Creme Caramel is a classic French dessert that has stood the test of time, remaining a beloved favorite for people worldwide. What’s not to love about its soft caramel top, yummy vanilla taste, and creamy texture? This dessert is elegant and really delicious.
The great thing is, that you can make creme caramel ahead of time, which makes it perfect for get-togethers or parties.
How to make creme caramel
First, preheat your oven to 325°F/160°C. In a saucepan, combine sugar and water and heat until it turns golden brown. Quickly pour this caramel into a 7-inch (17cm) cake pan or ramekin, ensuring the sides are coated.
Next, pour milk into the same saucepan and add vanilla bean seeds and the pod. Heat the milk, but don’t let it boil. Set it aside to infuse for a few minutes.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs with sugar and add cornstarch. Pour the infused milk over this mixture. Gently pour this custard over the caramel-coated pan and place it in a larger pan. Add hot water to the bottom pan, about halfway up the sides. Bake until golden for 45 minutes to an hour.
Allow it to cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for a few hours. When serving, turn it out onto a plate.
Hope you will try our easy-to-follow recipe and enjoy this timeless classic dessert with velvety caramel and creamy vanilla. If you do, share the photos with me on Instagram as I would love to see how it turns out for you.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Cheesecake Flan
Flan Cake
Creme Brulee
Crème Caramel
Ingredients
For the topping
- 1/2 cup+2tbsp (120g) sugar
- 2 tbsp (30ml) water
For the custard
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups (500ml) milk
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 325°F/160°C.
- Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan until the liquid turns golden brown. Immediately, pour the caramel into a 7-inch (18 cm) cake pan coating the sides too.
- Pour the milk into the same saucepan. Add the vanilla bean seeds and the pod into the milk. Heat the milk but do not bring it to a boil, then set aside to infuse for a few minutes.
- In a separate bowl beat the eggs with the sugar. Add the cornstarch. Pour the milk over the egg mixture.
- Pour the custard carefully over the prepared pan and place the pan in a larger pan. Pour hot water into the bottom pan to come halfway up the sides. Bake until golden for about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Cool completely. Then cover and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours. To serve turn out onto a plate.
Video
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @homecookingadventure on Instagram and hashtag it #homecookingadventure.
Hi! I came here from foodbuzz, and I am so happy finding you – this creme caramel is one of my favorite dessert growing up in Japan. It is so hard to find this dessert in American restaurant so I have to cook on my own! Thanks for sharing this recipe and I am looking forward to your site. You don’t have facebook page? I hope you will create one day so I can follow you without missing a recipe.
Oh, another fabulous recipe with caramel…your creme caramel looks incredible~
Wow! I love the pictures and your website. I bookmarked you. Great recipes
I have never made Creme Caramel or Flan, they look similar but I like Creme Caramel and Flan…not so much. I’ll have to do a comparison analysis and now that I have a Creme Caramel recipe…I can. Thanks!
I could lose myself in this.
This looks so good! I love anything caramel.
What kind of milk did you use? Would skim milk work?
Yes, it should work good, as I remember I used a 1.8% or 2 % Reduced-Fat Milk. Let me know if you try this with skim milk, don;t see why it wouldn't't work. I think the eggs play here the important role for the succeed of this recipe.
Fantastic recipe! Turned out great! I especially loved how easy it was to make. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Sni … I am glad you liked it too 🙂 Stay in touch, more recipes are about to come 🙂
Hi, I saw this video through one of my friend in facebook ! You are so talented, confident and amazing in what you are doing. Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes. I am gearing up to try all these recipes.
Thank you Saira, I am really happy to hear that and welcome to my culinary adventures:) Hope you will try some of my recipes and let me know when you do. Stay in touch, more recipes will come.
hi,im from karachi pakistan,i love seeing your new amazing recipes when im free, you are too good ,i always try out your recipes n note it down in my diary ,will be making for my in-laws to impress them
Thank you for following me:) and I am so glad you are trying my recipes. When you have time let me know your impressions and how they turn for you.
Can I use vanilla extract instead of the root? If so, how much would you recommend?
1 tsp of vanilla extract will be good. Let me know if you try it out, it is delicious.
hi, so i tried making this dessert last night, followed thru the video and i think my creme caramel did not rise at all. It was very thin, so i thought to ask if i did something wrong? the only tool that was different from the video was, the dish with the water in it was a square glass dish, since i dont have the oval/round one so it had much more water than you can use in a round/oval shape. Could that be a reason why mine didn’t rise?
me again, i also use the aluminum cake pan, dont know if that makes any difference, let me know if it does, i will look for a baking dish that is not aluminum.
thanks.
You probably used a dish too large.. that was the only mistake.. because creme caramel is not supposed to rise.. Square or round is just fine, just a smaller one. If you don't have a 7 or 8 inch (17-20cm) dish you might need to double the recipe 🙂
Hello, I would try to do this cake, but the smallest cake pan I have is 24cm. What amounts should I use then? Thank you,
Sara
You can increase the ingredients, so for a 24 cm pan you will have to use 4 eggs, 670 ml milk, 67 g sugar, 1 vanilla bean. For the caramel you will need 160 g sugar and 40 ml water. Let me know if any questions.
Hi,
I tried your creme caramel recipe and it turned out awesome… the custard was so smooth and velvety. I made in 6 individual ramekins. My daughters loved it totally…Thank you so much:)
So happy to hear that Sindhiya:) I consider this one of the best desserts ever 🙂
What kind of milk did you use?? 🙂
Regular milk.. I usually use 3.5 % fat .
Can we use vanilla essence instead of vanilla bean..if so how much..?? I don’t have brown colour vanilla extract but the transparent one is it fine if I use that..?
sorry for the late answer.. trying to get on track after moving to a new house..sure.. will be fine to use vanilla essence.. few drops will be fine..as it is more concentrated ..
Hi, do we have to use the same kind of pan in order for the recipe to succeed? Or will it work with an aluminum cake pan or any cake pan or a glass dish? Thanks
Hi.
Would love to try this out. Can I use the regular aluminium baking pan (6 inches) for this instead of the baking dish? Would there be any difference in the turn-out?
Hi, do you think Coconut Milk would work for this recipe? instead of using regular milk? By the way, I tried this recipe of yours before and it’s really delicious!
Hello Fe.
Yes, you can use coconut milk.
Hi Ella
I made crème caramel with your recipe and it turned amazing.
Another time that I made, When I wanted to make the caramel of the base Suddenly it became something like rock candy! Can you explain for me what was my mistake and how can I make caramel?
Good morning, I love your recipes, they are delicious, today I am going to try this recipe. I have one question, do I have to grease the baking dish before adding the caramel? Thank you.
Hello Anna.
No, you don't have to grease the baking dish.
Hi.. If I have to make double the quantity in a 9 inch pan, what would be the baking time and temperature? Will it be the same?
If I use vanilla extract should I heat the milk, or just mixing everything is okay?
It’s 2019 and your recipe is still be viewed on the internet. Congratulations!
Simple recipe with every day pantry ingredients.
Regards.
Is it okay to use a metal cake pan?