3-Ingredient Crème Brûlée (Printable View)

Silky custard with a crisp caramel top, made elegantly with minimal ingredients and easy steps.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Custard

01 - 2 cups heavy cream
02 - 4 large egg yolks
03 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar

→ Topping

04 - 4 tablespoons granulated sugar for caramelizing

# How To Make It:

01 - Set oven temperature to 325°F (160°C).
02 - Warm heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
03 - In a bowl, combine egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar; whisk until pale and slightly thickened.
04 - Gradually add warm cream to egg yolk mixture while whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
05 - Pass mixture through a fine sieve into a container to achieve a smooth texture.
06 - Distribute custard evenly into four 6-ounce ramekins.
07 - Place ramekins in a deep baking dish and add hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
08 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until custard is set but center remains slightly jiggly.
09 - Remove ramekins from water bath; cool to room temperature then refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.
10 - Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar evenly over each custard. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize until golden and crisp. Let rest 1 to 2 minutes.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • Three ingredients create something that tastes like it came from a French patisserie
  • The make ahead nature means zero stress when serving guests
  • That satisfying crack of the burnt sugar crust never gets old
02 -
  • Overbaking creates a rubbery texture—remove while still slightly wobbly
  • The water bath prevents curdling and ensures even gentle cooking
  • Caramelized sugar needs 2 minutes to harden before serving
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent shocking the eggs
  • A shallow roasting pan makes the water bath easier to manage
  • Leftover egg whites freeze perfectly for future meringues or macarons
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