• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Downton Abbey Cooks

Great food has a history

  • Blog
  • Gilded Age HBO
  • Occasion
    • Romantic Meals
    • Royal Dishes
    • Robert Burns Night
    • Valentines Day
    • Mothers Day
    • Shrove Tuesday
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Titanic Dishes
      • 1st Class
      • 2nd Class
      • 3rd Class
    • Easter
    • Guy Fawkes Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas Dishes
    • Hogmanay
    • New Years Dinner
  • Meal
    • Luncheon
    • Afternoon Tea
      • Afternoon Tea Guides
      • Scones and Toppings
      • Savouries
      • Sweets
    • Cocktails
    • Picnic
    • Dinner
    • Garden Party
    • Upstairs or Down
      • Seen on Downton
      • Downstairs with Carson
      • Upstairs with the Crawleys
  • Seasonal
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
  • Dietary
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto
    • Low Fat
    • Vegetarian
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Terms
  • Media Kit
  • Shop
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Quintessential Crème Brûlée

downtonabbeycooks · May 28, 2019 ·

This is a classic french dessert, dating back to the 1600s, first printed in a cookbook which was served at the Palace of Versailles.  It is still enjoyed by the Royals in Buckingham Palace, but who doesn’t love cracking the crust?

Quintessential Crème Brûlée

This is a classic french dessert, dating back to the 1600s, which was served at the Palace of Versailles. It is still enjoyed by the Royals in Buckingham Palace, but who doesn't love cracking the crust? You can easily make this keto by substituting the sugar.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 3 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine French, Gluten Free, Keto
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 cups 35% cream
  • 1 pod vanilla
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar or substitute
  • 1/4 cup white sugar or substitute
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Whisk the eggs and sugar, adding a pinch of nutmeg and salt.
  • Using a saucepan that fits into a double boiler, add cream and vanilla pod and heat to scalding.
  • Gradually add the eggs then place the pan on top of the double boiler. Heat and stir continuously until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Be careful the mixture doesn't boil.
  • Remove the pan and place in a bowl of ice to cool, stirring frequently.
  • Pour the custard into one large oven proof dish or individual ramekins. Sprinkle brown sugar on top so that no custard shows. Place the dish(es) on a cookie sheet.
  • Set your oven to grill, and move the oven rack to the highest point. Place the cookie sheet on the rack and watch carefully to ensure the mixture browns, but does not burn.
  • Serve cold.

Notes

While the French have claimed this dessert as their own, England, Spain and France all claim to have created the first version of the famous crème brlûée. Custards were very popular in the Middle Ages and in fact their popularity circulated across Europe so it is impossible to trace custard’s actual roots.
Early French versions didn't burn the sugar on the custard, they used caramel disks.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


Filed Under: Celebration, Dessert, Dinner, New Years Dinner, Romantic Meals, Royal Dishes, Upstairs with the Crawleys, Valentines Day Tagged With: classic french desserts, crème brûlée, what Royals eat

Primary Sidebar

About me

I am Pamela Foster. Food historian. Wife. Downton and Gilded Age fan. Foodie.

Categories

logo
Food Advertisements by

SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS

Visit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On PinterestCheck Our FeedVisit Us On YoutubeVisit Us On Google Plus

Downton Abbey 3: Sept. 25/2025

“It’s Time to Say Goodbye”

logo
Food Advertisements by

Download in Minutes

The Gilded Age Season 3: June 22

Get Your Groceries Delivered

Groceries Delivered

The Oil Sprayers Every Downton Kitchen Needs

Downton Abbey Cooks has been featured in

Footer

Shop for Kitchen Deals on Amazon

Copyright © 2025 · Daily Dish Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required