21 Crème Brûlée and Flavored Custard Recipes You'll Crave (2024)

How to Make Custard

Ginger Crème Brûlée

Looking for crème brûlée recipes with a little something unexpected in the mix? Give this ginger-infused beauty a go. You'll love the way fresh grated ginger root imbues the custard with a bright, spicy flavor. To add more ginger-liscious appeal, sprinkle the finished custards with tidbits of candied ginger.

Classic Zabaglione

This classic Italian custard recipe is made from egg yolks, sweet Marsala wine, and sugar. It is a simple, fragrant, flavorful dessert that pairs perfectly with fresh berries or a fall fruit compote. It can also be used as a filling for cakes or pies or frozen in a layered semifreddo.

Crème Brûlée Pie

Most crème brûlée recipes require investing in some fancy individual ramekins. Not this one! Simply bake this rich vanilla custard into a pie—and never mind if you're all thumbs when it comes to making pie pastry. This one starts with a purchased crust.

Almond-Tangerine Panna Cotta

It's true. Most custard recipes are alluringly packed with fat and calories. Leave it to the pros in our Test Kitchen to craft an elegant exception. The secret? Greek yogurt adds heft to the skim milk to help bring that rich, silky appeal we all crave in a custard.

Creamy Flan

Popular in Spain, Mexico, Latin and South America, flan is very similar to other egg custard recipes, except that it's coated in a layer of caramel. Our version also includes a little cream cheese to make it extra rich. The result is a luscious, sweet, and indulgent dessert that's impossible to resist.

Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Bars

Crème brûlée for 36, anyone? While it's true that homemade crème brûlée recipes don't generally come top of mind when you're looking for dessert recipes that serve a crowd, here's a fabulous exception. Simply morph the general flavors into a totable (and make-ahead-able) bar cookie.

Coffee Shop Custard

If you can't get enough espresso in the morning, try having some for dessert. Top each serving of this flavored custard recipe with a spoonful of whipped topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon to make it just like your morning latte. As a bonus, this coffee custard has only 177 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving.

Maple-Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

With so many types of crème brûlée out there, it's hard to choose which one to make. So, why not take it season by season? Here's one to flag for autumn. In this recipe, maple, spices, and pumpkin come together for a delicious fall twist that rivals classic pumpkin pie.

Salted Caramel Pots de Crème

You probably figured it out, but pot de crème is French for "pot of cream." It refers specifically to indulgent egg custard recipes that are rich like crème brûlées (because they're made with egg yolks and cream), but served in deep pots or cups instead of shallow dishes. Pot de crème recipes (like this rich, buttery delight) don't generally call for a brûléed sugar topping—which means they're a bit less tricky to make. Instead, this recipe calls for a sprinkling of flaked salt for that perfect sweet-salty balance.

Dark Chocolate Flan

Sometimes it's hard to believe that just six ingredients can add up to such an incredible dessert. That's the magic of this flan-style homemade custard recipe. If you're not feeling fancy, the edible gold flakes are entirely optional. The drape of caramelized sugar sauce alone brings a level of opulence to the dessert.

Mocha Custards

When you're looking for easy desserts for casual gatherings, custard recipes are always a great option. Case in point: This dinner party-worthy dessert takes just 20 minutes of hands-on prep time. Even better—you can prep the smooth coffee-chocolate custard recipe up to 24 hours in advance.

Vanilla Flan with Butterscotch Sauce

It's hard to believe that such a simple flan-style vanilla-flavored custard recipe could be so wildly good. You'll love the way brown sugar effortlessly melts into a divine caramel sauce over the smooth, rich custard. (FYI: It's the sauce that turns a custard recipe into a flan recipe.)

Baked Raspberry Custards

This dreamy fruit and vanilla custard recipe gets its flavor from vanilla beans and fresh raspberries. It's one of our favorite custard dishes to make when raspberries are in peak season from May to September. If top-quality raspberries aren't available, strawberries also make a fine substitute.

White Chocolate and Cranberry Pots de Crème

If you're looking for crème brûlée recipes for New Year's Eve or other grand and glamorous holiday gatherings, check out these elegant miniatures. The base tastes like white chocolate crème brûlée, but instead of using a glazed sugar topping, we capped the recipe with a refreshing cranberry topper for a bright contrast. Serve alongside other mini desserts for a sweet finale.

Caramel Flans

Sometimes a simple custard or vanilla pudding will do. Other times, you want something with a little more "wow." This recipe will do the trick. By taking the straightforward step of caramelizing sugar, you'll turn a simple vanilla custard recipe into a stunning flan. Sit back and enjoy the raves!

Caramel Pumpkin Flans

Those lovely shards of brittle sugar atop this autumn-perfect pumpkin flan are easier than they look, we promise. To make it, you simply set aside some extra caramelized sugar when making the topping. P.S.: You'll likely have some leftover pumpkin after you make this custard recipe. Stir it into an amazing Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread.

Tiny Vanilla Crème Brûlée

Sometimes, after a hearty meal of classic comfort food, just a few bites of dessert will do. Ranking high on our list of easy custard recipes (it uses only five ingredients), this vanilla bean-infused beauty fills the bill perfectly. You'll love the way the 2-ounce serving is plenty indulgent but won't leave you feeling like you have to waddle away from the table.

Maple Panna Cotta

From France's pots de crème to Mexico's flans, great custard dishes can hail from anywhere. Italy gets in on the act with panna cotta—a rich custard that's made without eggs. In this case, the absence of eggs makes the other flavorings—maple and vanilla—really pop.

Mexican Chocolate Pots de Crème

Surprise dinner guests with one of our best custard recipes ever with this Mexican-style version. The rich chocolate with a dash of almond and cinnamon makes this a perfect accompaniment for after-dinner coffee. Plus, these custards can be made up to 6 hours ahead. Just cover the cooled pots de crème and chill them in the refrigerator. Before serving, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Almond Flan with Golden Caramel

Almond paste and sweetened condensed milk add flavor and richness to this luscious winner. While we often bake and serve our custard recipes in individual custard cups, when entertaining, it can be more exciting to present the full-size dessert on a platter, as shown here.

Amazing Crème Caramel

If your menu swings French, go ahead and call this recipe crème caramel. If your menu is more Latin inspired, call it a flan. Either way, everyone at your table will love the way the citrus and cinnamon add extra flavor angles to the classic vanilla custard recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to bake my custard in a water bath?

  The success of a baked custard relies upon a water bath or Bain-Marie—but do not be intimidated by the French culinary technique. Just place your custards in a high-sided baking dish and pour hot water into the dish until it covers the sides of your custard dishes by half to two-thirds. The process creates a gentle heat around your custards that results in a more uniform cooking process. Without a water bath, the eggs in your custard may curdle, the top may dry out, and your finished dessert may be rubbery or cracked.

• Are crème brûlée and flan the same thing?

  Crème brûlée and flan share a lot of similarities. They are both baked custards that typically contain milk or cream, eggs, and sugar. They are both often baked in a water bath. It is the topping that differentiates them. A crème brûlée is served with a crackly layer of brûléed (scorched) sugar on top while a flan is served with a gooey, soft layer of caramel.

• Is custard the same thing as pudding?

  Custard recipes and pudding recipes have a lot in common. Puddings, however, tend to use thickeners like tapioca powder, rice starch, cornstarch, or flour instead of just eggs. Since custards rely only on egg proteins to develop their signature firm but wobbly texture, they are thought to be less forgiving than puddings. Truthfully, custards are not overly complicated, but they can be fussy about the mixing and cooking process. Avoid shortcuts. Follow the recipe and instructions explicitly and use a water bath to ensure even cooking.