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Lemon Crème Brûlée – A luscious and creamy lemon custard with a caramelized sugar topping. A show stopping dessert that is easier to make than you think!
When you think of a fancy restaurant quality dessert, crème brûlée ranks right up there. It is one of those desserts that not only looks fancy, but seems like it would be impossible to do at home. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It is actually relatively easy to make!
One thing you will notice at high end restaurants is they make creme brulee in a ton of different flavors; raspberry, espresso, green tea, chocolate, orange etc. The possibilities really are endless. Well I recently had a lemon variety and immediately fell in love. It is so bright and fresh with both the lemon juice and zest in there, if you are a lemon fan this is a must!
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have A Brulee Torch
The hardest part about making creme brulee is the bruleed sugar on top. It is the signature part that makes creme brulee what it is. You can purchase a torch on Amazon for around $15.
- Broiler – if you get your broiler nice and hot, you can place the ramekin under the boiler and the sugar will caramelize.
- A metal spoon – I have NOT tried this one, but have been researching options and this comes up often. What you do is find a metal spoon that you don’t care if it is ruined. Then you heat the back of the spoon using an open flame or the stove top (use a hot pad or something to protect your hands so you don’t burn yourself) and then touch the spoon to the sugar, and it should caramelize. Repeat as necessary to caramelize the entire top.
Traditional Crème Brûlée has long been my husband’s favorite dessert. So I knew it was going to be the starting point when I wanted to recreate a lemon flavored version. It could not have come out more perfect! There are a few steps involved, but everything is easy! And there are only a few ingredients in the recipe, so trust me, you really can do this!
How To Make Lemon Creme Brulee
- Set up a large baking dish or roasting pan with a washcloth in the bottom. This helps to keep the dishes in one place and not slide around when you are taking them in and out of the oven. Arrange the ramekins in the pan.
- In a large saucepan bring heavy cream, sugar, salt, lemon zest to a simmer over medium heat.
- While the cream is heating beat the egg yolks until they are an even pale color.
- Once the cream is hot, slowly add 1 cup to the egg yolks, whisking constantly so the eggs don’t scramble. Continue with another cup of the cream mixture.
- Once 2 cups of the cream are mixed with the eggs, mix everything together and add the lemon juice and vanilla extract.
- Strain the mixture through a fine strainer and discard any solids that are in the strainer.
- Divide evenly into the ramekins and place into the center of the oven.
- Pour hot water into the baking dish until it comes about 2/3rd up the side of the ramekins. Be careful not to get any liquid in the dishes.
- Bake for 20-35 minutes, depending on the size and depth of your ramekins. The center should just barely be set, almost like jello. A thermometer should read 180 degrees F.
- Remove from the oven, and carefully transfer the ramekins to a wire rack to cool for 2 hours. Then cover and set in the fridge until cold, 4-6 hours.
- When it is time to serve, sprinkle about 1 1/2 tsp of sugar over the custard. Rotate the dish to evenly distribute the sugar. Ignite the torch and caramelize the sugar.
- I like to re-chill for 20-30 minutes before serving so the custard is not warm from the torch.
This lemon creme brulee recipe is a show stopping dessert that everyone will rave about. Plus the really nice thing is you can make creme brulee ahead of time. Have it in the fridge the day before you are serving it, and then you can show off your torching skills to your friends and family.
More Lemon Dessert Recipes
- Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake
- Creamy Lemon Mousse
- Lemon Crinkle Cookies
- No Bake Lemon Cheesecake
- Creamy Lemon Bars
- Lemon Dessert Lasagna
- Lemon Loaf Cake
Lemon Crème Brûlée
Ingredients
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 12 egg yolks
- 2 lemons zested
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8-12 teaspoons sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300º F
- Arrange 8 ramekins in a large baking dish or roasting pan.
- In saucepan combine heavy cream, sugar, lemon zest and salt. Bring to a simmer.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk egg yolks together until smooth and uniform in color.
- Slowly whisk about 1 cup of cream mixture into the yolks until combined. Repeat with 1 more cup of cream. Add the rest of the cream, and mix until smooth and well blended.
- Mix in the vanilla and lemon extract.
- Strain cream mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Discard any solids in the strainer.
- Divide the mixture evenly into the 8 ramekins. Set the baking dish in the center of your oven.
- Pour boiling water into the dish, about 2/3rd of the way up the ramekins (be careful not to get any water in the cream mixture).
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, depending on the size and depth of your ramekins. The center should just barely be set, almost like jello. A thermometer should read 180 degrees.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Yum! My daughter and I love anything lemon! This looks out of this world delicious! I can’t wait to make this! So excited!
This looks so, so good! I’ve never had a lemon creme brulee, but imagine how nice it would be! Look forward to trying this!
Creme brulee is my favorite dessert! I should try the lemon flavor!
creme brûlée is far and away my favorite dessert. i can’t wait to try this lemon version!
This was everything a gourmet dessert should be, and then some! Loved every bite!
I love the lemon flavor! I have tried traditional creme brulee and chocolate! I have to try this lemon next! Yum!
This is really gorgeous! Everyone at my house was impressed!