Crème brûlée is French for “burnt cream.” It consists of a rich, traditionally vanilla, custard base with a thin crisp caramelized sugar top, usually served in individual ramekins. My husband and I like to eat it after a nice meal at a upscale restaurant. In fact, I think he ordered it almost every night at dinner on our recent cruise.
When I commented on Tiffany’s (Food Finery) tweet about her making honey crème brûlée that I hadn’t made it before, she offered to come over, bring her torches and teach me how to make it. So Tuesday morning Tiffany and her sweet daughter dropped by and we whipped up her favorite crème brûlée recipe.
Tiffany taught this recipe on Good Things Utah last year and it’s the perfect crème brûlée, smooth and creamy, rich and delicious. She even brought over her favorite vanilla, Sonoma Vanilla Bean Extract Crush. It has such a fabulous flavor we added 2 teaspoons vanilla to the recipe.
I was surprised just how easy this impressive dessert is to make. I think the hardest part was just sprinkling the sugar evenly over the top so it would caramelize evenly. If you haven’t given it a try yet, you should. You should also stop by Food Finery and check out all of Tiffany’s delicious recipes. Thanks Tiffany it’s always fun cooking with you!
Ingredients
- 8 egg yolks
- 1/3 C sugar
- 2 C heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 C sugar (for caramelizing the tops)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300.
- Whisk yolks and sugar together until thick and pale yellow. Add cream and vanilla and mix until blended.
- Strain and skim, then divide among 6 ramekins and place in a baking dish / water bath (in a baking dish, make sure water is half way up the sides of the ramekins... this allows moisture to flow through the oven and keep the custards soft).
- Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the outside edges are set and the center is still loose. Remove from oven and cool in water bath. Chill at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
- When ready to serve, sprinkle sugar to cover the entire surface of each custard. Fire with a hand held torch until caramelized.
Viking Cooking School
I was recently offered the opportunity to attend a cooking class at the Viking Cooking School with a group of local foodies. The class was From Farm to Table and focused on eating seasonally which allows you to enjoy the ripest and freshest foods at their peak. Buying fresh, locally grown foods is good for the local economy, good for family farmers, and good for your family’s health. Farm-fresh foods are actually higher in nutrients – and taste better.
What I liked best about this class was that it was hands on. We were divided into 3 groups of four, given the ingredients for the recipes and shown techniques that make preparing the recipes easier. I definitely need to sign up for one of their knife skills classes.
To me it sort of felt a bit like a competition, at least I wanted to make sure our tart was the best looking tart of the bunch. And when our cobbler didn’t brown up as quickly as the other groups, Cathie helped me sprinkle on some sugar and let me try out her industrial strength torch to brown up the top. Cathie did a fabulous job teaching the class, sharing her knowledge and making everyone feel comfortable in their beautiful kitchen. If only I had all those gorgeous dishes, appliances, and kitchen tools at home.
Visit the Viking Cooking School and check out all of their great upcoming classes. It would be fun to do as a date night with your hubs or a girls night out.
Pictures courtesy of Tiffany Spegar
Some of the links in my posts may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting Barbara Bakes when you shop!
I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
Oh I love this classic specialty.
So glad you had fun, and your creme brulee looks truly delicious!
E' un dolce molto buono…che io non ho mai fatto in casa perchè non ho la torcia, la particolarità sta proprio nello zucchero caramellato sopra! Penso che mi procurerò la torcia è uno stumento che comunque può tornare utile in diverse ricette.
Ciao buona giornata!
Thats beautiful barbara….yet to try this one. i think iam gonna love the texture.
Mum your brulee looks great! Great pic of you with the torch too-it looks huge!
The cooking class looks like lots of fun! 
xxx
You're so lucky that so many of you food bloggers live so near to each other! How FUN! That class sounds great!
Oh how delicious! I have never had creme brulee. I know, I'm miss out!
looks so delicious!
have a nice time!
Paula
How fun, lots of sizzling blow torch action
Deliciosu results.
I would love to take cooking classes like the ones you describe. What a great opportunity to learn new techniques. Your creme brulee is perfect, worth every tiny calorie. It's our favorite dessert.
I've never actually attempted creme brulee although I've always wanted to! You've inspired me.. I might have to go buy a torch
That looks so good. Great class for you to attend.
I need a blow torch now!!!! I feel kinda crippled without it and looking at those gorgeous brulees!
Creme brulee is a family favorite. We always rate restaurants on the bases of their creme brulee. I like that kitchen torch, it looks like mine, which I got at Home Depot.
You were one of the winner of the salad dressing give away. Please email me your complete mailing address and Girard's will send you your winnings.
Mimi
epsteinrr5@gmail.com
I love Creme Brulee. Sounds like you and Tiff had a lot of fun.
What a great opportunity to take a class at the Viking school.
Jealous! You are queen of the kitchen though, you deserve it!
oh how fun, i would love to try this!
Your creme brulee look delicious! I've never made it, and I think it would be a great excuse to buy a kitchen torch. I'd love to give it a try.
These look delicious Barbara; you have a perfect touch! I've never made this butit looks yummy.
The cooking school would be great; so glad you got to attend.
My husband loves creme brulee as well and could quite possibly eat it every night. I should really learn how to make it so that I can bribe him to buy me more kitchen gadgets!
The Viking class looks like a lot of fun. I would love to find some classes in my area. Our Williams-Sonoma use to employ local chefs to teach classes but they don't offer the classes anymore.
I love cream brulee and what fun to get together with Tiffany to make it. And the cooking class sounds like a good time as well.
I cant believe 60 something days till SF. I never lost that 20 ppounds that I was sure would just melt off by now. At least with that link you sent me, we'll know where to feed my foodie figure.
Thank you!
Crean Brulee bookmarked and post stumbled!
Your creme brulee is gorgeous! And I bet it was even more fun getting to make it with someone else!
I must have missed you with the blow torch that night! That's a great photo!!
I love creme brulee but rarely make it. Seems like it's something I save for ordering at a restaurant because it's so special! Yours looks delicious.
i just love you! thanks for the kind words and for the fun brulee making morning! it was a great time and my daughter loves you too
your brulee looks fantastic! enjoy the torch for a while 
It was so fun seeing you at the Viking class! Glad you had fun. The creme brulee looks perfect!
Love creme brulee and this one sounds wonderful. That is one big torch! Sounds like you had a great time in class.
I always wanted to make creme brulee for my Mom, who loves it. These look scrumptious Barbara! And I bet the class was fun too.
This creme brulee looks fabulous- gorgeous crust. It looks as though you had a ball at the Viking cooking school. It's always fun to cook with a group of food lovers.
I have always wanted to make creme brulee at home. It really does look simple to make. I need to buy one those torches…another gadget on my wish list. And the cooking school classes look like so much fun!
Tiff is such a sweetie! Her creme brulee is so delicious, what a great oppertunity to have a private lesson from her (and her lovely daughter! The Viking School must have been wonderful. I keep reading about it when I get emails and such and wonder what it would be like, can't wait to hear all about it
Oh these look FAB GF, just lovely! Also L♥ve your expression in the picture with the torch.
If I had a torch, I would come visit you Barbara. {I need a torch…sigh! Need feet too!!}
I love creme brulee and actually just had some for dessert last night. So simple and elegant. But I need one of those torches. I have a small hand held torch for cooking. Works but can take forever. I'm off to do my best Tim the Toolman Taylor impersonation at Home Depot!
Wish I were closer to the Viking Cooking School. The creme brulee looks great. The torches scare me a bit though.
I am so jealous that you and Tiffany can just pop over to each other's house and bake together! And gorgeous crème brulée!! I have never made them and we love them just as much. I think I'll go out and buy that torch and finally make them. And cooking class? Fun! I may sign up for one on the basis of your photo!
I just want to dig in!
Ba-rb, creme brulee is my downfall. If I see it or make it, I can usually eat every ramekin. I tried a passion fruit creme brulle a few months ago that was out of this world. Now I would love to try you and your pal's beautiful honey version. Looks and sounds decadent. Also, great hearing about your cooking school class. What fun!
¡¡Bárbara!! Felicidades. Tu crème brûlée se ve perfecto. You're so lucky to have had the opportunity to go to Viking Cooking School!! ¡Qué envidia tengo! Me alegro de que te hayas divertido. Tus fotos y presentación son estupendas.
I've never made creme brulee. Yours looks really good!
The Citrus Cream Cheese Rolls (pictured on right sidebar) also are so tempting, I saved the recipe. Thanks!
OMG – this creme brulee looks and sounds amazing! Cooking classes are fun – hope yours was the best looking tart.
Yum. I love creme brulee, definitely the dessert I order when I go out to eat. I have a little creme brulee kit that my mother in law gave me, but I've never used it. I'll have to dust it off.
I love this dish but haven't made it before. I'll try your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Plan B
Hi, hope it's OK to contact you here. We would love to include your blog on our giveaway search engine: Giveaway Scout (http://www.giveawayscout.com). Have a look and if interested, use our online form to add your blog (http://www.giveawayscout.com/addblog/ ). thanks, Josh
Lovely recipe, great clicks. Good to be here. Best wishes.
wow love food finery and the cooking school looks like so much fun adore creme brulee how cool
What a fun opportunity to get to go to the cooking school!
Creme brulee looks fab daaaaahling, its a favourite of my hubby's.
*kisses* HH
Barbara…my very first question at any fine restaurant…even before ordering my meal is: How fabulous is your crème brulée? I just can't help myself for seeking out the very best.
Oh, how I envy you for enjoying this fabulous cooking course. Looking mighty with that torch ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
Your creme brulee is lovely
I've get to get a kitchen torch and give it a try myself someday 
Barbara, I love creme brulee…yours look so pretty. So much fun at cooking school
This looks fabulous! Creme brulee is one of my favorite desserts to make and enjoy-can't wait to try your recipe