How to make creme brulee

March 4, 2012 - Homemade Creme Brulee

Creme Brulee sounds like such a difficult dessert to make but really it's not. With only 5 ingredients, you can make this dessert at home if you have the right materials. LJ loves creme brulee so I decided to learn how to make it just in case he craves for some. :)

Some special things you need besides your oven are:

1. Ramekins - These are small ceramic containers that can be baked inside the oven without breaking. You can use these for lava cakes too! I bought mine in the Salcedo Market for 30 Pesos each. They have these in department stores as well. You need 6-7 ramekins for this recipe.

2. Browning torch - Creme brulee means "burnt cream", so having the burnt caramelized top is one of the characteristics of the Creme Brulee. My torch was a gift from my sister and she bought it in ACE Hardware for around 500 Pesos. It's also good for toasting marshmallows and meringue on top of pies or cakes too!

3. A deep roasting pan or a big cake pan that can hold your ramekins - I used my 9 inch cake pan to hold 6 ramekins with water that goes up until the middle part of the ramekins. This is called a water bath. I think this is to prevent the creme brulee from getting burned. (Not so sure what will happen if a water bath isn't used when baking these)

Once you have all of these things and of course the ingredients, you're all set! Here's what you need to get in the grocery:

2 Cartons of All Purpose Cream (250ml each)

1 Small Carton of Full Cream Milk (But you will only use 100ml)

1/4 cup White Sugar and some more for the top

5 Large Egg Yolks

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Procedure:

1. Turn on the oven and pre-heat to 300 degrees. Put the cream, milk and vanilla in a sauce pan and set aside.

2. Set up your roasting pan or cake pan with your ramekins inside.

3. In a mixing bowl, whisk your egg yolks and sugar until it's light, pale and fluffy. Set aside.

4. Place your saucepan with cream,milk and vanilla on a stove and simmer until bubbles start to form on the side. Turn the fire off immediately and slowly pour the cream to the egg and sugar mixture. Maybe you can ask someone to pour while you mix with a whisk.

5. Your egg and cream mixture should look like this. As you can see, there's a layer of bubbles. You have to scrape this off with a spoon and discard.

6. Now it's time to pour the egg and cream mixture inside the ramekins. Fill it up until the top. You can also use a spoon to make sure it doesn't spill.

7. Add hot water in the pan. Not too high though or it might go inside your egg and cream mixture.Bake inside the 300 degree oven for 35 mins. It should be a bit firm and jiggle when you shake the pan gently just like jello.

8. Take it out of the water bath and cool on a tray for 10 mintues. After you can chill it in the refrigerator. Chilling overnight can be done too.

9. When you're ready to serve, put 1 teaspoon of white sugar on top of the creme brulee and spread it using the back of the spoon. Torch the top evenly by making circles with the flame and until the sugar is dark brown and bubbling.

THE FINAL PRODUCT!

Now that was easy right? :) Try it at home and for sure everyone will love you for making these!