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+ servings
Shallow dish of vanilla bean creme brulee garnished with berries and mint, with a gold spoon digging in, with vanilla beans alongside.

Vanilla Creme Brulee Recipe

Vanilla Creme Brulee is a make-ahead restaurant-style dessert with rich and creamy custard topped with crunchy sugar crust. This post will explain which ramekins to buy and how to torch it perfectly.
4.6 from 8 ratings

Ingredients

For the Custard:

  • 1 vanilla bean split and scraped
  • 3 cups heavy cream
  • 9 tablespoons granulated sugar divided
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • Pinch of kosher salt

For the Topping:

  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • Fresh berries and mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F; heat large kettle of water to boiling. Place six 6-ounce ramekins (see Home Chef Tip) in roasting pan.
  • In small saucepan, heat vanilla bean and it's scrapings, cream and 6 tablespoons sugar over medium heat 6 to 7 minutes until cream just starts to bubble around edges of pan (do not bring to a full boil).
  • Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk egg yolks, salt and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar until well combined. While whisking, use ladle to slowly add 4 ladlefuls of hot cream mixture to egg mixture. Gradually whisk in remaining cream mixture. Strain through fine mesh strainer into large liquid measuring cup.
  • Divide custard mixture between ramekins; place roasting pan in oven. Add enough boiling water to come halfway up sides of the ramekins. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until custards are just set (they should tremble slightly in the middle, but be set on outer edges).
  • Use tongs or pancake turner to carefully transfer ramekins to cooling rack; let stand 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 4 hours or up to 2 days before serving.
  • To serve, sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over each custard. Using blowtorch, caramelize top of each custard until sugar bubbles and turns brown (this can also be done under a broiler). Top with berries and mint and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Home Chef Tip: If your ramekins are wide and shallow, your custard may bake a little faster. If your ramekins are narrow and deep, you will likely need to bake your custard longer. In the photos you see in this post, I'm using wide and shallow ramekins, and my custard took about 38 minutes to bake until it was just set.
  • If you use narrow and deep ramekins, start at 40 minutes and continue baking, checking every 5 minutes until your custard is just set. It could take up to an hour.
Calories: 580kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 48g, Saturated Fat: 29g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 329mg, Sodium: 41mg, Potassium: 133mg, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin A: 2009IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 102mg, Iron: 1mg
This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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