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Crème Brûlée

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Try this delicious rich and creamy crème brûlée. It’s surprisingly simple to make and uses just 4 ingredients. It’s perfect to make ahead of time for an impressive and luxurious dessert.

Breaking the caramel with a teaspoon on the creme brûlée

This Crème brûlée recipe is made at its most simplest. Below I tell you how you can add to this recipe and take it to the next level.

Using Vanilla Pods

My favourite way to make creme brûlée is to use vanilla pods. They add a more authentic flavour. However a lot of people won’t notice the flavour difference between vanilla pods and extract so i wouldn’t say its a necessity.

They are very expensive which is why I don’t use them a lot for home cooking. If you want to use a vanilla pod this recipe will cost about 3 times more. It is the proper way so its definitely worth a try at least once. Then you can judge the difference and decide if it’s worth it.

Vanilla Pod Method (swap step 2 for this)

  1. Use a small pairing knife to butter fly the vanilla pod (lightly cut into vanilla pod lengthways but not all the way). Place the blade of your knife at the top of the vanilla pod and scrape down the bottom (this will scrape out the seeds).
  2. Add the vanilla pod, vanilla seeds, cream & sugar to a medium sauce pan. Bring to a very light simmer. Turn off the heat, place a lid on the pan and leave to cool and infuse for 30 minutes. Sieve the mixture and dispose of the vanilla pod.

Using Trimoline

Trimoline is another ingredient we use in top quality restaurants. It’s an inverted sugar syrup that adds texture and sweetness to your recipe. Most people don’t stock trimoline but for some reason you do! Heres an even better recipe for you.

Because tramline adds sweetness and thickens your recipe you will have to adjust the other ingredients you use along side it.

Ingredients

  • 500ml Cream 33%
  • 4 Large Egg yolks
  • 40g Sugar
  • 20g Tramline
  • 1tsp Vanilla extract or 1 Vanilla pod

Add the tramline into the cream with the sugar and vanilla. Then bring to a light simmer and then continue to follow the other recipe steps.

Two creme brulees in white ramekins on white plates

Best Way To Brûlée Your Crème

This answer is quite simple and has been the same for many years. It’s the kitchen torch. You can very quickly and easily caramelise the sugar without heating up the crème brûlée.

But everyone doesn’t have a kitchen torch. So here’s an alternative best way. The oven grill. You need to make sure your grill is smoking hot before adding you’re crème brûlée’s under. This way you will avoid splitting the custard and heating up the crème brûlée too much.

Method

  1. Heat up your oven grill to 250’c.
  2. Place your crème brûlée onto a flat tray. Lightly dust with sugar. Place under the top shelf of the grill. Grill until caramelised.
  3. Leave to cool for 3-4 minutes. Serve.

More Recipes You May Like

Crème brûlée’s rich, creamy texture and caramelized surface make it a classic favorite. If you’re a fan of French cuisine, why not also learn how to make French Onion Soup, a hearty delight for the senses? Or delve into the delightful world of French Crepes, a versatile treat perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Breaking the caramel with a teaspoon on the creme brûlée

Crème brûlée

Jack Slobodian
Try this delicious rich and creamy crème brûlée. It's surprisingly simple to make and uses just 4 ingredients. It's perfect to make ahead of time for an impressive and luxurious dessert.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings 5 people
Calories 438 kcal

Equipment

  • Medium Saucepan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Deep baking tray
  • 5 Ramekins (all the same size)

Ingredients
 
 

  • 500 ml Cream 33%
  • 4 Large Egg yolks
  • 60 g Sugar plus extra for caramelizing
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 160c
  • In a medium saucepan heat the cream, sugar and vanilla to a very light simmer, whilst occasionally mixing occasionally. Turn off the heat and leave to cool.
    Bringing creme brûlée mixture to a light simmer
  • Add 4 egg yolks into a mixing bowl and whisk together.
    Whisked egg yolks in a glass bowl
  • Lightly mix in the mixture. If there is any foam, skim it off with a tablespoon.
    Mix together mixture
  • Until the mixture looks like this.
    Creme brûlée mixture
  • Add the mixture to the ramekins and place them in a deep baking tray. Add hot water into the baking tray (the water should be the same height as the crème brûlée mixture)
    six ramekins of creme brulee in a baking tray
  • Cover the baking tray and bake for 45-50 minutes.
    Baking tray wrapped in tin foil
  • Once cooked the crème brûlées will have a slight wobble (they will thicken after they are chilled). Take out of the water and place on the side for 10 minutes. Then wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
    Creme brûlées left to cool
  • Evenly sprinkle 1 tsp of sugar over each crème brûlée. Then use a kitchen torch or oven grill to caramelise them. Serve and enjoy.
    Creme brulee in a white ramkin on a small plate

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 4gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 285mgSodium: 45mgPotassium: 91mgSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1666IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 1mg
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Recipe Rating




Jacqueline Meldrum

Monday 7th of September 2020

Creme Brulee is my favourite dessert. I always look for it on a memu I am so excited!

Jackslobodian

Wednesday 9th of September 2020

:) :) I hope it comes out perfect!

Beth

Monday 7th of September 2020

Yummy! My daughter loves this! It's her favorite dessert! I can't wait to make this! So excited!

Jackslobodian

Wednesday 9th of September 2020

My girlfriends parents love it too! Please let me know how it goes :)

Dannii

Monday 7th of September 2020

I always order this dessert when it's on the menu at a restaurant. I really should try making it myself.

Jackslobodian

Wednesday 9th of September 2020

For me Crème brûlée is about texture as well as taste. And to be honest this recipe is better than a lot of Crème brûlée's I have tried in restaurants (for me anyway) and thats without the trimoline or vanilla pod added.

Angela

Monday 7th of September 2020

Love this recipe! Creme Brûlée is the absolute best and you make it looks so easy.

Jackslobodian

Wednesday 9th of September 2020

Agreed! And it is so easy! :P

Alisha Rodrigues

Monday 7th of September 2020

I love creme brulee and I love the detailed explanation you've shared along with the recipe ... Gotta try your version to this lovely dish

Jackslobodian

Wednesday 9th of September 2020

Thank you! I must of made over 1000's creme brûlée's at different fine dining restaurants I've worked at. I hope its good :)