Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Cafe Bella›Creme Brulee Recipe

Creme Brulee Recipe

Inspired by Cafe Bella
Time2h
Serves6

Traditional French "burnt cream" topped with caramelized sugar

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Ingredients

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Custard Base

Topping

Method

Preparing the Custard

  1. 1

    Heat the Cream

    In a medium saucepan, pour in the heavy cream and add the granulated sugar. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape the seeds into the cream, and add the pod as well. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it just begins to simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and let it steep for about 15 minutes.

  2. 2

    Whisk the Egg Yolks

    In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they are pale and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

  3. 3

    Combine Mixtures

    Gradually whisk the warm cream into the egg yolks, a little at a time, to temper the eggs. Make sure to whisk constantly to prevent scrambling. Once combined, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove the vanilla pod and any curdled bits.

Baking

  1. 4

    Preheat Oven

    Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).

  2. 5

    Prepare Ramekins

    Place 6 ramekins in a baking dish. Pour the custard mixture evenly into the ramekins, filling them about 3/4 full.

  3. 6

    Create a Water Bath

    Carefully pour hot water into the baking dish around the ramekins until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. This will help the custard cook evenly.

  4. 7

    Bake

    Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until the custards are set but still slightly jiggly in the center. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let them cool to room temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Caramelizing the Sugar

  1. 8

    Prepare for Caramelizing

    When ready to serve, remove the custards from the refrigerator. Make sure they are completely chilled.

  2. 9

    Add Sugar Topping

    Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar evenly over the top of each custard.

  3. 10

    Caramelize the Sugar

    Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar until it melts and turns golden brown. If you do not have a torch, you can place the ramekins under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.

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