Classic Crème Brûlée – Silky Custard with Caramelized Sugar

The Quintessential French Dessert with a Crackly Top

Crème Brûlée is the ultimate expression of French dessert elegance: a velvety vanilla custard topped with a crisp, caramelized sugar crust. The beauty is in its simplicity — just a few ingredients and a bit of technique deliver a restaurant-quality experience at home.

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⏱️ Recipe Overview

• Servings: 4

• Prep Time: 10 min

• Cook Time: 30 min

• Chill Time: 2–4 hours

• Total Time: ~3 hours min

• Difficulty: Easy to Medium

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🛒 Ingredients

• 4 egg yolks

• 2 cups heavy cream (or 1 cup cream + 1 cup whole milk)

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar (plus more for topping)

• 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

• Pinch of salt

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👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F). Place 4 ramekins in a deep baking dish.

2. Make the custard base:
   In a saucepan, heat cream with vanilla bean (split and seeds scraped) or extract until just simmering. Remove from heat and let infuse.

3. Whisk yolks and sugar:
   In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt until pale. Slowly pour warm cream into yolks, whisking constantly.

4. Strain and fill ramekins:
   Strain mixture through a fine sieve to remove lumps or foam. Pour evenly into ramekins.

5. Bake in water bath:
   Fill baking dish with hot water halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until centers are just set but still slightly wobbly.

6. Chill:
   Remove from oven, cool, then refrigerate at least 2 hours (or overnight).

7. Caramelize the top:
   Just before serving, sprinkle 1 tsp sugar over each custard and use a kitchen torch (or broiler) to caramelize until golden and crisp.

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🎯 Gourmet Tip

For an aromatic twist, try infusing the cream with lavender, orange zest, or a splash of liqueur (like Grand Marnier or Cointreau).