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Desserts

Vanilla crème brûlée

4.6/5 (1,091 reviews)

Mrs. Claus's recipe, to make as a family in the Village kitchen.

  • Total time: 50 min
  • Serves 4
  • Intermediate

Ingredients

Number of people: Serves 4

  • 40 cl cream
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 60 g sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • Brown sugar

Preparation stepsTotal time: 50 min

  1. Infuse10 min

    Heat the cream with the split vanilla bean. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes. The liquid should simmer, not boil. Stay close for the first few minutes to set the heat, then check that nothing sticks to the bottom. Amount for this step: 1 vanilla bean.

  2. Mix5 min

    Beat the yolks and sugar, then pour in the hot cream. Count the time from when you start, and only move on once you get the result described. Amount for this step: 4 egg yolks.

  3. Bake30 min

    Divide among ramekins, 30 minutes in a water bath at 150°C. Preheat the oven to the temperature given, with the rack in the middle. Only open the door if the recipe says so: the dish is ready when it is golden and the time is up.

  4. Caramelize5 min

    Once cold, sprinkle with brown sugar and put under the broiler. Heat the fat over medium heat without letting it smoke. Stir so everything colors evenly: golden, never black, or it turns bitter. Amount for this step: Brown sugar.

Vanilla crème brûlée, made by Mrs. Claus

Mrs. Claus at the stove

The same Village kitchen, from another angle, for this recipe.

Tips and variations

  • Make them the day before.
  • Brown sugar caramelizes better than white sugar.
  • Don't let it boil once the yolks are in.
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