French Crème Brûlée With Orange Blossom

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A traditional creamy French Crème Brûlée flavoured with orange blossom and topped with a crunchy sugar layer - what a perfect dessert! When you are in need of a gluten-free orange blossom dessert, it doesn't get much better than a French staple - Crème Brûlée. You can make just what you need, or make more and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days without the caramel topping. All you need to do when you're ready to serve is get the kitchen blow torch and melt some sugar over the top!

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Why This Flavoured Creme Brulee Recipe Works

We have tried numerous Crème Brûlée recipes over the years, some using only double cream, and a range of recipes using varying proportions of milk and cream, and we have arrived at what makes a perfect creamy Brulee without it feeling too greasy on the tongue!

We also use two types of sugar in this recipe. Caster sugar is used in the creamy mixture: it is fine sugar that dissolves quicker and doesn't add colour.

Demerara sugar, on the other hand, is used to create the caramel topping. It has a richer molasses flavour, it melts much slower, and therefore doesn't burn as quickly when you blow torch the top.

Creme Brulee Flavours

Orange blossom water is a wonderful addition to french creme brulee. The thing to note here is that various brands of orange blossom water vary significantly in strength and should be used carefully. We used Nielsen Massey Orange Blossom Water which is very fragrant, so you only need a small amount. Experiment with whatever brand you're using, but less is often more with strong flavours. And if you don't fancy orange blossom, add some lavender, or lemon essence instead!

Fancy something citrusy, no-bake and without eggs? Try our Lemon Posset Brûlée (3-Ingredient Recipe) or Lime Posset In Hollowed Lime Shells!

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Ingredients and Substitutes

• double cream: also known as heavy cream in the US.
• whole milk: full-fat milk, with at least 3% fat content.
• orange blossom water: we used Nielsen Massey. Alternatively substitute with your favourite flavour essence, like lavender, lemon or orange.
• eggs yolks: medium in the UK, large in the US.
• caster sugar
• demerara sugar: can be replaced with caster sugar, granulated sugar or even light brown sugar, but note that these will burn quicker, so take care when blow torching.

How To Make Orange Blossom Crème Brûlée?

Preheat the oven to 140° C Fan.

Pour the double cream and milk into a small saucepan and heat until it starts to simmer on low-medium heat.

Place the egg yolks and caster sugar in a large bowl (or a large jug - it makes it easier to pour the mixture into the ramekins later) and whisk until combined.

Pour the hot milk/cream mixture into the egg yolks whisking immediately. Skim off any foam that forms on top. Then mix in two teaspoons of orange blossom water.

Place 4-6 ramekins (depending on their size, we used small ramekins (4oz) and made 6 Creme Brulee) onto a baking tray with high rims. Divide the mixture between the ramekins. Then pour hot water into the tray, enough to cover the ramekins halfway up the sides.

Place the tray carefully in the oven and cook for approx 35-40 minutes, until set but still with a good wobble.

Allow the brulees to cool at room temperature. Then place the orange blossom creme brulees in the fridge, until ready to serve.

When ready to serve, sprinkle demerara sugar on top of the brûlées. Heat the surface with a kitchen blowtorch until it forms a thin layer of crunchy caramel. Decorate with some orange zest if you like.

What To Serve With French Creme Brulee With Orange Blossom?

Whilst the hard torched sugar layer adds a lovely texture on top of the French Creme Brulees, we feel that a crunchy biscuit served on the side doesn't go amiss with this orange blossom dessert. Serve your Creme Brulees with:

• Shortbread
• Sablé biscuits
• Amaretti biscuits

Other French Dessert Recipes

For other deliciously creamy French desserts, have a look at some of our favourite recipes below:

• Individual Elderflower Fraisier Cakes
• Pecan Praline & Banana Parfait
• Tarte Aux Fruits

Other Recipes Using Orange Blossom Water

And if you are looking for other ways to use orange blossom water, why not make our Moroccan Almond & Pistachio Briouat | Spiced Nut Filo Pastries.

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