Creme Brulee is one of my favorite easy dessert recipes. That’s right—Easy—and it requires only 5 ingredients to create this classic French dessert recipe. The creamy custard is topped with an irresistible, crunchy burnt sugar topping. This dessert will impress everyone who enjoys a cup!
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Helpful Reader Review
“Once I started making this at home, I had to quit ordering it at restaurants because I’m always disappointed. Your recipe is THE. BEST. crem brulee I’ve ever had!” – Sene ★★★★★
Creme Brulee Video
Grab a few fridge staples to make these luxurious pots of silky Creme Brulee custard. I’ll show you how I use my blow torch to create that famous crisp sugar topping.
Easy Creme Brulee Recipe
I’m here to tell you that you can make this fancy crème brûlée recipe with just 5 simple ingredients in your very own kitchen, blowtorch and all. It’s also totally approachable! My teenage son makes this on his own (with some supervision of the blowtorch). Creme Brulee is his favorite dessert, and I’m definitely not complaining!
Crème Brûlée (pronounced “krem-broo-lay”) means “burnt cream” in French. It’s a classic dessert made from a creamy custard base topped with a layer of sugar. The sugar is then caramelized or “burnt” with a kitchen torch to create a hardened, crunchy top.
Creme Brulee Ingredients
Open your fridge (and pantry) to find the 5 staple ingredients needed to make creme brulee from scratch. So easy!
- Heavy Whipping Cream has a higher fat content to set the custard properly. You can substitute it with full-fat coconut milk or cream for a dairy-free creme brulee.
- Egg yolks – help set the mixture to create a rich and thick custard. Save the egg whites for Pavlova or an Egg White Omelette.
- Sugar – I use granulated sugar for the custard and the caramelized topping
- Salt – Salt balances the sweetness and brings out the flavor.
- Vanilla – Use Homemade Vanilla or store-bought real vanilla extract, vanilla beans cut lengthwise and de-seeded, or vanilla paste.
How to Substitute Vanilla:
If you want to use a different form of vanilla, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract is equal to the seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste.
If you prefer a different flavor altogether, try my Espresso Crème Brûlée, and Pumpkin Crème Brûlée, so you’ll have a favorite for every season!
How to Make Crème Brûlée
Making vanilla creme brulee from scratch is simple! Check out my tips for what to do if you don’t have a blow torch:
- Warm the cream – heat heavy cream in a saucepan until steaming, and then add vanilla extract and remove from heat.
- Add the eggs – whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt together in a separate bowl, and then slowly pour the hot cream into the mixture while whisking.
- Strain the custard mixture through a fine-mesh sieve (optional, but it helps ensure the silkiest consistency). Pour into 6 (4 oz) ramekins and then place them into a casserole dish.
- Water bath – add boiling hot water to the casserole dish, and bake the creme brulee at 325˚F for 30-35 minutes (if using larger ramekins, increase the baking time). Crème brûlée is done when the centers are nearly set, with a slight wobble when you give the pan a jolt. Overbaking will result in a firm, more flan-like consistency rather than a creamy custard. Cool on a wire rack, cover, and then refrigerate at least 2 hours to set.
- Caramelize the Sugar – Just before serving, swirl up to 2 tsp sugar evenly over the custards, and then torch the top using circular motions until the sugar becomes deep amber in color.
Pro Tip:
A small, inexpensive handheld multi-purpose torch does the job. I picked up mine at Home Depot along with a can of butane. Also, a flame-thrower torch borrowed from the garage will also work fine.
Can I Make Creme Brulee Without a Torch?
True, you won’t hear that iconic “crack,” but I’ve tested other ways to make the hard caramelized topping (including under an oven broiler), but they don’t turn out consistently. Save yourself some frustration, and instead and try these toppings instead:
- Fresh Raspberries – or mixed berries with a mint leaf for color
- Citrus – orange or tangerine segments with citrus zest
- Berry Sauce – homemade Strawberry Sauce, or berry sauce from our Panna Cotta
- Caramel – drizzle your creme brulee with Caramel Sauce or Butterscotch Sauce
- Shaved bittersweet chocolate also makes an easy substitute for the crackly sugar topping.
I hope you’re inspired to whip up some quick and easy creme brulee this week! It’s easily one of my favorite desserts to make whenever I entertain, since it’s effortlessly impressive and so tasty.
Creme Brulee
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sugar, plus extra for caramelizing
- 1 pinch fine sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Warm the cream – Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Pour heavy cream into a medium saucepan and set over medium heat, stirring frequently until steaming and almost at a simmer, then add vanilla and remove from heat.
- Add the eggs – In a medium bowl, whisk together 5 egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt until blended. While whisking constantly, gradually drizzle in the hot cream. Start very slowly to avoid scrambling your eggs.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup with a pouring lip. Discard anything left in the sieve. Divide the mixture into 6 (4-oz) ramekins and place in a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Water bath – Fill the baking dish with boiling water about halfway up the sides of the cups. Bake at 325˚F for 30-35 minutes, depending on your ramekin size, or until the centers are nearly set and have just a slight wiggle in the center. Carefully transfer ramekins from the water bath to a wire rack and cool to room temperature, and then cover and refrigerate creme brulee until fully chilled (2 hours or up to 3 days).
- Caramelize sugar** – When ready to serve, put 1 1/2 to 2 tsp sugar on each custard, swirling to spread evenly. Use a Blowtorch over the top, moving in a circular pattern until the whole surface is caramelized to a deep amber color.
Notes
Storage:
- Make Ahead: The custard can be made 3 days in advance, cooled, covered, and refrigerated. You’ll want to wait until serving to add the sugar topping; otherwise, the humidity of the refrigerator will soften the caramelized topping.
- To Refrigerate – cool the custard in under 2 hours, cover tightly with plastic wrap so it doesn’t touch the top, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: It’s also possible to freeze creme brulee, though it may reduce the quality of the custard a bit. Prepare and bake the custard as directed, leaving off the sugar topping. Once the ramekins have cooled, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze them for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge, then top them with sugar and torch them as usual before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Single-Serving Desserts
Once you try this easy crème brûlée recipe, check out my other single-serve dessert recipes, perfect for Valentine’s Day or a special occasion.
- Chocolate Lava Cakes
- Apple Roses
- Chocolate Mousse
- Mini Cheesecakes
- Cream Puffs
- Strawberry Shortcakes
- Lemon Posset
- Raspberry Macarons
- Eclairs
- Chocolate Soufflé Recipe
Hi Natasha, I have tried this recipe before and I loved it. I do have a question though, what is the proper consistency of creme should be when you take it out of oven? Last time the middle was really wobbly so I added time in oven. It was still good just wondering if the wobbly portion gets more stiff once it cools off.
Hi Lily, The centers of the creme brulee’s should barely move when you wiggle the pan. The slightly wobbly portion does set when it’s chilled in the refrigerator.
Great recipe, easy to follow and love the video, but I totally forgot the vanilla. I’m devastated, is it going to taste terrible??
I don’t think it will taste terrible. It’s not exactly the same but it will still be enjoyable 🙂
Hi Natasha!
For a 2.5oz ramekin, do I proportional shorten the time in the oven?
Thank you very much!
Marta, bake creme brûlée for 25-30 minutes 😁.
Hi Natasha I loved the recipe and I wanna try it out but can I use fresh whipping cream instead of heavy cream?
I haven’t tested it with anything except heavy cream, so I’m not sure how it will turn out with the lower fat content. I think it would work, but without testing it, I can’t say for sure. Let me know if you try it. 🙂
How long do I leave them out to get the room temperature before I put them in the fridge?
Hi Shana, just until they get to room temperature and then you can refrigerate them. They will be ok at room temp for several hours but you can put them away just as soon as they are no longer warm.
Wow it looks amazing! My mom was looking for this recipe for a long time! We will try it right know! thanks so much 😀
You are welcome Rebekah, I hope you’ll love it :).
I have made this several times and got to say this is so easy and delicious! Can not be any easier to make. Thank you Natasha for the recipie and video:) you are amazing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! I was so excited when I developed this recipe because it was so easy to make my favorite dessert! 🙂
Hi Natasha,
I just took mine out of the oven and was trying to figure out why mine were golden on top/around the edges and yours weren’t and then realized that I preheated my oven to 350 instead of 300. Do you think I ruined my crème brulee?
It will still taste fine :). They might be a little overcooked, but still creamy and yummy.
Dear Natasha
Oh My! I am tickled pink I found your site. I think both you and your Mom are truly “Angels” to share your beautiful and delicious European recipes. I am a senior, have cooked for years for my family and loved every minute of it, so did they!
God Bless you, and your family as you await your beautiful daughter. Every Mother should have at least one.
I think you are wonderful and wish you all the very best
Thank you so much for your sweet and wonderful comment. I’m so happy and thankful to be having a girl. I always told myself that I’d be happy with all boys but I am truly so excited to have a daughter as well. God bless you Anne!
I would like to make this for a big party and don’t have enough ramekins. How could I make it in a platter? Would I still need to bake it in water and for how long?
I haven’t baked it that way so I can’t give you an exact baking time. It depends on if you are doubling the recipe and how big your baking dish is (i.e. how thick will the final product be). You will want to bake it until it’s nearly set in the center when you give it a little jolt. If you want to be safe, bake until there is no jiggle in the center. 🙂
I would like to try this recipe out looks yummy! But 8 ramekins is too much for just me and my husband. I’d like to divide the recipe in half. How much eggs would I need to use, 1-2?
I’d probably use 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk and cut everything else in half. Enjoy! 🙂
I’ve made the whole recipie for only my hubby and I and that last us for two day! I’m thinking of doubling recipie next time. It’s super delicious;) make the whole recipie you won’t regret it!
I’m so happy you loved it! Thanks Mila 🙂
Another way to get the crispy sugar on the top is if you put the oven on broil and get the cream brûlée as close at possible for a few second until it turns brown, but be carful the sugar can easily burn hope this help
Thank you so much for sharing that tip!! 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Natasha, what is the difference in using whole eggs and just egg yolks?
Most of the recipes I’ve seen have just egg yolks, but I tested it both ways and loved using the whole egg; less waste and the texture was so smooth and creamy. I’ve made it countless times!
Thank you, I tried this recipe and it tasted great!!!! I’m going to make for the 4th of July also,
Awesome! Happy 4th!!
Natasha, how long do I cool the creme brûlée for? Around?
oooh good question. I’d give it at a bare minimum 1 hour and 2 for good measure 🙂
Out of 6 only 2 set fully, the rest set a bit but still had very soft centers.
Definitely add more time if you’re filling 6 instead of 8. They should have little to no jiggle in the center when they are fully baked and they set more in the fridge as they cool.
Thank you!! It was my first time making them so I didn’t know what to expect and how they should look, I guess it’s just common sense, lol.. Thank you again, I will defiantly not make the same mistake. :))
if i want to make this creme burlee in a platter how long would oven time be?
Bake at 325°F for about 30 to 40 minutes or until almost set but still a bit soft in the center. Custard should tremble a bit when the ramekin is shaken gently. It will firm up more as it cools. Hope this helps.
Where do you get the ramekins?
TJMaxx
How big is the cup!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are reffering to serving ramekins, they are 1/2 cup each. Hope this helps.
Hi Natasha, Can i ask u the measurement ? 1 cup is how many ml ? Thanks!
1 cup = 240 ml 🙂
thanks for reply natasha 🙂
This is awesome – I will probably come back to try and make this. I don’t have a torch – to this day I was not sure I was daring enough to try it – but I think I might finally get one. Hubby doesn’t have one.