Family Style Crème Brûlée
Decadent family-style crème brûlée made in one dish—rich, creamy custard with a crackly sugar top. The ultimate dinner party dessert. No ramekins required!
Servings: 10 people
Ingredients
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 1.5 tablespoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 12 egg yolks
- 1.5 teaspoons flaky sea salt
- 4 tablespoons white sugar plus more as needed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Boil 5–6 cups of water for a water bath.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, vanilla bean paste, and brown sugar. Heat over medium, stirring often, until the sugar is fully dissolved—about 5 minutes. Do not let it boil.
- In a separate bowl, lightly whisk the egg yolks and salt to combine.
- Slowly pour the warm cream mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly to avoid curdling.
- Place a 3.5-quart braiser in a large roasting pan. Pour the custard into the braiser. If bubbles form, skim with a spoon or strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Pour the boiling water into the roasting pan to create a water bath, filling it halfway up the sides of the braiser. Carefully transfer to the oven.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, until the edges are set but the center still wobbles slightly.
- Remove the braiser from the water bath and cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Right before serving, sprinkle an even layer of white sugar over the top. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar, moving in circles until the top is golden and crackly.
- Chill again for at least 30 minutes to re-set the top. Serve cold, straight from the braiser with spoons for family style.
Nutrition
Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 341mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 143mg | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1711IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 1mg