Description
French Crème Brûlée is a classic dessert known for its rich custard base topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel. This elegant dessert is renowned for the delightful contrast between the creamy texture and the crisp caramelized sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus more for the caramelized top)
- Hot water for the water bath
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Infuse Cream: In a saucepan, heat the cream and vanilla bean (pod and seeds) over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes to infuse.
- Mix Egg Yolks and Sugar: In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until well blended and slightly thickened.
- Combine: Gradually pour the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture, stirring constantly to prevent curdling. Strain the mixture to remove the vanilla bean and any lumps.
- Bake: Pour the mixture into ramekins placed in a deep baking pan. Pour hot water into the pan to halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, or until set but still trembling in the center.
- Chill: Remove ramekins from the water bath and cool to room temperature. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Caramelize Sugar: Before serving, sprinkle a thin layer of granulated sugar over each custard. Use a kitchen torch to melt the sugar until caramelized. Allow to cool and harden before serving.
Notes
- For the best flavor, use a real vanilla bean. If unavailable, vanilla extract is a good substitute.
- Ensure custards are completely chilled before caramelizing the sugar to prevent melting the custard.
- If you don’t have a torch, you can broil the sugared tops in the oven, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 330mg