Crème Brûlée Recipe

This Crème Brûlée Recipe will transport you to a quaint French bistro, even when you are sitting at home.

Crème brûlée has long been one of my favorite desserts. I think of it as a grown-up version of the puddings and vanilla custard I loved as a child. With this crème brûlée recipe, I can make this delicious French dessert at home for a fraction of the cost I would get at a bakery or restaurant. Besides, homemade is always better, in my opinion.

It’s always nice to have a naturally gluten-free dessert that I don’t have to convert to meet my needs, too. Besides, not only do you get the creaminess of the custard, but that crunchy sugar shell is just waiting for a spoon to crack it open!

Don’t confuse this crème brûlée recipe with one for crème caramel, another delicious dessert. That recipe uses whole eggs and milk for the custard, whereas this one uses only egg yolks and heavy cream, making a thicker, richer custard. That said, both are equally good and deserving of a place in your dessert rotation.

Is Crème Brûlée Healthy?

Although eggs and dairy products have their place in a well-rounded diet, combining them with sugar in this decadent dessert does not make it the healthiest option. However, unless you eat multiple crème brûlée ramekins daily, you can enjoy this treat in moderation. You can switch to coconut sugar instead of refined white sugar to make this dessert slightly healthier due to a lower glycemic index. Just know that the color will be slightly darker due to coconut sugar’s golden brown appearance.

Why Vanilla Bean Is Best

I like to use a vanilla bean in this crème brûlée recipe for multiple reasons. First, I love seeing the little specks of vanilla seeds on my spoon. The bean also gives you a rich, deep, and complex flavor of vanilla that you don’t get with the extract. Don’t get me wrong; vanilla extract will make a perfectly acceptable and delicious custard. However, the use of the vanilla bean takes it one step further.

If you want to go with extract though, it’s better to use real rather than imitation vanilla extract. Real vanilla extract is made from vanilla beans, while the imitation product comes from commercially produced vanillin, a synthetic chemical compound. In my opinion, this vanillin tastes artificial without the nuanced complexity and flavors of real vanilla extract.

FAQs & Tips

Serving Suggestions

With all that to consider, you should also know that you can switch up the flavors of your custard by adding cardamom, lemon zest, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, or nutmeg. Don’t stop there. You can also get creative and make chocolate, Irish cream, passion fruit, Earl Grey, or chai latte crème brûlée. Let your imagination run wild.

Because crème brûlée is a French dessert, I like to go all out and create a themed dinner when making this crème brûlée recipe. Begin your meal with a hearty bowl of French Onion Soup. The perfect main course dish is this Poulet Rôti Recipe for French roast chicken. The aroma of roasted garlic, rosemary, and thyme will have you eagerly awaiting dinner. A delicate side dish of Sautéed Green Beans is perfect for a dinner that is rich in flavor. Finally, make the dinner festive with this refreshing French Martini, one of my favorite drinks.

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