Pumpkin Creme Brulee Recipe for Two - Pumpkin Pie Creme Brulee (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of crème brûlée? ›

Baking crème brûlée in a water bath, also known as a “bain-marie” in French cuisine, is a gentle and precise cooking method that helps ensure the custard cooks evenly resulting in a creamy, and velvety custard with a perfect texture. The water bath helps prevent overcooking and promotes even heating.

Tips for the Perfect Caramelized Topping:

Cover custard completely with sugar: You want to cover the top of each custard completely with a thin layer of sugar, because any exposed custard will curdle when you torch it. The amount of sugar will depend on the width of your ramekins.

A perfect crème brûlée is served warm at the top of the custard (nearest the torching) and cold at the bottom. You can eat crème brûlée the day you make them; however, be sure to chill the custards for at least three hours before caramelizing the sugar.

For the caramelized sugar crust, we recommend turbinado or Demerara sugar. Regular granulated sugar will work, too, but use only 1 scant teaspoon on each ramekin or 1 teaspoon on each shallow fluted dish.

Sprinkle the Demerara sugar evenly on top of the creme brulee. Broil for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the sugar melts completely and most of it caramelizes, rotating the pan occasionally to even the browning. Cool on a wire rack for 1 minute to allow the sugar to harden, then serve immediately.

I will say the trickiest part of making a creme brûlée is deciding when to pull it from the oven. It is ready when the middle jiggles, but the edges are set, like in my video. If the whole thing is still super jiggly, it needs more time, check every 10 minutes after. If the none if it jiggles, it is overcooked.

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream? Part of crème brûlée's decadence comes from the richness of heavy cream. While you can substitute milk for your crème brûlée the resultant custard will be thinner and lighter in consistency.

They should be cool enough after about two hours in the refrigerator, but you can keep them in the fridge for up to three days, which makes them an excellent make-ahead dessert that'll surely impress your friends. Once you're ready to finish up your crème brûlée, it's time for the tricky part: the crunchy top.

Made well, crème brûlée is a magnificent dessert of silky, vanilla-scented custard—usually made with eggs, milk, and/or cream—beneath a shatteringly crisp topping of caramelized sugar. Made poorly, the dessert is often overcooked, too eggy, or served at the wrong temperature, whether too hot or too cold.

Is creme brulee good for you? ›

Crème brûlée is a dessert that is traditionally made with heavy cream, sugar, and eggs, and it is not considered a weight loss food. In fact, it is high in calories, fat, and sugar, and can contribute to weight gain if consumed in large quantities or as part of an overall unhealthy diet.

This crème brûlée recipe instructs you to make a creamy, silky custard flavored with vanilla and orange liqueur on the stovetop and oven. You then sprinkle the chilled custard with coarse Demerara sugar to make its signature glassy, crackling molten sugar top.

Undercooked: It's possible that you didn't bake it long enough. Crème brûlée should be set around the edges but still slightly wobbly in the center when you take it out. It will continue to set as it cools. Too much liquid: Make sure you're using the right proportion of cream to egg yolks.

Crème brûlée and crème caramel are two different types of custard desserts. Crème brûlée is made with a rich custard base that is topped with a layer of hard caramel. Crème caramel is made with a caramelized sugar syrup that is poured over a layer of custard.