Name: Classic Creme Brulee Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 cups heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 6 egg yolks; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for topping); 1 kettle of hot water

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Classic Creme Brulee Recipe made with creamy custard and crisp caramelized topping is a great make ahead dessert to surprise your guests!

If you are like me and love to make your desserts a day in advance, you will love this Creme Brulee recipe!

It’s super easy to make!
You can make it 1-2 days ahead.
Your guests will be amazed by your skills!

Ingredients for Classic Creme Brulee Recipe

This classic dessert might seem complicated, but in reality, it’s one of the easiest recipes to make. All you need is just 4 ingredients:

Egg Yolks
Granulated Sugar
Heavy Cream
Vanilla Extract

How to make Classic Creme Brulee

Preheat the oven to 325°F and boil a pot with water.

1. Make Custard.

Heat heavy cream and vanilla extract in a sauce pan over a medium heat until it slightly starts to simmer. Turn off the heat and put the mixture aside.

While the cream is heating, in a mixing bowl beat together egg yolks and granulated sugar for about 5 minutes until it has thicker consistency and pale color.

Gradually, a little at a time, add heated cream and vanilla mixture to the beaten eggs until well combined, constantly stirring.

Divide the mixture between 4 ramekins and place them into a large baking pan. Pour hot water into the pan, covering ¾ of the ramekins.

2. Bake.

Bake at 325°F for about 30-35 minutes until Creme Brulee is set but slightly jiggling in the center.

When Creme Brulee is done, remove it from the baking pan, cool off for 10 minutes, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Classic Creme Brulee in white ramekins before and after baking.

3. Caramelize.

Before serving, sprinkle granulated sugar over the Creme Brulee, and using a blow-torch, brown the sugar to a crispy finish. You also can top caramelized creme brulee with fresh berries and mint leaves. Enjoy!

How to make Crème Brulee without Torch

If you don’t have a blow torch (though I would advise you to get one), you can caramelize the sugar under the broiler. Just evenly sprinkle the sugar over chilled Crème Brulee, place the ramekins in a baking sheet, and place it directly under the broiler. Keep a close eye on it and the sugar will brown very quickly.

Tips for making perfect Classic Creme Brulee Recipe

Temper the yolks. This is probably the most important step in this recipe. Make sure you beat the egg yolks with granulated sugar really well. Gradually add hot cream, while constantly whisking. That will prevent the eggs from scrambling.

Choose the right ramekins. There is a great variety of different ramekins on the market. I found that shallow ramekins work better for Creme Brulee, as they cook faster and more evenly. When you make this dessert in deep ramekins, there is a chance that it will be undercooked inside and have a burnt outside.

Water bath. This is another important step. Water bath helps to create moist environment while baking. Which helps with more even cooking.

Baking time. It’s always hard to say exact baking time. It depends on many factors, including the size of the ramekins and how deep they are. The most important key for perfect baking is to make sure that the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly. You also can check the internal temperature, which should be at 170˚F.

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5 from 4 votes

Classic Creme Brulee Recipe

Classic Crème Brulee Recipe made with creamy custard and crisp caramelized topping is a great make ahead dessert to surprise your guests!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 613kcal

Author: Veronika’s Kitchen

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Heat 2 cups heavy cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a sauce pan over a medium heat until it slightly starts to simmer. Turn off the heat and put the mixture aside.
In a mixing bowl beat together 6 egg yolks and 1/3 cup granulated sugar for about 5 minutes until it has thicker consistency and pale color.
Gradually, a little at a time, add cream and vanilla mixture to the eggs until well combined, constantly stirring.
Divide the mixture between 4 ramekins and place them into a large baking pan. Pour hot water into the pan, covering ¾ of the ramekins.
Bake at 325°F for about 30-35 minutes until Crème Brûlée is set but slightly jiggling in the center.
When Crème Brûlée is done, remove it from the baking pan, cool off for 10 minutes, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Before serving, sprinkle granulated sugar over the Crème Brûlée, and using a blow-torch, brown the sugar to a crispy top. Enjoy!

Notes