It’s a dessert that looks and tastes super fancy, but with these tips and creme brulee recipes, you’ll be making it like a pro in no time.
I have been a huge fan of creme brulee since I first tried it in a restaurant in my twenties. It is a delicious dessert with a fancy name, and you feel pretty fancy when you make (and eat) it! Plus, there are so many different flavors and ways to make it.
What is creme brulee?
Creme brulee is a French dessert that features a crunchy caramelized sugar top. Once you, crack it open it reveals a creamy vanilla custard underneath.
Kind of like a grown-up Tootsie Pop (but not on a stick). It is traditionally made and served in individual ramekins (straight sided bowls) which makes it feel extra special.
My top tips for making creme brulee recipes
Creme brulee may sound difficult (especially when you read it in French as Crème Brûlée. All of those accent marks mean it must be a difficult dessert, right? Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Let me give you some tips.
- Temper your eggs! Slowly add your egg yolks to the cream. Pouring them straight into hot cream might lead to scrambled eggs!
- If you do get some bits of scrambled egg, strain your mixture so your custard is smooth.
- Take the creme brulee out of the oven when it’s still slightly jiggly—like a cheesecake. It’ll continue to set as it cools.
- Listen for the tap. When you tap the hardened sugar with the back of your spoon, it should make an audible “tap, tap, tap” sound. That’s when it’s ready to enjoy!
Creme brulee recipe flavors and variations
Lets get to those recipe variations I mentioned before. The main creme brulee recipe has a vanilla custard. However, there are a ton of different flavors! There are also a few different methods used.
Traditionally it is made in an oven, but you can use an Instant Pot, a slow cooker, or even make it sous vide! Oh, and you can also make versions compatible with various diets like sugar-free, keto, or vegan.
Go ahead and scroll down for all of the variations I’ve collected for you. You are going to love this list of creme brulee recipes!
Creme Brulee Recipes
It's a dessert that looks and tastes super fancy, but with these tips and creme brulee recipes, you'll be making it like a pro in no time.
Pureed Mango
In this recipe, ripe mango adds a delicious twist to the creamy custard base. The pureed mango blends seamlessly, enhancing the flavor and texture.
Mixed Berry
This recipe is creamy and delicious, with rich custard on the bottom and hard caramel on top. The berries on top make it perfect for summer!
Sweet Corn
A delightful summer dessert recipe! The creamy custard is infused with sweet, charred corn and is topped with a satisfyingly crunchy burnt sugar layer.
Toasted S'Mores
In this recipe, you'll enjoy the creamy custard base with its crunchy torched sugar, along with extra crunch from the graham crackers and torched marshmallows.
Christmas Eggnog
The crispy, burnt sugar is the best part of this easy and delicious eggnog creme brulee. This is perfect for an elegant Christmas dessert!
Lemon Posset
With just three ingredients, making these lemon possets with brûlée topping is a breeze. The tangy lemon flavor shines through in this delightful dessert, perfectly balancing sweetness and tartness.
Creamy Chocolate
This recipe is like the most delicious chocolate pudding ever, topped with a crispy torched sugar crust. You'll see five simple ingredients turn into something truly magical!
Zingy Grapefruit
This grapefruit creme brulee features amazing citrus flavor without the overwhelming bitterness of fresh grapefruit.
Peppy Pistachio
The classic creme brulee gets a nutty twist with pistachio cream. Lindsay topped the caramelized sugar with a touch of edible gold leaf for extra elegance making this dessert super impressive for a holiday celebration!
Vanilla Bean
Although the classic creme brulee recipe already features a vanilla flavor, this recipe takes it up a notch with vanilla seeds and vanilla bean paste!
Fall Maple
Traditional creme brulee updated with fall flavors perfect for Thanksgiving or any autumn day. The recipe features a custard flavored with maple syrup and is topped with sweet and salty pecans.
Coffee Bean
With just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time, this recipe is a breeze. The creamy coffee custard and crunchy caramelized sugar offer a delightful mix of textures and flavors that'll have you coming back for more!
Nutella
Garnished with strawberries and featuring a subtle note of Nutella in the custard base, this dessert is a perfect ending for a Valentine's Day dinner!
Rhubarb Ginger
Rhubarb ginger creme brulee packs a flavorful punch with its sweet creamy custard and subtle ginger zing, perfectly balanced by the tartness of rhubarb.
Snickerdoodle
This variation adds another layer. Peabody started with a snickerdoodle truffle dough base and then added a cinnamon creme brulee topped with crunchy burnt cinnamon sugar.
Thai Tea
A classic recipe with tea steeped into the milk to add flavor to the custard. Not just any tea, Thai tea adds a unique warm floral spice flavor!
Orange Creamsicle
Remember orange creamsicles? This crème brûlée has a similar flavor with the traditional vanilla combined with orange juice and zest!
Key Lime
An easy to make key lime dessert that tastes like key lime pie with a carmelized crust. I think dipping graham crackers in this would be divine!
Gingerbread
Perfect for Christmas, this creme brulee version has an adorable gingerbread man stenciled on top letting you know the flavor you are about to enjoy!
Creme Brulee Cooking & Diet Alternatives
Instant Pot
With this Instant Pot recipe, you can now make a regular weeknight at home feel like a special occasion!
Sous Vide
With the sous vide method, all you have to do is mix your ingredients, pour them in a canning jar, and drop it in the temperature-controlled sous vide water bath.
Slow Cooker
If you want foolproof creme brulee, make it in a slow cooker! The low and slow heat is ideal for baking vanilla custard gently, giving it a silky smooth texture.
Vegan
This recipe is eggless, dairy-free and requires no baking. You will need just 6 ingredients and your end result is just as creamy as regular creme brulee!.
Keto
You will need just 5 ingredients to make this low-carb version of creme brulee. All you need to do is replace the granulated sugar with a keto-friendly sugar!
Dairy-Free Coconut
This dairy-free version is made using natural ingredients and simple steps. It features a coconut flavor since you use coconut milk in place of the heavy cream.
Did you enjoy this list of creme brulee recipes? I’d love it if you could share this post using the buttons below. Then check out these other sweet recipes:
Baked Donuts • Fruit Desserts • Jiffy Cake Mix Recipes • Quick Desserts • Sandwich Cookies • Thumbprint Cookies • Unique Cookie Recipes • Vanilla • Yellow Cake Mix