Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsCafé NormandieCrème Brûlée Recipe

Crème Brûlée Recipe

Inspired by Café Normandie
Time2h
Serves4

Classic vanilla custard topped with caramelized sugar

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Ingredients

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Custard

Topping

Method

Custard Preparation

  1. 1

    Preheat the Oven

    Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).

  2. 2

    Heat the Cream

    In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy cream and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves and the cream is hot but not boiling.

  3. 3

    Whisk Egg Yolks

    In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until well combined.

  4. 4

    Combine Mixtures

    Slowly pour the hot cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture while constantly whisking to prevent the eggs from scrambling.

  5. 5

    Strain the Mixture

    Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into another bowl to remove any cooked egg bits.

  6. 6

    Prepare Ramekins

    Place 4 to 6 ramekins in a baking dish. Pour the custard mixture evenly into the ramekins.

  7. 7

    Bake the Custard

    Fill the baking dish with hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the custards are set but still slightly jiggly in the center.

  8. 8

    Cool and Refrigerate

    Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let them cool to room temperature. Once cooled, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Caramelizing the Sugar

  1. 9

    Prepare for Topping

    Once the custards are well chilled, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar evenly over the top of each custard.

  2. 10

    Caramelize the Sugar

    Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar by moving the flame in a circular motion until the sugar melts and turns golden brown. If you don't have a torch, you can place the ramekins under a broiler for about 2-3 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.

  3. 11

    Cool Before Serving

    Allow the caramelized sugar to cool for a minute until it hardens before serving.

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