What’s not to love about dark chocolate creme brulee? Plain vanilla creme brulee is something to love, but adding chocolate will probably make it an addiction!
This is a great recipe for an easy dessert to bring along to your next party. Dark chocolate creme brulee has the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess that makes it hard not eat more than one serving!
So give this fun dessert a try at home tonight – I guarantee your family and friends won’t be able stop eating it once they’ve tried dark chocolate creme brulee.
How to Make Dark Chocolate Crème Brûlée
Dark chocolate creme brulee is a dream come true for any lover of rich, creamy chocolate desserts. It only takes five ingredients and can be simple to achieve your desired result!
The perfect creme brulee is a rare find. It has the texture of a thick and creamy custard with the crunchy sugar glass on top that makes your mouth water in anticipation before each bite. To ensure you have this amazing experience, take a look at my Twelve Hacks for Making the Perfect Creme Brulee.
Here are the basic steps to making dark chocolate creme brûlée:
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Pour heavy cream and half the sugar into a medium saucepan (paid link), then on your stovetop, bring it to a simmer over medium to low heat. Stir in the chocolate chips until they are melted. The amount of chocolate chips can be increased or decreased to adjust the chocolate flavor to your preference. Remove from heat.
- Add vanilla extract to the cream and chocolate mixture, and set the mixture aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, separate the eggs and whisk the egg yolks with the remaining sugar. (An electric mixer is not necessary, and you can use the leftover egg whites in an omelet, or meringue for a pie.)
- Slowly whisk and gradually add a few tablespoons (up to 1/2 cup) of the hot cream and chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar mixture.
- In the large bowl, slowly whisk and add the remaining hot chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar mixture.
- Pour the mixture into your ramekins (paid link), in equal amounts.
- Place the ramekins in a baking dish.
- Put the baking dish containing the ramekins into your preheated oven.
- Being very careful, create a water bath by pouring boiling or very hot water into the baking dish.
- Bake for about 50 to 55 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer (paid link) registers 170°F (If an instant-read thermometer is not available, tap one of the ramekins gently. When the custard is done, it should be stiff around the edges, but a little jiggly toward the center.)
- When the custard is done, carefully remove the custards (still in the baking pan) from the oven.
- Place the ramekins on a cooling rack, and allow the custard come to room temperature.
- Move the plastic wrap covered custard-filled ramekins to the fridge for about 2 hours or overnight.
- When you are ready to serve this delicious delight, sprinkle about a teaspoon of sugar on the top of each custard, then use a kitchen torch to heat until the sugar is just golden brown.
What is Creme Brulee Mostly Made of?
The basic ingredients of a plain creme brulee recipe are:
- heavy cream
- granulated sugar
- eggs
Creme brulee is a French legend that’s been around for over 200 years–since 1793. It is made with heavy cream, granulated sugar and eggs mixed together with vanilla flavoring or other flavors you choose to add. This rich dessert has an almost sacred status in many cultures, because it takes time and skillful hands-on work from its creators!
The ingredients are simple, but differences can be found from the version of one cook’s creation and another. These differences may be intentional, and can include different flavorings being used. As an example, one cook might want something more tangy, and could include orange juice. The recipe included in this post calls for chocolate. These sweet treats depend on your preferences. You can create a creme brulee that is both delicious and luxurious.
What Does Creme Brulee Taste Like?
Creme brulee is creamy and rich. It is a favorite of people that prefer a subtle dessert. An extra dimension of flavor is added by the layer of torched sugar on top of this delicious treat!
Is Creme Brulee Gluten Free?
If you want your delicious creme brulee to be gluten free, just make sure your ingredients are certified as gluten free. Usually this dessert is made from sugar, eggs, and cream or milk. Any items you decide to add into your mix will also need to be completely gluten free!
Is Creme Brulee a Pudding?
Milk (or cream) and eggs are usually the main ingredients of both puddings and creme brulee. While creme brulee is a baked custard, pudding will normally be prepared in a double boiler. Pudding and cream pie are about the same consistency after they are refrigerated. But creme brulee will still have a little jiggle, right in the center of the dish.
Why is My Creme Brulee Like Pudding?
If your creme brulee has a texture that is more like pudding, it could be that it wasn’t cooked long enough. An instant-read thermometer can help you get the decadent dessert to just the right temperature, but you can still eat and enjoy it, no matter if the texture isn’t exactly what you expected!
What is the Difference Between Creme Brulee and Custard?
Creme brulee and custard have the same basic ingredients. The big difference is that creme brulee has a crusty, caramelized sugar top. This adds an extra layer of flavor and crunchy texture. Once you taste it, you’ll be wondering why you never made this delectable delight before!
What Size Ramekin Should I Use to Make Creme Brulee?
There are two choices as far as the size of ramekin is concerned–4 ounce or 6 ounce. Even though I love creme brulee, 6 ounces is just too much. But the 4 ounce size is just right. Each bite has that creamy texture of the custard and some of the crunchy torched sugar. And, then I can eat 2 of them!
Does Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee Taste Good?
Does dark chocolate creme brulee taste good, you ask? Of course it tastes good! In fact, it tastes better than good. It’s delicious, and scrump-dilly-ump-tious! If you’ve never tried dark chocolate creme brulee, you are going to fall in love with the first bite.
What Does Creme Brulee Literally Mean?
Creme means “cream” and Brulee means “torched”. However, that is something of a misnomer. The cream isn’t actually burned, but the sugar on top is caramelized with a torch.
What is Special About Creme Brulee?
Creme brulee is a decadent, rich dessert. The custard is served cold with a warm, thin, crunchy sugar glass on top. The sugar glass will still be warm because it has just been torched. Of course, the name is French, and a French name makes anything special–right?
And then, there is the way the creme brulee looks. It is, quite frankly, beautiful. The little ramekins filled to the brim with the creamy goodness of the cold custard. Topped by the glossy sugar glass, all golden brown. Wow! My mouth is watering, and I’m not even hungry!
How do You Know if Creme Brulee is Overcooked?
One of the most common mistakes in preparing creme brulee is to add the cream mixture to the egg mixture too quickly. This can result in scrambled eggs, because the eggs are temperature sensitive, and want to be cooked. If this happens, you will need to throw out the mixture and start with fresh ingredients.
Cooking the creme brulee too long in the oven will make the edges of the custard stiff, and the center won’t jiggle. In this case, you can still eat the creme brulee, but it won’t be as delicious as it would be if it had been removed from the oven on time. A digital instant-read thermometer is a great tool to help prevent overcooking.
Does Creme Brulee Taste Like Custard?
Creme brulee is a type of custard, so yes, they do taste alike. What sets creme brulee apart from regular custard, is that it has caramelized sugar glass on top.
Why is It Called Creme Brulee?
Creme brulee is a dessert made of cream and sugar that gets burned to create its signature “bruleed” sugar glass topping. The sugar glass doesn’t actually burn, only turns golden brown when cooked with an open flame torch!
What is the Texture of Creme Brulee?
Creme brulee has an amazing texture. The soft, creamy and cold custard base combines with the sweet, warm and crunchy caramelized sugar glass on top. That makes for a delectable experience in your mouth!
How do You get the Creme Brulee Crunchy Top?
Creme brulee’s crunchy top is made using a torch. You sprinkle sugar on top of the cold custard, then carefully use a torch on the sugar. This will make the sugar melt, then caramelize and brown. Now your delicious creation will have bits of caramelized sugar in each decadent bite!
Can You Broil the Top of Creme Brulee?
Creme brulee can be broiled in your oven–just to brown the sugar topping. But, if you have a choice, the torch is the preferred method of getting the burnt caramel flavor from the sugar. If you must use the broiler, be sure to preheat the oven for about 15 minutes. Then place ramekins with the cooked and chilled custard under the broiler. Closely monitor the delicacies to keep them from being burned, and remove as soon as they are golden brown.
Are Flan and Creme Brulee the Same Thing?
Have you eaten flan and creme brulee? If you have, then you know the difference. They are both baked custards, but the similarity normally ends there. Single-serving ramekins are usually used for baking creme brulee. On the other hand, a loaf or round baking dish is the typical dish used for baking flan. The topping on creme brulee is hard and crunchy. The topping on flan has been baked on the bottom, then the dish is inverted, making the sugar on top. The flan topping is usually soft, and is sometimes in liquid form.
What is the Flavoring of Creme Brulee?
Basic creme brulee usually contains vanilla flavoring. However, if you’d like to try some different flavors, here is a list of some of my favorites::
- almond extract instead of vanilla
- blackberries
- blueberries
- chocolate chips
- lemon sauce
- raspberry sauce
- salted caramel
- strawberries with whipped cream
- powdered sugar
Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee Recipe
Easy creme brûlée recipe that anyone can make, this dark chocolate creme brûlée is delicious in every way.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar, divided
- 1-1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 5 large Egg Yolks
- 1/3 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1pinch of Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Combine the Heavy Cream, a pinch of Salt, and 1/4 cup of granulated Sugar in a medium sauce pan.
- Over medium to low heat, bring the Heavy Cream and Sugar mixture to a simmer.
- Stir in the chocolate chips until melted.
- Remove from heat.
- In a separate bowl, combine the Egg Yolks and the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated Sugar.
- While whisking, slowly pour about 1/2 cup of the Heavy Cream and Chocolate mixture into the Egg Yolk and Sugar mixture.
- Continue to whisk, and slowly pour in the remaining Heavy Cream and Sugar mixture.
- Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the Heavy Cream, Sugar, and Egg Yolk mixture into a glass measuring cup.
- Pour equal amounts of the mixture into the ramekins.
- Place the filled ramekins on a baking pan.
- Set the baking pan in the preheated oven.
- Fill the baking pan with boiling water.
- Bake for approximately 50 to 55 minutes, or until the temperature reaches 170°F, using an instant-read thermometer. If you don't have an instant-read thermometer, test the doneness by gently tapping the ramekin. If the custard is done, the edges on the outside edges should be firm, but the center of the custard should be a tiny bit jiggly.
- Remove from the oven, and place the ramekins on a cooling rack to reach room temperature.
- Cover with plastic wrap, and place the ramekins in the refrigerator to chill for 2 hours or overnight.
- Prior to serving, sprinkla about 1 teaspoon of granulated Sugar on top of each custard, then torch until the melted sugar turns golden brown.
- Serve while the sugar glass topping is still warm. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 638Total Fat: 50gSaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 413mgSodium: 202mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 0gSugar: 35gProtein: 12g
Creme brulee is not difficult to make, but it does take planning and patience. Following the recipe is ultimately important. Do that, take your time, and use quality ingredients…that will assure that your efforts will result in a perfectly delicious dessert.