Would you believe you only need 4 different ingredients to make a professional quality crème brûlée for two? That’s right, you can make this delicious vanilla-flavored dessert with just a handful of ingredients and it’s a breeze to put together.
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Romantic dessert ideas don’t get much simpler than this and nobody has to know what a simple recipe it is. Eating this is a sheer delight, as you break through the caramelized sugar layer on top with your spoon to find the soft, velvety layer underneath. It’s a real treat for the senses!
All you need to do is combine the ingredients and bake this pretty dessert in a pair of small ramekins or in a larger ramekin for two to share.
This fluffy sweet potato souffle is another special dessert, especially around the holidays, or try this delicious peach cobbler for two for another romantic dessert option.
Main Ingredients
All ingredients in this recipe are main ingredients because you only need 4 of them! Here is what you will need to make this exquisitely easy dessert:
- Egg yolks: for texture and flavor. Egg yolks provide a rich flavor and also help with the smooth texture.
- Vanilla extract: the key flavor here. Vanilla and crème brûlée go hand in hand since vanilla is the main taste you can expect. Although you could experiment with other extracts, vanilla is the traditional way to make it.
- Whipping cream: for a rich texture. Whipping cream, which might also be labeled as heavy cream or heavy whipping cream depending where you are, adds richness to the dessert. Don’t swap this for light cream or milk because it won’t come out right!
- Sugar: to give sweetness. Granulated sugar, which just means plain white sugar, gives the crème brûlée its characteristic sweetness. You will need some for the dessert itself and some to make the special caramelized topping.
Instructions Overview
Whether you have made a similar dessert before or you’re brand new to making crème brûlée, you will love the simplicity of this recipe. It’s a dessert for two but you can double it if you’re serving four.
First of all, you need to bring the cream and vanilla to a boil in a pan. The sugar and egg yolks are whisked in a bowl. Whisk the egg mixture into the cream mixture. Now just pour the mixture into ramekins and bake for half an hour.
Let the desserts cool down for a couple of hours. Just before serving, add more sugar on top and caramelize it using a broiler or kitchen blow torch. So easy!
Common Questions
This is one of those iconic desserts that appear on dessert menus all over the world. But why is it so popular? Well, it’s famous for a reason. The smooth and custard-like vanilla dessert and crispy caramelized topping make it unique. Crème brûlée for two is easy to make and perfect for a romantic occasion.
If it's more like scrambled eggs than smooth custard, the likely cause is overheating. Add the raw egg to the cream as soon as it begins to boil and then bake it for 30 minutes at 325°F. Don’t let the cream and egg mixture continue boiling and don’t have the oven any hotter than 325°F.
If it came out curdled you will need to pour it into a blender and blend it into a smooth mixture. This is the only way you can save it if it’s curdled.
Sugar melts and becomes liquid at around 320°F. Keeping it hot for a further 10 minutes or so makes it caramelize so it goes crisp and sets. You can either have this crème brûlée for two a couple of inches from a hot broiler or use a kitchen blow torch, which is a little quicker.
If you’re using the broiler method, keep your eye on them. They can turn from perfectly crisp to burned fast! When I make these I preheat the broiler to 500°F before putting them underneath. It typically takes around 8 to 10 minutes until they’re completely done. If you can tap the sugar topping with a teaspoon and it’s hard, not runny, they’re ready to serve.
This pudding-like baked custard is perfectly served just as it is. Feel free to garnish it with a fresh raspberry or strawberry if you want, or perhaps a sprig of mint. I love to enjoy this dessert after dinner with an espresso.
It will keep uncooked for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 4 days after cooking. Make sure it’s covered. Once you have caramelized the top though, they should be served within 15 minutes, or else they will get soggy!
You can store the uncooked crème brûlée for up to 5 days, so yes, definitely make these ahead if you want. Keep them refrigerated in an airtight container.
You can freeze them for up to a month after cooking, but before adding the caramelized topping. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator then add the brûléed topping just before serving.
Use shallow ramekins with a wide top. You can either use a pair of little ones or one larger one depending on what you have and what you prefer.
Touch the middle of the crème brûlée. If it springs back slightly and leaves your fingertip clean, it’s ready. If not, give it another few minutes then check again. If it’s starting to rise, you’ve overcooked it and need to start again, so keep an eye on the oven!
Chopnotch Tips
- To ensure the custard remains cold at the bottom when served, place them on a chilled tray.
- The classic recipe dates back a few hundred years, but you might like to try modern variations, adding ingredients like lemon, liqueur, orange, coffee, or chocolate.
- Stick with a thin and even sugar layer on top for a uniformly crispy topping. You can repeat this layer if you want a thicker topping.
- Decorate the finished dessert with a fresh berry or sprig of herbs if you wish. This classic dessert is also perfectly served just as it is.
Knowing how to make crème brûlée for two means you can rustle up this quick and easy dessert whenever you have company you want to impress.
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Recipe
How to Make
Crème Brûlée for Two
Ingredients
- ¾ cup whipping cream, 35%
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for caramelizing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Prepare two custard cups or ramekins.
- Mix cream and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- In a separate bowl whisk egg yolks with sugar. Add egg mixture to the cream right when it starts to boil. Whisk well as you go.
- Transfer the mixture to the cups or ramekins, and put them into a baking dish. Pour hot water into the baking dish, half the height of the cups. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the cups or ramekins from the baking dish and let cool for 2 hours or more.
- Sprinkle with sugar before serving. Place the cups right under the broiler and heat until sugar caramelizes. You can also use mini torch. Enjoy!
Notes
- To ensure the custard remains cold at the bottom when served, place them on a chilled tray.
- The classic recipe dates back a few hundred years, but you might like to try modern variations, adding ingredients like lemon, liqueur, orange, coffee, or chocolate.
- Stick with a thin and even sugar layer on top for a uniformly crispy topping. You can repeat this layer if you want a thicker topping.
- Decorate the finished dessert with a fresh berry or sprig of herbs if you wish. This classic dessert is also perfectly served just as it is.
