Crème caramel
Crème caramel (upside-down caramel cream) is a classic of bistro cuisine. The vanilla cream is made with eggs, cooked in a dish with a layer of caramel in the bottom, and placed in a bain-marie. It's traditionally served turned out so that the liquid caramel runs down over the cream.
265 K 4.1/5 (22 reviews)
3 hours 35 min.
Easy
8 people
5 IngredientsLast modified on: February 21th 2011
For 8 people, you will need:
150 ml 
1 litre 
1 
6 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 45 min.
Resting: 2 hours 10 min.
Cooking: 40 min.
All in all: 3 hours 35 min.
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Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 15 min.
Prepare a light caramel with 150 ml caster sugar.
Please note: It's important that the caramel should be light and not dark as it will continue cooking during the rest of the process, and so risk becoming overcooked and bitter.
Please note: It's important that the caramel should be light and not dark as it will continue cooking during the rest of the process, and so risk becoming overcooked and bitter.
Stage 2 - 2 min.
Pour a little liquid caramel into the bottom of a ramekin...
Stage 3 - 1 min.
... and turn the ramekin so that the caramel coats the base and sides. Pour any excess back into the pan (don't worry for now if there are dribbles around the top of the dish).
Warning: This is a tricky moment, and liquid caramel is burning hot and very dangerous. It is wise to keep young children well clear, and to protect your hands with oven gloves while handling the ramekins (not like I am doing in the photos).
Warning: This is a tricky moment, and liquid caramel is burning hot and very dangerous. It is wise to keep young children well clear, and to protect your hands with oven gloves while handling the ramekins (not like I am doing in the photos).
Stage 4 - 10 min.
Do this with all the ramekins.
Stage 5 - 10 min.
Pour 1 litre Milk into a pan with 1 vanilla pod, scraped to remove the small black seeds inside, and bring to the boil over medium heat.
Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F), and boil a kettle (or large pan) of water.
Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F), and boil a kettle (or large pan) of water.
Stage 6 - 5 min.
Meanwhile pour 200 ml caster sugar into a bowl and add 6 eggs. Mix well with a maryse.
Pour the boiling milk over, and beat to mix.
Pour the boiling milk over, and beat to mix.
Stage 7 - 10 min.
Pour the mixture through a strainer, preferably over a high-sided container, to remove the bits of vanilla pod.
Leave to rest 10 minutes, then skim off any foam that forms on the surface.
Leave to rest 10 minutes, then skim off any foam that forms on the surface.
Stage 8 - 40 min.
Place the ramekins in a large, deep baking sheet, then fill them with cream and put in the oven. Pour boiling water into the tray, then close the oven door and leave to cook around 40 minutes.
Stage 9 - 2 hours
Check that the creams are cooked, like testing a cake, then remove from the oven and leave at least an hour to cool to room temperature.
Then refrigerate overnight.
Then refrigerate overnight.
Stage 10
Serve by turning out onto dessert plates or dishes. Overnight the caramel will have liquified, and will now run down over the cream.
Remove from the fridge an hour before serving if possible so that the cream is not too cold.
Remove from the fridge an hour before serving if possible so that the cream is not too cold.
Remarks
You will notice that this cream uses whole eggs. This makes it firmer than the cream used for crème brulée for example, so that it can be turned out easily.
If you make this dessert for your children or grandchildren, you'll find there's no more talk of desserts from packet mixes.
If you make this dessert for your children or grandchildren, you'll find there's no more talk of desserts from packet mixes.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, covered by a plastic film.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 90 RDI=30 % | 390 RDI=40 % | 80 RDI=10 % | 2,630 RDI=130 % | 11,010 RDI: 130 % |
| Per 100 g | 5 RDI=2 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 4 RDI=1 % | 160 RDI=8 % | 670 RDI: 8 % |
| Per person | 10 RDI=4 % | 50 RDI=5 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 330 RDI=20 % | 1,380 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 8 people : 4.80 €
- Per person : 0.60 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Milk
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Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Mulled apple juice, "BN style" chocolate-filled biscuits, Jelly-style plum jam, Oat shortbread biscuits, Corsican tarts, ... See them all 360
Egg
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Vanilla pod
Like these other recipes: Chocolate cream with a crunch, irish coffee mousse, Little vanilla, clementine and chestnut verrines, Paris flan filling, Rice pudding (riz au lait), Panettone, ... See them all 35
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