Lavender Creme Brulee Recipe
This lavender creme brulee recipe yields a creamy lavender-infused custard with a deliciously crisp, sugar topping that’ll have you smiling in bliss after each and every single bite.
Lavender Creme Brulee
While I enjoy unique ingredients and flavors, I’m not usually one to just throw in an ingredient for the sake of making something trendy or “gourmet.”
To me, creme brulee made with quality cream, eggs, and vanilla is as gourmet as any other custard-based dessert you’ll find in a fancy restaurant.
That said, vanilla creme brulee is just a simple vanilla custard, so it begs for some dressing up and play time in the kitchen. My cousin had made a delicious pumpkin creme brulee for Thanksgiving, which is what initially sparked the idea of doing another flavored creme brulee, specifically lavender creme brulee.
It’s obviously been quite a while since last Thanksgiving, but I’ve put this idea for lavender creme brulee on the back burner after I ran out of dried lavender.
About a month ago, I ordered these lovely organic lavender sachets on Etsy, which I use in my linen and clothing drawers. The seller was super sweet and included an extra sachet, which I decided made the perfect opportunity to use in my culinary endeavors.
The lavender worked out wonderfully in this creme brulee. The herb’s taste is subtle so as to not overwhelm or diminish the vanilla base, however, it adds just that extra depth in flavor to make your guests wonder what the special ingredient is.
I’m really picky when it comes to using strong herbs like thyme, rosemary, or in this case, lavender. I prefer a more subtle taste, as I find too much of any of these herbs can leave a bitter aftertaste.
So I took the same approach that I did with other lavender desserts like my lavender ice cream and used just a small amount.
Creme Brulee Broiler
If you don’t have a blow torch on hand for this dessert, you can use your oven’s broil setting as an alternative way to torch the sugar on top.
Simply stick the lavender creme brulee under the broiler for about a minute, until the sugar layer on top turns amber and crisp with some dark spots.
If you’re apprehensive about making creme brulee just because the name may seem fancy or whatnot, don’t be. Creme brulee is actually more foolproof than, say, a custard you may use for banana cream pie or for a typical pastry filling.
Creme brulee bakes very similarly to pots de creme, which is also a type of French custard dessert.
Simply pour this lavender creme brulee batter into individual ramekins, place the ramekins in a large roasting pan, fill the pan with boiling water, and then bake the creme brulee in the water bath at a low temperature for approximately 1 hour.
After the lavender creme brulee cools down a bit, you can add the sugar on top then stick it under the broiler to torch the sugar topping. Then pop the creme brulee into the fridge to cool and enjoy the dessert as a beautiful addition to any summer meal!
Lavender Creme Brulee Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 1 tbsp organic dried culinary lavender
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling on top, divided
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 8 egg yolks
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 320°F. Bring a kettle or pot of water to a boil. Begin by heating the heavy cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the lavender and let this mixture come to a slight simmer along the edges of the pan. Do not let the cream boil.
- Add 1/4 cup of sugar to the milk and stir to combine. Once bubbles begin to form along the edges, remove the saucepan from the heat. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the remaining sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly stream in about 1/4 cup of the heated cream to the egg yolks, whisking vigorously as you do. This will temper your eggs and prevent them from turning into scrambled eggs!
- Add the warm yolk mixture into the saucepan with the cream and whisk vigorously to combine. Whisk in the vanilla. Pour this batter through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl.
- Then, use a ladle to distribute the batter among 8 (6 oz.) ramekins. Place the ramekins in a deep roasting pan and place them in the oven on the second to lowest rack. Pour the boiled water from the kettle into the roasting pan until the water reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins, being careful not to pour any water into the actual ramekins.
- Bake at 320°F for approximately 1 hour, or until the creme brulée is set and the centers only tremble slightly. If after an hour, the creme brulée is not really set, increase the heat to 350°F for another 10 minutes or so, keeping an eye on them. Let the creme brulée come to room temperature before covering with plastic wrap and placing the fridge to chill for at least 3 hours (or overnight).
- Before serving, sprinkle a teaspoon or two of granulated sugar over the top of each creme brulée. Then use a blow torch to caramelize the sugar, or place under a broiler for a minute, until the top turns crisp and amber, with just a few dark spots. Serve immediately
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 8 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 537Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 29gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 319mgSodium: 113mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 0gSugar: 22gProtein: 6g
This looks soooo delicious! I completely agree with you about herbs in dishes – subtle works best for me! There’s nothing I love more than the light floral taste of lavender in a dessert. I’ve never tried it in a Creme Brûlée before, but I can definitely imagine it to be a match made in heaven! Creme Brûlée’s are also one of my all time favourite desserts – the crunchy top is always the bit I look forward to most!!! I love that you used the broiler to create it too, that’s such a great idea :). Another beautiful recipe Beeta! X
Thank you, doll! I always look forward to the topping as well 🙂 I hope you get a chance to try, deary XO
This looks delicious, I love that satisfying snap when you tuck into a good creme brulee and the sugar cracks. I will definitely be making these for my next meal! Partly because I love using my chef’s blowtorch!
The addition of lavender sounds great, I do completely agree with you about using ingredients because they are interesting, or en vogue, rather than because they add something to the recipe.
Although cakes decorated with fresh flowers do look nice, I don’t really like decorating cakes or desserts with things that are inedible, it seems strange to provide food to someone and then give a warning that parts of it aren’t fit for consumption. Maybe that’s just me, as I said the fresh flowers look nice, but decorating a cake with orchids etc, can’t be good!
Angela, I can just imagine the gorgeous topping you’d create with your blowtorch – you are a master with that thing! And I agree…I think the only time I used flowers on a recipe was for a contest, or else it seems pointless to serve someone a plate of dessert with inedible items on it. Although, I have to say I’m also not a fan of fondant so maybe I’m too picky! 😮 hehe Thanks for the kind words! XO
This is just spooky, I’m not a fan of fondant either. Although I admire the amazing things people do with fondant icing, I am so much more impressed by a 4/5cm high patisserie with chocolate decorations, glazed fruit, gold leaf et al!
I don’t think you’re picky, we’re just all different, which is why we all love the endless possibilities you can get through baking.
Totally agree! Well said, Angela! 🙂 XO
This looks and sounds heavenly Beeta! Lavender desserts are so lovely, I love to order them when I go to a fancy restaurants but I never thought about making them at home. I’ve asked for a blow torch for my birthday and then this creme brulee will be at the top of my to-bake list!
What a great wish list item! Blow torches are so fun; you’ll be able to create a gorgous crust for this creme brulee! Thank you, Jess <3
Creme brulee is my all time favorite dessert to order at restaurants! Your lavender creme brulee looks amazing, and adding lavender sounds dreamy and delicious. I’ve never tried making creme brulee, thanks for the encouragement! I’ll have to try! My ramekins have been sitting in the pantry for far too long b/c I’ve been too intimidated by the mystical creme brulee.
I’m sure you will make gorgeous creme brulee, Sarah! The name is just fancy, or else they’re not very difficult to make. Hope you get a chance to try XO
I’ve never made creme brulee and yes because I’ve been intimidated by it, thank you for making it seem less scary! This looks divine, I love that you used lavendar! 🙂
Yay, glad I made it a little less scary. If you can make those beautiful angel food cakes, then this will be a cinch for you! Thanks for your sweet words, Sam <3
I don’t like to add flavors for the sake of trend either, but there are some flavor combinations that just work. Lavender and vanilla is a perfect example. These look just fantastic, Beeta!
Thank you, Marissa! Lavender and vanilla truly are magical together <3
Creme brulee is one of my all-time favorite desserts, it’s so creamy with that hard sugar crust – soooo good! I’ve never tried one with lavender twist, so I’m super intrigued. And good thing to know you can use the broiler, because I don’t have a blowtorch either!
Thank you, Jessica! Oh yes, a broiler works very well. I mean, I guess you can’t get that perfectly torched look like you can with a blow torch, but after mine died and I found out that a broiler would essentially achieve the same result, I never replaced it!
This looks absolutely amazing!!! I love the added lavender too! Your pictures are amazing.
Thank you so much, Anne! I really appreciate your kind words <3