The Classic Crème Brulee

“Life is short, make it sweet.”

Crème brulee is one of my favorite desserts. I say this about a lot of desserts, but really, I could eat crème brulee everyday. It truly is a dessert that brings a touch of elegance and delight to any part of the day. While rich and smooth in taste, it is not overwhelming. It is also one of those desserts you can build off of by adding fruits like blueberries or strawberries or by changing the custard flavor for instance to caramel or coffee. On this post today, though, I keep it fairly simple with the classic crème brulee which only has five ingredients, is easy to make, and the most time used is for chilling.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Heavy Cream
• 1 tsp Vanilla Concentrate
• 5 Egg Yolks
• Pinch of Salt
• 1/2 cup of Sugar (about a 1/2 cup extra for topping )

Preparation

• Set your oven to 325 degrees. Organize ingredients. Separate egg yolks and whites (discard or save for egg white omelets or pavlova). Make sure your torch is fueled. Combine cream, vanilla concentrate, and salt and cook on low heat until hot. If milk film forms, simply lift off. Temperature check and stir periodically until hot. Set aside for a few minutes.

Directions

• Beat egg yolks in a bowl, gradually pour in sugar and continue beating together until light.
• Slowly mix in cream mixture. Scoop foam off the top and discard.
• Pour mixture into into ramekins, place in a baking dish, and fill with hot water just above mixture line. Bake for 45 minutes or until centers are nearly set (a slight jiggle).
• Let cool completely, plastic wrap, and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or over a couple of days.
• Remove from refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to serving and spread a spoonful across the tops of the crème brulee.
  • If you like a thicker caramelized layer, add more sugar to completely cover the top. I prefer mine to be thicker because it reminds me of rock candy and gives an extra bit of sweetness.
• Melt sugar with torch to create crispy top or broil for about 5 minutes to brown. Be careful to not overcook or burn
• Give it a minute to cool as it will be warm for a moment. Add your favorite fruits or eat as is. I like adding raspberries or other slightly tart fruits because it compliments the delicate sweet taste.

Crème brulee makes the perfect addition to any dinner. What I find neat, is that it can be enjoyed for any occasion, formal or daily. Try this out and let me know how it turns out! If you are in the Tampa Bay Area and would rather just have it made, check out my menu and satisfy your sweet tooth.