The Very Best 5 Ingredient Crème Brûlée Recipe You’ll Ever Try – Air Fryer Instructions

Can you make Crème Brûlée in the air fryer?

Have you ever tried to make crème brûlée or burnt cream in the air fryer? If you haven’t, stop what you are doing and make this recipe!

You only need 5 ingredients to make this crazy delicious crème brûlée in the air fryer. If you are looking for a new dessert recipe to try this year, look no further! This recipe will be a hit.

This creme brûlée recipe is so easy! I love that I only need five simple ingredients and a couple of ramekins to make this one.

Plus, the ingredients are ones that I already have in my pantry or refrigerator. The only one that I may not always have on-hand is heavy whipping cream.

Keep reading to learn how to make the very best crème brûlée in your air fryer!

Ingredients and Supplies for Creme Brûlée

Ingredients:

• Egg yolks
• Sugar
• Heavy whipping cream or heavy cream
• Vanilla extract
• Salt

Supplies: 

• Electric mixer or stand mixer
• Ramekins
• Air fryer
• Kitchen torch/ blow torch (optional, but fun am I right?)

Mixing tips

If you are using a hand or stand mixer, be sure to use the lower settings. It’s ok for some bubbles to get in the egg mixture, but let the bubbles settle for a few minutes prior to baking.

Toppings for this French dessert:

Fresh fruit is a great way to top the silky texture of creme brûlée that is covered by the crunchy topping. Here are some simple options:

• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries

How to make crème brûlée from scratch

Crème brûlée is so easy to make, especially when you cook it in the air fryer! Make sure you have fun with this recipe!

Step 1: Mix the custard mixture

The first thing you need to do is whisk together the large egg yolks, 4 tbsp of sugar, and a pinch of salt together in a bowl. Then, add the whipping cream and vanilla and whisk until well blended.

Yep, that’s all you need to do to make this custard!

Step 2: Prepare creamy custard base

Once the custard is made, divide and pour the mixture evenly between 3-4 (6oz) ramekins. Cover each tightly with aluminum foil. If the foil isn’t on tight enough, it will fly off in the air fryer. Make sure it is tightly secured.

 If you don’t have ramekins, you can use any air fryer or oven safe dish. Or, head over to airfryertools.com and snag yourself some ramekins!

Step 3: Air fry custard

Next, gently place in air fryer basket and air fry at 370 degrees F or 187 degrees C for 32 minutes to heat cream mixture.

You don’t need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe!

Double check after the first minute to ensure none of the tinfoil flew off. Secure or use tinfoil wrapped all the way around the ramekin so that it doesn’t fly off.

Step 4: Check for doneness

Creme brulee is done cooking once it reaches an internal temperature of 176 degrees F or 80 degrees C.

Then, use potholders or tongs to carefully remove hot ramekins and set on a rack to cool. When you first pull the ramekins out of the air fryer, they will be very hot and bubbling. It may seem too liquidy, but it’ll turn into a nice, solid creme once it cools.

Step 5: Cool creme brûlée

Crème brûlée is definitely much better as a chilled custard that gets thicker as it chills. I tried one of them warm so I could compare and it was gross and tasted like a warm egg.

Once completely cooled, cover the ramekins with plastic wrap and let them chill for a minimum of 1 hour or up to 2 days. This is a great make-ahead dessert recipe for any special occasion! 

Step 6: Caramelize sugar

When ready to serve, top each ramekin with 1 teaspoon of sugar in a thin layer and then either use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar or broil for 2-3 minutes in your oven to get that crunchy caramelized sugar top creme brûlée is known for.

I recommend using a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar because it is easier to forget about these desserts if you broil them in the oven.

Tips for using a kitchen blowtorch

If you end up using a blowtorch and have never used it before, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. The trick is to move the torch back and forth until the sugar starts to bubble and crust. Try and be as even as possible as you move the torch.
2. To get an idea for how long close you need to get to the food, sprinkle some sugar on a baking or cookie sheet and practice melting and caramelizing the sugar there until you get a hang of it.
3. The process might take longer than expected, so be patient. 🙂

Thank you DixieCrystals.com for these tips! 

However, if this process intimidates you (totally okay if it does!) then you can always still use the oven broiler.

Final Thoughts

This recipe is a serious hit! You can, of course, enjoy this recipe anytime of the year. But with Easter coming up, I thought this would be such a fun, easy, and new dessert that we would all love trying.

Share how this recipe went for you in the comments below!

More Dessert Recipes to try in the air fryer:

• • Our Favorite Monkey Bread Recipe in the Air Fryer!
  • Air Fryer Mini Cheesecakes
  • Tasty 3-Ingredient Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Air frying is easier than you think! Check out these guides to get started!

• Air Fryer 101
• Learn these common Air Fryer Mistakes!
• All about the Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer
• How to Cook Any Recipe in the Air Fryer
• FREE Download → Air Fryer Tips & Temps
• Air Fryer Buying Guide
• Watch Fabulessly Frugal YouTube Channel for Air Fryer Recipes

The Easiest Creme Brulee with Air Fryer Instructions

This 5 ingredient air fryer recipe for creme brûlée is one of the best you'll ever try. Who knew making creme brûlée could be so simple?!

4.69 / 5 ( 16 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 32 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 52 minutes minutes

Serves: 5

Adjust Servings: 5

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer optional
• 5 6-ounce ramekins
• Kitchen torch

Ingredients

• 6 egg yolks
• 6 tablespoons sugar divided- 4 tbsp for custard, 2 tbsp for carmelizing
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

• Whisk together the egg yolks, 4 tbsp of sugar and a pinch of salt.
• Add whipping cream and vanilla and whisk until well blended.
• Divide the mixture evenly between 5-6 (6oz) ramekins. I filled each ramekin about 3/4 full. Cover each tightly with foil.
• Gently place in air fryer basket and air fry at 370 °F for 32 minutes.
• Check after the first minute to ensure none of the tinfoil flew off. Resecure or use tinfoil wrapped all the way around the ramekin.
• Use potholders or tongs to carefully remove hot ramekins and set on a rack to cool.
• Once completely cooled, cover with plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• When ready to serve, top each ramekin with 1 teaspoon sugar and then either use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar or broil for 2-3 minutes in your oven.
• Let stand for a few mins before serving.

Recipe Notes

If using a hand or stand mixer, use the lower settings. It’s ok for some bubbles to get in the egg mixture, but let the bubbles settle for a few minutes prior to baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 567kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 50g | Sodium: 55mg | Sugar: 22g

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