Creme Brulee’ is hands down my very favorite dessert. The crunch, the cream, the sweet perfection of it is unbeatable in my opinion. I don’t make it very often because when I do I can’t stop until they are all eaten, but I had family staying with me who would be more than willing to save me from myself, so I decided to make some last weekend. I’ve had friends tell me that it is difficult to make, but it really isn’t hard at all. The secret is to let the eggs come up to room temperature before using them and adding the warmed cream a little at a time. I’ve made this recipe dozens of times and I’ve never had it fail. It’s the perfect ending to an elegant meal or a great snack while watching a movie. Try it and if it doesn’t work out, email me and I’ll help you trouble shoot!
PrintVanilla Bean Creme Brulee
Ingredients
- 10 egg yolks (at room temperature)
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 cups heavy cream
- sanding sugar for the tops (or regular sugar if that’s what you have on hand)
Instructions
- Warm cream in a saucepan with the scraped bean caviar until almost boiling, don’t let it boil!
- Whip the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and thoroughly mixed
- Slowly add the warm cream to the egg mixture, whisking constantly – a half a cup at a time
- Once most of the cream is incorporated, you can speed it up a little bit when adding the rest of the cream
- Pour into ramekins and place in a baking dish
- Add boiling water to the baking dish until the water starts to come up on the sides of the ramekins
- Bake 30 minutes at 325 degrees or until centers are starting to set
- Let cool then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour
- Sprinkle the tops with sanding sugar and lightly torch the top with a kitchen torch until the sugar begins to melt
It’s so worth the trouble and such an impressive dessert to serve guests. Do all of it except the torching part before hand and just look like a pro at the end of dinner with your torch.
This one is worth the little bit of extra trouble, but really it’s not much more work than making a pie.
This is one of my favourite ‘dining out’ desserts. I will believe it’s easy because I just know you always tell the truth! We gave our daughter a little torch in her Christmas stocking – I’ll be asking to borrow it.
I might have to try that. However you have reminded me of my 8 egg custard that my grandmother used to make. Maybe I should make some of that right away:-)
Oh Granny Annie, you need to make your Grandmother’s egg custard and post the recipe!
It sounds wonderful…
RMW
Hehe clever idea making it when there are other people to help eat it. I am the same way!! I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love this gorgeous dessert 🙂
I’m a total pudding fan….any kind. I usually do something faster than this because when the craving hits, I need it immediately! 🙂 Think my favorite fast is tapioca…but favorite slow? Definitely creme brulee. I don’t make it often because I live alone and would eat every single one at one sitting.
Barbara,
That’s me exactly. I love a creamy tapioca pudding, but I can’t resist Creme Brulee so I only make it when I have people around who will eat it…
RMW
You have some lucky family and friends. It seems you are always whipping up something spectacular for them and this creme brûlée is no exception. I’m long overdue for my creme brûlée fix.