Crème Brûlée

This classic crème brûlée recipe is on par with what you'd get at a 5-star restaurant, but it's surprisingly easy to make at home.

What Is Crème Brûlée?

Crème brûlée is a decadent French dessert consisting of a custard base and a caramelized sugar crust. The treat is traditionally served in individual ramekins. You can use a butane torch to achieve the perfect caramelization if you'd like, but this crème brûlée recipe is easily finished under your oven's broiler.

Crème Brûlée Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make perfect crème brûlée:

· Egg yolks: This classic crème brûlée recipe starts with egg yolks, ensuring a rich dessert.
· White sugar: You'll need six tablespoons of white sugar — four for the custard and two for the caramelized topping.
· Vanilla: A dash of vanilla extract adds complexity and enhances the overall flavor of this crème brûlée.
· Cream: Heavy whipping cream is whisked into the egg yolks over low heat until nice and thick.
· Brown sugar: A blend of white and brown sugars is sprinkled over the custard and broiled until perfectly caramelized.

How to Make Crème Brûlée

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this top-rated crème brûlée:

1. Make the custard: Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Heat the cream until it's almost boiling, then whisk the cream into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into a double boiler and stir over simmering water until thick.
2. Bake and chill the custard: Pour the mixture into crème brûlée dishes or ramekins. Bake in a preheated oven until set. Cool to room temperature, then chill in the fridge.
3. Caramelize the sugar: Sprinkle each custard with a blend of brown and white sugars. Place under your oven's broiler until the sugar is melted and caramelized. Chill before serving.

Nicole's Best Crème Brûlée Tips

"Crème brûlée is one of those things that sounds a whole lot fancier than it is," according to culinary producer Nicole McLaughlin (a.k.a. NicoleMcMom). "All we're doing is making a custard — you've got this." Here are a few of her best crème brûlée tips and tricks:

· It's important to temper (or slowly add) your egg yolks to the cream. If you pour them straight into the hot cream, Nicole says, you'll end up with scrambled eggs.
· Pull the crème brûlée out of the oven when it's still slightly jiggly, kind of like you would a cheesecake. It will continue to set as it cools.
· You'll know the crème brûlée is perfect and ready-to-eat when it makes an audible "tap, tap, tap" sound when you tap the hardened sugar with the back of your spoon.

Can You Make Crème Brûlée Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! You can make the crème brûlée's custard base up to two days in advance — just cover each ramekin tightly and store in the refrigerator. When you're almost ready to serve dessert, sprinkle with the sugar blend and broil until caramelized. Chill for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"Doubled this," says Amy Marlin. "It was a huge hit with everyone, especially our gluten-free friends who hadn't thought about creme brulee as an option!"

"We're not all pastry chefs and have no desire to make life that complicated," according to Pops the Cook. "This recipe worked very well as written. Smooth, creamy, delicious!!"

"Just [make sure to] add the hot cream to the eggs really slowly so that they don't cook and this is a winner," says Joan-Marie. "I've made it several times and it never fails to impress."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams