Are you looking for an easy and enticing french crème caramel recipe because special guests are coming to your place? Do you want to know how to make caramel for flan?
Today, I’m going to share an easy crème caramel recipe with you guys. You only need a few ingredients to put this delicious dessert on your table.
What Is Crème Caramel?
Crème caramel, a staple in French cuisine, is a dessert composed of a custard base and a contrasting layer of caramel.
Traditionally, it’s prepared in ramekins and cooked in a bain-marie, or hot water bath, ensuring a smooth texture.
The vanilla-infused custard and caramel sauce are inverted upon serving, revealing a creamy body topped with a delectably bitter caramel.
Known as crèmes renversées in France, these upside-down creams offer a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, embodying the elegance of French cooking.
Classic French Creme Caramel: Best Make-Ahead Dessert Recipe
Auguste Escoffier, a revered French chef, famously included Crème Caramel in his culinary repertoire, solidifying it as a staple in French cuisine.
This dessert has graced the menus of both quaint brasseries and grand restaurants since the 1930s, admired for its delicious simplicity and practicality.
Its appeal lies in its ability to be made cheaply and stored in the fridge, a true win-win for any establishment or home cook.
Preparing it in advance not only allows the flavors to deepen but also provides a classic, no-fuss finish to any meal.
Just one spoon transports you to a Parisian brasserie, where the eyes of diners light up at the sight of this beloved dessert.
As you prepare this make-ahead recipe at home, feel the essence of Paris and the legacy of Escoffier guiding your every step.
French Crème Caramel Recipe
Ingredients
Caramel
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ cup of sugar
Flan
- 2 cups hot milk
- ¼ cup of sugar
- 3 lightly beaten eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
- Cook water and sugar in a saucepan until dark golden brown. Pour the mixture among six 125ml capacity bowls. Let it cool.
- Combine vanilla extract and sugar in the warm milk. Mix until sugar is wholly dissolved. Beat the eggs in a bowl and whip in the hot liquid. Transfer into the bowls.
- Lay a towel at the bottom of a large baking dish to prepare a water bath. Put the bowls in the dish and fill halfway up with boiling water. Bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove the bowls from the oven and water, allow them to cool, and then refrigerate. Run the knife blade around the bowls, turn around and serve cool french crème caramel recipe to your guests.
Is Crème Caramel The Same As Flan?
Around the world, the terms Crème Caramel and Flan are often used interchangeably, but are they the same?
In France, Crème Caramel is a cherished dessert known for its smooth custard and soft caramel topping, traditionally served upside down.
Meanwhile, in South America and the Philippines, Flan typically refers to a sweetened condensed milk-based dessert, which is similar but distinct in flavor and texture.
My friend Nami, a well-versed cook in Japanese cuisine, guest-posted a recipe for purin (Japanese flan) on JustOneCookbook.
It’s a no-bake version often made with gelatine, showcasing how even within the same concept, regional variations abound.
In France, don’t confuse Crème Caramel with Flan Parisien or Parisian flan. The latter, often bought by the slice in bakeries, is a more compact version known as Flan aux oeufs or Flan pâtissier.
It’s made with a slightly flaky pastry base, either puff or shortcrust, and a custard thickened with flour.
As I learned from a guide in the “Best Tearooms in Paris,” variations of flan can include flavors like coconut, chocolate, or pistachio.
This is different from the simple, elegant nature of Crème Caramel, also known as crème renversée, highlighting the diverse culinary landscape even within home kitchens and KL patisseries.
Difference Between Crème Caramel And Crème Brûlée
While both desserts are beloved for their smooth and creamy textures, Crème Caramel and Crème Brûlée are prepared differently and offer unique sensory experiences.
Crème Caramel is known for its gelatine-like, wobbly texture and is typically lighter, often made with full-cream milk. It’s served chilled and has a liquid caramel that flows when the dessert is inverted.
On the other hand, Crème Brûlée is a compact dessert made with a mixture of cream and sugar, and just before serving, cassonade or cane sugar is sprinkled on top and then grilled or burned with a blow-torch, resulting in a crackling top.
The real pleasure lies in the first spoon that cracks it open, contrasting the soft custard below.
As someone who has prepared both, I find that the joy of Crème Brûlée is in the dramatic reveal, while Crème Caramel offers a more subtle, delicate enjoyment.
Cooking Tips – What Could Go Wrong With Crème Caramel?
Easy to follow step-by-step instructions and video guides can make the process seem foolproof, yet mistakes can still occur. Over years of cooking, I’ve learned valuable tips to ensure success.
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Air Bubbles
If you notice your caramel creams are slightly overcooked, you might see air bubbles. This happens when, for example, the cream is left in the oven a few minutes too long.
While they might look a little overdone, they still taste wonderful and shouldn’t bother you too much, especially at home.
To avoid this in the future, stick to your timing and place a sheet of baking paper at the bottom of your water bath (bain-marie) before filling it with water and putting it in the oven to help maintain an even temperature while cooking.
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Why Has My Caramel Turned White And Solidified?
Sometimes your caramel might turn white and solidify. This is often due to the temperature being too low or if you’ve stirred the sugar while on heat.
To ensure a smooth, flowing caramel, leave the sugar undisturbed and maintain a medium to high heat.
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Why Do I Have Custard Foam?
If you’re seeing custard foam, it’s likely because you over-whisked while adding warm milk.
To resolve this, whisk gently to combine, then leave the custard to settle for a few minutes so the foam can subside. A few bubbles are ok.
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My Vanilla Pod Is Dry
A dry vanilla pod can lose some of its aromatics. If this happens, leave the pod for a few days in a jam jar with a tablespoon of dark rum.
This will result in a stickier vanilla pod with aromas brought out. This tip was picked up from a vanilla seller in the market of Apt, Provence.
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I Don’t Sieve The Custard
Some may find it necessary to sieve the custard, but personally, I don’t. Unless you’re concerned about egg shell, simply pass the mixture through a sieve before pouring into your ramekins.
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How Do I Release The Caramels Easily?
To easily release the caramels, run a sharp knife around the inside of the ramekin, then upturn it onto a lipped plate to catch any juice. Tap and jiggle the ramekin; the caramel should come out.
For an easier release, place the ramekins for a few seconds in a roasting tin filled with boiling water. This makes them easier to handle.
What To Serve With Simple Crème Caramel Recipe?
In Antoine’s family, and even in some rare, fine Parisian restaurants, the side offerings for easy crème caramel recipe are often chilled and simple.
From my own visits and a post I read about Café Varenne located on rue du Bac—a famous Paris pastry street—here are some recommended accompaniments:
- Strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries, for a classic fruit pairing.
- Exotic fruits to add a surprising twist to the traditional dessert.
- Salted, buttery biscuit like sablé breton or palets bretons, recipes of which can be topped or served alongside for a crunchy contrast.
Each option enhances the delicate flavors of French crème caramel, making every bite a delightful experience.
What Can I Do With The Leftover Egg Whites?
After making French Caramel dessert, you’ll often find yourself with leftover egg whites.
Instead of discarding them, these can be covered and kept in the fridge or freeze until you’re ready to use them in a variety of dishes.
As someone who loves to cook French desserts at home from scratch, I often refer to a detailed recipe and find many easy ways to utilize them.
Et voilà, some delightful options include making French tuiles or Financiers, both delicious when served alongside crème caramel.
For something different, try Coconut macaroons (Rochers coco), Festive filled meringue snowballs with flavors like lemon or praline, a Vacherin French ice cream cake, or even a Dark Chocolate Mousse.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, why not whip up a Chocolate Almond Cake, known as la Reine de Saba?
These suggestions not only complement your Crème Caramel but also ensure every part of the egg is utilized, adding value and variety to your culinary creations.
How To Flip And Release Creme Caramel?
The next day, when you’re ready to serve, start by running a butter knife along the edges of the pan.
Then, turn it under a water tap with hot water to warm the sides and bottom; this helps the caramel to release.
Place a platter that’s large enough over the ramekin, swiftly flip it, and gently tap the bottom of the pan.
Slowly raise it to see if the creme caramel is stuck; if it is, repeat the process with the knife around the edges and under running water at the bottom.
Once released, you’ll see the liquid caramel pool around the custard. Slice it into pieces and serve with spoonfuls of caramel on top.
FAQs About French Creme Caramel Recipe
1. What Is Crème Caramel Made Of?
A classic French recipe that celebrates simple ingredients, crème caramel combines cream, vanilla, eggs, and sugar. It’s the gentle touch and slow, steady heat from a water bath (bain-marie) that cooks it into a velvety-smooth mouthfeel.
2. What Is The Difference Between French Crème Caramel And Flan?
Appearance distinguishes French crème caramels from dessert flans; both have creamy custard bases and soft caramel toppings. The sweet flan typically features a shorter custard base and a larger diameter than its French counterpart.
3. What Is Another Name For Crème Caramel?
In French cuisine, crème caramel is also known as flan, caramel pudding, condensed milk pudding, caramel custard, a custard dessert topped with a layer of clear caramel sauce.
4. What’s The Difference Between Crème Caramel And Crème Brûlée?
Crème brûlée and crème caramel are different types of custard desserts. Crème brûlée has a rich custard base topped with a layer of hard caramel, unlike crème caramel, which is complemented with a caramelized sugar syrup poured over the custard.
5. Which Country Invented Crème Caramel?
The origins of crème caramel are unclear and disputed among the French, English, and Spanish as the original inventors of the dish. Despite the debate, the name “crème caramel” is undeniably French, and the English custard version has been widely adopted.
6. What Are The Characteristics Of Crème Caramel?
This wonderful French custard dessert, infused with vanilla and served with a rich, brown caramel syrup, is often compared to crème brûlée, which features a hardened sugary top rather than a liquid caramel.
7. What’s The Difference Between Panna Cotta And Crème Caramel?
The texture of Italian panna cotta and crème caramel differs significantly. Panna cotta relies on the addition of gelatin or starches to thicken the mixture, while crème caramel’s texture is achieved through gentle, careful cooking for a perfect texture that’s smooth, compact, and enveloping with a velvety feel.
