Give a delicious dessert a fun twist for the fall season by making Pumpkin Crème Brûlée.
The fall season brings so many fun and unique activities. This includes all of the culinary treats that are specific to the season. Between pumpkin, apple, and all of the other fall flavors, there are so many options to choose from. But one of my favorites to make during the autumnal months is pumpkin crème brûlée. Admittedly, crème brûlée isn’t the easiest dessert to make. It takes a little time and effort, not to mention a small torch. However, if you can handle that, it only takes a bit of pumpkin purée to turn an ordinary crème brûlée into a special and festive pumpkin crème brûlée.
My favorite part of making pumpkin crème brûlée is that it’s not just for people who love to jump on the pumpkin bandwagon every year. I think you’ll find that the pumpkin taste is subtle, serving as a complementary taste for the vanilla custard of the crème brûlée, rather than trying to steal the spotlight. Just think of the pumpkin as one more flavor that makes crème brûlée amazing. That’s why I think that if you’re going to make crème brûlée at any point in the fall, you might as well mix it up a little bit with this pumpkin crème brûlée recipe.
Is Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Healthy?
I would suggest saving pumpkin crème brûlée for a special occasion because it’s not a healthy dessert. Thanks to the heavy cream, crème brûlée is high in fat and calories, not to mention the sugar in the recipe, too. Even if there is some nutritional value from the cinnamon, eggs, or pumpkin purée, it doesn’t make up for the fat and sugar in crème brûlée. As a result, I suggest enjoying this dessert in moderation.
Slow And Steady Wins The Race
If you’ve never made crème brûlée before, my best advice is to be slow and meticulous with every step. This is not a dessert that you want to rush. You can start by having all of your tools and ingredients assembled beforehand, including the ramekins and the baking dish. You also have to pay close attention to the heavy cream so that it simmers but doesn’t boil. When it comes to adding the cream to the egg mixture, do it as slowly as possible and never stop whisking. This is the best way to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
How do I store leftovers?
Each ramekin of crème brûlée can be covered in plastic wrap and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure you don’t add the sugar topping and caramelize until you’re ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
Depending on your preference, you may want to have a glass of dessert wine or champagne with your pumpkin crème brûlée. As long as there are no kids partaking, you may also want to consider a Hot Toddy Cocktail. Of course, a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate beverage can also go well with crème brûlée. I suggest trying a Chai Latte or an Iced Matcha Latte. Obviously, a Pumpkin Spice Latte would go naturally with a pumpkin crème brûlée. One more suggestion is a Vegan Hot Chocolate, which can be a warm and cozy drink for a chilly fall night.
Ingredients
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar plus extra for topping
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until smooth. Stir in pumpkin purée, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it just begins to simmer. Do not boil.
- Gradually add the hot cream to the egg mixture, stirring constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
- Pour the mixture into ramekins. Place ramekins in a baking dish, and fill the dish with hot water halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 50-60 minutes until the edges are set but the center is still slightly jiggly.
- Remove from oven, cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar over each custard. Use a torch to melt the sugar until it forms a crispy top.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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