Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana

Veg

Catalonia's answer to crème brûlée — a rich egg custard infused with cinnamon and lemon zest beneath a hard caramelised sugar crust.

Cuisines

Spanish

Best for

Dinner Snacks

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Total: 30 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Milk 2 cups Milk , whole
cinnamon 1 stick Cinnamon
Lemon Peel 1 Lemon Peel , from 1 lemon
Egg Yolk 4 Egg Yolk
sugar 1/2 cup Sugar , granulated
cornstarch 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
Granulated Sugar 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar , for caramelizing

Instructions

  1. 1 In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let it infuse for 10 minutes.
  2. 2 In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth and pale.
  3. 3 Remove the cinnamon stick and lemon peel from the milk. Gradually whisk the warm milk into the egg yolk mixture until well combined.
  4. 4 Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens to a custard-like consistency, about 5-7 minutes. Do not let it boil.
  5. 5 Pour the custard into small ramekins and let them cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 2 hours until set.
  6. 6 Before serving, sprinkle the top of each custard with a thin, even layer of sugar. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until golden brown and crisp.

Tips

For a more intense citrus flavor, add a bit of orange peel along with the lemon peel.