This coffee crème brûlée is somewhat fancy, while in reality very easy to make. It features a smooth and creamy coffee custard filling and a caramelized sugar topping, creating a nice contrast of texture. A lovely twist to the classic crème brûlée!
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Calling all coffee lovers out there to discover this truly amazing coffee custard! I first tasted a coffee crème brûlée in a small and cozy restaurant in France about a decade ago and I promised myself I would one day recreate the recipe and share it with you. I never forgot about it, and I figured that today was the day the world should know about this fantastic crème brûlée with a twist. Be ready to impress your guests!
Now if you’ve never prepared crème brûlée before, be reassured. Making custard is easy and requires just a few simple and basic ingredients, such as eggs, cream and sugar. This coffee version is no exception. When it comes to the crispy sugar topping that is so characteristic of crème brûlée, it is of course best to use a cooking torch but you can definitely achieve a honest result by just popping it under the broiler in the oven for a few minutes.
Why you’ll love this coffee crème brûlée
- A fancy, elegant dessert with a French touch!
- Smooth and creamy, with an irresistible crispy sugar topping
- Packed with delicious coffee flavors
Coffee crème brûlée ingredients
- Egg yolks. Use them at room temperature for best results. You can use the whites to make pavlova!
- Whipping cream. I used 30% heavy liquid cream in this recipe. Note that when making custard, the percentage of fat is important: the higher the better.
- Sugar. Granulated sugar or caster sugar work fine in this recipe. Alternatively, you could use raw cane sugar for topping.
- Instant coffee granules. This is the best option here, as coffee granules dissolve completely in the custard. Alternatively you could go for instant espresso powder, but stay away from ground coffee bean, that would give a grainy texture to the custard.
- Vanilla. You need just a hint of vanilla to enhance the coffee flavors in the recipe.
Key steps to make coffee crème brûlée
For the full recipe instructions, head over to the recipe card below. Here’s what to keep in mind when making coffee crème brûlée:
- Prepare the coffee custard. Heat cream, coffee and vanilla in a small saucepan, until coffee is completely dissolved. Then, whisk the eggs and sugar into a mixing bowl until pale and fluffy. Slowly pour the coffee-cream mixture over and whisk until smooth.
- Divide the custard into ramekins, and bake! Allow to cool at room temperature, then place in the refrigerator for 3 hours minimum to allow the custard to set.
- Make the sugar topping. Sprinkle some sugar over the cooled custards and use a kitchen torch to caramelized the top. And voilà!
Pro tips for success
- Ensure the coffee granules are completely dissolved before moving to the next steps of the recipe. If not, you will end up with a grainy texture, which you absolutely don’t want to have in your crème brûlée.
- Allow the coffee custard to cool completely. You need to place them for a minimum of 3 hours in the refrigerator and ideally overnight. This will help the custard to set.
- Tips when using the kitchen torch. Make sure you do NOT place the flame in direct contact of the sugar. Hold the kitchen blow torch close to the crème brûlée and constantly move the flame to avoid burning the sugar.
What if I don’t have a kitchen torch?
A kitchen torch is the best way to achieve this perfectly crispy caramelized topping on top of your crèmes brûlées. Now if you don’t have a kitchen torch and are not planning of buying one, it’s ok! Preheat the oven to broil, place your coffee crèmes brûlées on a baking pan in the oven top rack and watch carefully as the tops are crystallizing. As soon as it gets golden or slightly golden brown, remove from the oven and enjoy!
Make sure you also try:
- Easy Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
- Orange Crème Brûlée Tart (my husband’s favorite!)
For the coffee lovers only:
- Coffee Loaf with Espresso Frosting
- Coffee Brownie Cheesecake
- Dark Chocolate Coffee Meringue Pie
- Coffee Chocolate Hazelnut Granola
Coffee Crème Brûlée
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 60 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Desserts
This coffee crème brûlée is somewhat fancy, while in reality very easy to make. It features a smooth and creamy coffee custard filling and a caramelized sugar topping, creating a nice contrast of texture. A lovely twist to the classic crème brûlée!
Email me this recipe
We’ll send it straight to your inbox, along with weekly food inspiration!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (480 ml) whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 2 Tablespoons coffee granules
- 5 egg yolks
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 4–6 teaspoons granulated sugar, for sugar coating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 215°F (100°C) degrees. Place four 5-inch (13 cm) wide ramekins on a baking tray or large baking dish.
- In a small saucepan, mix the cream, vanilla and instant coffee, and bring to a gentle simmer, making sure the coffee granules dissolve completely. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until smooth. Slowly pour the coffee cream mixture over, stirring constantly, until the custard is perfectly smooth.
- Pour the custard into the prepared ramekins, and bake for about 60 minutes, or until the sides of the custard are just set but the center is still very slightly jiggly.
- Place on a wire rack to cool down at room temperature for 30 minutes, then transfer to the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, or up to 24 hours.
- For the sugar coating, sprinkle some caster sugar over each coffee custard. Gently shake the ramekins to evenly distribute the sugar and make sure you get an even layer throughout. Using a kitchen blow torch, caramelize the sugar until it turns into a crispy, golden color. Make sure to constantly move the flame and not put it in direct contact of the sugar to avoid burning it. It’s ready, enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Inspired and adapted from A Baking Journey.
Did you make this recipe?
Lastly, if you make this Coffee Crème Brûlée, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!
