Easy Creme Brûlée Recipe | Julie Blanner (2024)

This easy creme brûlée recipe is a classic dessert in just 30 minutes. Creme brulee is elegant, yet surprisingly easy for entertaining.

It can also be made ahead, and it’s made with just four staple ingredients! Rich and creamy, it’s the perfect way to finish a meal.

Crème brûlée is one of our favorite desserts both for it’s ease to make and enjoy. It’s not too sweet and so smooth, making a great dessert for brunch, lunch or dinner. And the fire factor? Don’t worry if you don’t have a torch. I have a simple solution for that as well!

Crème brûlée is also known as urnt cream, trinity cream, orcrema catalana. Whatever you call it, it’s amazing! The rich custard base is topped with caramelized sugar, offering the most luxurious texture!

It’s typically served in a ramekin, which makes it feel special. I typically use a shallow ramekin for the perfect custard to caramelized sugar ration, but you can serve it in small, deeper ramekins as well!

This classic French dessert is so much easier to make than you might think, and it’s a great option for a make ahead dessert.

Why You’ll Love this Easy Creme Brûlée

• Simple Ingredients – You just need four ingredients to make this restaurant quality dessert!
• Elegant – This is a decadent dessert that is surprisingly easy to make and serve at home, and it’s beautiful to serve.
• Easy to Customize – We’ll show you options to add a variety of flavors, or you can stick with the traditional classic.

Recipe variations

• You can mix up this easy creme brûlée by adding orange peel, Grand Marnier orlemon extract, but plain ‘ole vanilla is just perfect for me.
• Extract – You can get myHomemade Vanilla Extractrecipe here, but you could also switch the extract for almond or even lemon or orange.

Tools

• Stand Mixer with Whip Attachment
• Ramekins
• Sauce Pan
• Jelly Roll Pan
• Torch (or use your oven broiler as directed)

Tips

• Use fresh egg yolks in this recipe. Keep the leftover egg whites and you can makeMeringue Cookies orPink Champagne Cupcakes with them.
• When adding the cream mixture to the egg mixture, add it gradually whilst stirring so that it combines well. The cream shouldn’t be boiling or the eggs can scramble.
• It’s important to bake the desserts in a water bath, as this keeps them moist and prevents them from cracking. Simply place the ramekins in a deep sheet pan or cake tin and fill halfway with water.
• When broiling the sugar on top of the desserts, watch closely so that the sugar doesn’t burn or it will taste bitter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store

• Room Temperature – You can leave this dessert sitting out at room temperature for up to two hours safely.
• Refrigerator – You’ll want to refrigerate your creme brulee for at least 30 minutes until set, and up to 3-4 days in total.
• Freezer – Once your creme brulee is cooled to room temperature, cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Then chill in the refrigerator. You can safely freeze for up to 1-2 months. Thaw this dessert in the refrigerator overnight, and sprinkle with sugar for torching before serving.

Note: Although freezing is safe, it could alter the taste and texture of your creme brûlée.

How to Make Easy Creme Brûlée

1. First, bring cream, vanilla and half of the sugar to a boil.
2. Combine the egg yolks and the rest of the sugar in a stand mixer.
3. Mix the cream mixture into the egg mixture gradually while beating it.
4. Create a water bath. Fill a cookie sheet or baking dish with water and line with ramekins.
5. Pour custard into ramekins and bake.
6. Remove and refrigerate to set until ready to serve.
7. Before serving, sprinkle with sugar, broil and voila!