Easy Crème Brûlée Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 5 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2-3 tbsp granulated sugar (for the topping)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. Prepare the Cream:
   • In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream and the seeds from the vanilla bean (or the vanilla extract).
   • Heat over medium heat until the cream just begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
3. Mix the Custard:
   • In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture becomes pale and thick.
   • Slowly pour the warm cream into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling.
4. Bake the Custards:
   • Place 4-6 ramekins in a baking dish. Pour the custard mixture evenly into the ramekins.
   • Fill the baking dish with hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins (this creates a water bath to help the custard cook evenly).
   • Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the custards are set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
5. Chill:
   • Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let them cool to room temperature. Then, refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
6. Caramelize the Sugar:
   • Before serving, sprinkle an even layer of granulated sugar (2-3 tbsp) over the top of each chilled custard.
   • Use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize the sugar until it forms a crispy, golden brown crust. If you don’t have a torch, you can place the ramekins under a broiler for a few minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
7. Serve:
   • Allow the caramelized sugar to harden for a minute before serving. Enjoy your delicious Crème Brûlée!

This recipe is simple and yields a delicious, creamy custard with a perfectly crisp caramelized sugar top.