Easy Homemade Classic French Crème Brûlée Recipe

Indulge in the luxurious world of French desserts with this exquisite crème brûlée recipe. This velvety smooth custard, topped with a crackling caramel crust, is the epitome of elegance and simplicity. Master the art of creating this timeless classic in your own kitchen!
What Is Crème Brûlée?
Crème brûlée is a heavenly French dessert featuring a silky, vanilla-infused custard beneath a crisp layer of caramelized sugar. When done right, it’s a symphony of textures and flavors that will transport you straight to a Parisian café.
The Art of Perfect Custard
The secret to an impeccable crème brûlée lies in the custard’s texture. We’ve perfected the ratio of ingredients to achieve a dreamy, silky-smooth consistency that will melt in your mouth. Our recipe uses a combination of heavy cream and whole milk for the ideal richness, while egg yolks provide that signature golden hue and velvety texture.
Mastering the Caramel Top
The hallmark of a great crème brûlée is its crisp, caramelized sugar topping. We’ll guide you through the process of achieving that perfect crack when you tap your spoon on the surface. Whether you’re using a kitchen torch or your oven’s broiler, you’ll learn how to create a stunning golden-brown crust that shatters beautifully with each bite.
Crème Brûlée Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (355ml) heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups (355ml) whole milk
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped
- 1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume
- 7 large egg yolks (98g)
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- Just-boiled water, for the water bath
- Raw or granulated sugar, for topping (see note)
Directions
- In a 3-quart saucepan, combine heavy cream, whole milk, vanilla bean and seeds, and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, then remove from heat, cover, and let stand 1 hour to infuse the flavors.
- Preheat your oven to 325ºF (163ºC) with the rack in the middle position. In a large bowl, whisk yolks with granulated sugar until smooth. Strain the cream mixture over the yolk mixture, discarding the vanilla bean. Whisk thoroughly to combine.
- Arrange six 4-ounce ramekins in a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Fill each ramekin evenly with the custard mixture, leaving 1/4 inch from the top. Pour just-boiled water into the baking dish until it reaches 2/3 up the sides of the ramekins. Carefully transfer to the oven and bake until custards are just set, about 35 minutes. They should jiggle slightly in the middle and register 175ºF to 178ºF (79ºC to 81ºC) on an instant-read thermometer.
- Remove from oven and transfer ramekins to a cooling rack. Allow custards to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour, then refrigerate uncovered for at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.
- To serve, let custards stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. Sprinkle an even layer of raw sugar (about 2 teaspoons per ramekin) over each custard. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar, moving in a circular motion 1-2 inches from the surface. Alternatively, broil as per the note below. Let cool for 1-2 minutes until the sugar hardens, then serve immediately.
Notes
If using a broiler instead of a torch, preheat it and place the oven rack 3-4 inches from the flame. Sprinkle sugar over custards and broil for about 5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Raw sugar provides a more satisfying crust, but granulated sugar is less likely to overbrown. For a larger portion, you can bake the custard in a single 2-quart dish within a larger water bath.
Make Ahead and Storage
Prepare custards up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate uncovered. Caramelize the sugar topping just before serving to maintain its crisp texture.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
374 | Calories |
28g | Fat |
26g | Carbs |
6g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 374 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 28g | 36% |
Saturated Fat 16g | 82% |
Cholesterol 251mg | 84% |
Sodium 117mg | 5% |
Total Carbohydrate 26g | 9% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Total Sugars 26g | |
Protein 6g | |
Vitamin C 0mg | 2% |
Calcium 131mg | 10% |
Iron 1mg | 3% |
Potassium 155mg | 3% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |