme Brulee
Total time: 50 min
Yield: For Two
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 2 cups heavy cream; 5 egg yolks; 1/2 cup plus extra for topping sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; a pinch salt

Creme Brulee is the elegant French dessert of silky vanilla custard under a crackly layer of caramelized sugar. Cracking through the glassy top into the cool, creamy custard below is pure magic. It looks impressive but comes together with just a handful of ingredients.

French Vegetarian Gluten-Free Oven Dessert For Two Comfort Food Egg

⏱ 50 min
📊 medium
🍽 For Two

Ingredients

2 cups heavy cream
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup plus extra for topping sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
a pinch salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 160C (325F) and warm the cream with the vanilla until steaming.
Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and salt until pale, then slowly whisk in the warm cream.
Strain the custard into ramekins set in a baking dish.

Pour hot water into the dish halfway up the ramekins and bake 30 to 35 minutes until just set.
Chill the custards for at least 3 hours.
Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar on top and torch or broil until caramelized, then serve.

💡 Chef's tip

Chill the custards thoroughly before torching the sugar; the cold base keeps the custard from warming while you get that thin, crisp caramel shell on top.

Baking the custards in a water bath is essential: the gentle, even heat sets them to a perfect silky texture without curdling or cracking the delicate egg base.