Crème Brûlée

This silky, restaurant-quality dessert may look intimidating, but it’s surprisingly easy to make at home. The creamy, custard-like texture paired with the crisp, caramelized sugar topping creates a perfect balance of richness and crunch that will wow your guests. For the best results, always use fresh eggs to achieve that signature smooth and velvety texture.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (480ml) heavy cream

• 5 large egg yolks

• 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla paste (or 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped)

• A pinch of Kosher or sea salt

• Turbinado sugar for topping

Instructions:

1️⃣ Preheat & Prepare

• Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).

• Arrange 4 ramekins in a deep baking dish.

2️⃣ Heat the Cream

• In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until hot but not boiling.

• If using a vanilla bean, add the seeds and pod to the cream while heating.

• Remove from heat and let it sit for a few minutes. If using a vanilla pod, remove it now.

3️⃣ Whisk the Yolks & Sugar

• In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and pinch of salt until pale and slightly thickened.

4️⃣ Temper the Eggs

• Slowly pour a small amount of the warm cream into the egg mixture while whisking constantly. This prevents scrambling. Add a little more of the warm cream, whisk, then add the remaining warm cream while continuing to mix.

• Stir in the vanilla paste if not using a vanilla bean.

5️⃣ Pour

• Divide evenly among the ramekins.

6️⃣ Bake in a Water Bath

• Carefully pour boiling water from a teapot into the baking dish until it reaches halfway up the ramekins.

• Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center is slightly jiggly.

7️⃣ Cool & Chill

• Remove ramekins from the water bath and let cool to room temperature.

• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) for the best texture.

8️⃣ Caramelize the Sugar Topping

• Just before serving, sprinkle about 1–2 tsp of turbinado sugar evenly over each custard.

• Use a kitchen torch to caramelize until deep golden brown. Alternatively, broil in the oven for 1–2 minutes, watching closely.

9️⃣ Serve & Enjoy