Description
Julia Child’s classic creme brulee emerges as a quintessential French dessert that delights taste buds with silky custard and caramelized sugar topping. Creamy vanilla-infused perfection awaits those who appreciate refined culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 3 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup (50 g) white sugar (for custard)
- 2 tbsps (30 g) white sugar (for topping)
- 1 tbsp (15 g) brown sugar (for topping)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Configure oven to 300°F (149°C) with rack positioned at lowest level for uniform heat distribution.
- Egg Mixture Refinement: Whisk egg yolks, white sugar, and vanilla extract until achieving a smooth, pale consistency with no visible sugar granules.
- Cream Infusion: Gently heat heavy cream in a saucepan, bringing to a delicate simmer without boiling, developing a rich, creamy foundation.
- Tempering Technique: Gradually incorporate hot cream into egg mixture, whisking continuously to prevent curdling and maintain a silky smooth texture.
- Custard Development: Utilize double boiler method, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and coats wooden spoon with velvety consistency.
- Baking Preparation: Pour custard into ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet, ensuring even distribution and potential overflow prevention.
- Thermal Processing: Bake for 25-35 minutes, monitoring until edges set while center retains a subtle jiggle, signaling perfect custard formation.
- Cooling and Chilling: Refrigerate completely for minimum 2 hours, creating firm base for caramel topping.
- Sugar Preparation: Blend white and brown sugars to develop complex caramelization flavor profile.
- Caramelization Technique: Sprinkle sugar mixture evenly across chilled custard, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Final Transformation: Activate broiler, positioning rack 6 inches from heat source for precise caramelization.
- Finishing Touch: Broil 2-4 minutes, vigilantly watching to create golden-brown, crisp caramel layer without burning.
- Cooling Completion: Immediately return to refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, solidifying sugar topping into a delicate, crackling surface.
Notes
- Temper with Care: Slowly add hot cream to egg mixture while whisking continuously to prevent scrambling and maintain a silky smooth custard texture.
- Precision Baking: Monitor custard closely during baking, looking for set edges with a subtle center jiggle to achieve the perfect creamy consistency.
- Sugar Caramelization Technique: Use a mixed sugar blend of white and brown sugars for a complex flavor, and broil carefully to create a golden-brown crisp topping without burning.
- Chilling is Crucial: Allow custards to cool completely in the refrigerator before and after caramelizing to ensure proper texture and a crackling sugar surface.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 391
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 59 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg