Best Lemon Creme Brulee Recipes

LEMON CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a large saucepan, heat cream until bubbles form around sides of pan; remove from heat. In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar and salt until blended but not foamy. Slowly stir in hot cream. Stir in lemon zest and extract., Place five 6-oz. broiler-safe ramekins in a baking pan large enough to hold them without touching. Pour egg mixture into ramekins. Place pan on oven rack; add very hot water to pan to within 1/2 in. of top of ramekins. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean (centers will still be soft), 45-50 minutes., Immediately remove ramekins from water bath to a wire rack; cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cold., To caramelize topping with a kitchen torch, sprinkle custards evenly with remaining sugar. Hold torch flame about 2 in. above custard surface and rotate it slowly until sugar is evenly caramelized. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes before serving., To caramelize topping in a broiler, preheat broiler and place ramekins on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Sprinkle custards evenly with remaining sugar. Broil 3-4 in. from heat until sugar is caramelized, 2-3 minutes. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes before serving.

LEMON CRèME BRûLéE WITH FRESH BERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Arrange eight 3/4-cup custard cups or ramekins in 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Combine cream and lemon peel in heavy small saucepan and bring to simmer. Whisk sugar and yolks in large bowl until thick, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture, then vanilla and salt. Let stand 10 minutes. Strain custard, then divide among cups. Pour enough hot water into baking pan to come halfway up sides of cups.
• Bake custards until just set in center, about 55 minutes. Remove custards from water bath; chill uncovered until firm, at least 3 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Preheat broiler. Place custard cups on baking sheet. Strain brown sugar through small sieve onto custards, dividing equally. Broil until sugar melts and browns, about 2 minutes. Chill until topping is hard and crisp, at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
• Combine raspberries and liqueur in bowl. Let stand at room temperature at least 15 minutes and up to 1 hour. Spoon berry mixture atop custards.

LEMON CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325῰F.
• Finely grate 2 tablespoons zest from lemons into cream in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in 7 tablespoons turbinado sugar and a pinch of salt. Heat mixture over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until almost boiling, then remove from heat.
• Lightly beat yolks in a bowl, then gradually whisk in hot cream. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a quart-size glass measure and stir in vanilla and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice. Divide among ramekins.
• Arrange ramekins in a roasting pan and bake in a water bath until custards are just set around edge but centers wobble when pan is gently shaken, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool custards in water bath 20 minutes, then remove from pan and chill, uncovered, at least 4 hours. (Custards will set completely as they chill.) Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar evenly over each custard, then move blowtorch flame evenly back and forth close to sugar until sugar is caramelized. Let stand until caramel is hardened, 3 to 5 minutes.

LEMON-GINGER CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the cream, 1/3 cup sugar and ginger until bubbles form around sides of pan. Remove from the heat; stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Stir in extracts., Transfer to six 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Place in a baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until centers are just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove ramekins from water bath; cool for 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours., Combine brown sugar and remaining sugar. If using a creme brulee torch, sprinkle custards with sugar mixture. Heat sugar with the torch until caramelized. Serve immediately., If broiling the custards, place ramekins on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar mixture. Broil 8 in. from the heat for 4-7 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.

LEMON CRèME BRûLéE TART

Steps:

• For crust:
• Combine flour, sugar, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Using on/off turns, blend in butter until coarse meal forms. Add 4 teaspoons cream. Using on/off turns, blend until moist clumps form, adding more cream by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap and chill at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Fold overhang in, pressing to form double-thick sides. Bake crust until golden, pressing with back of fork if crust bubbles, about 18 minutes (small cracks may appear). Brush inside of hot crust twice with egg white. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Whisk 3/4 cup sugar, cream, yolks, and eggs in bowl to blend well. Mix in lemon juice and lemon peel. Pour filling into warm crust. Bake until filling is slightly puffed at edges and set in center, about 30 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Preheat broiler. Place tart on baking sheet. Cover edge of crust with foil to prevent burning. Sprinkle tart with 2 tablespoons sugar. Broil tart until sugar melts and caramelizes, turning sheet for even browning, about 2 minutes. Transfer tart to rack. Cool until topping is crisp, about 1 hour.
• Push tart pan bottom up, releasing tart. Place on platter, garnish with lemon slices, if desired, and serve.

LEMON CRèME BRûLéE TART

Steps:

• Pulse flour, confectioners' sugar, lemon zest, and salt for crust in a food processor to combine. Add cold butter and pulse until coarse crumbs form. Mix egg yolks and lemon juice together in a small bowl; pour in through the chute and process until dough forms into a ball.
• Use floured hands to remove crust mixture and press into two 9-inch tart or pie pans, covering the bottoms and up the sides. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Remove crusts from the oven and line with foil and pie weights.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove foil and weights and loosely cover the crust edges with foil. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake for 15 more minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
• While the crusts are cooling, prepare filling: Remove lemon zest in strips with from both lemons with a vegetable peeler. Set lemons aside for another use. Place zest in a medium saucepan with cream, milk, and vanilla paste; bring to a simmer, then turn off heat and cover.
• Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a 5-quart pot. Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and lemon juice together in a heat-proof bowl over the water until sugar has dissolved; make sure the bowl is not touching the water. Stir with a heat-resistant spatula until mixture is thick and pale yellow, with a consistency of heavy cream, about 8 minutes.
• Slowly stir in heavy cream-lemon zest mixture and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until custard thickly coats the back of a spoon, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read between 195 and 200 degrees F (91 to 93 degrees C).
• Dissolve gelatin in water in a small bowl. Stir gelatin mixture into the custard and cook for 3 to 5 more minutes. Strain custard through a fine sieve into a 2-quart measure. Pour into the cooled crusts and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, sprinkle 1/2 of the sugar over each tart to within 1 inch of the outer edges. Brûlée with a torch until sugar bubbles and is caramelized. Refrigerate, uncovered, until topping hardens, about 10 minutes, before serving.

LEMON CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. From lemons, remove 6 strips peel (3"by 1" each)and squeeze 3 tablespoons juice.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat cream, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel over med.-high heat just until simmering. Remove saucepan from heat;cover and let stand 15 minutes.(Cream will develop a thin skin on top;whisk in when mixing into egg yolks.) Remove cinnamon stick and lemon peel;discard.
• In large bowl, with whisk or fork, beat egg yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt until blended.Whisk for one minute(you don't want it to be grainy from the sugar, it should be smooth)Beat in warm cream mixture and lemon juice. Pour custard in six 3-oz. broiler safe ramekins or custard cups.
• Place ramekins in 13"by9" baking pan,carefully pour boiling water into baking pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or just until set (mixture will still be slightly soft in center). Remove ramekins from baking pan; cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until well chilled.
• Up to 4 hours before serving, preheat broiler. In small bowl, combine cinnamon and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle tops of chilled custards with sugar mixture.
• Place ramekins on cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet with ramekins in broiler at closest position to source of heat and broil 1 to 2 minutes until sugar melts and browns slightly. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 4 hours. If not served within 4 hours, sugar topping will lose its crispness.

GINGER & LEMON GRASS CRèME BRULéE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Place ginger and the lemongrass into a medium saucepan.
• Add the heavy cream and simmer gently for 25 minutes to infuse the flavours.
• Remove the infusion from the stove and strain through a fine sieve.
• In a mixing bowl whisk together the yolks, the sugar the lemon extract and the bitters.
• Slowly mix in the heavy cream infusion.
• Pour into ramekins or an oven casserole dish. Remove any foam from the top of mixture with a teaspoon.
• Place ramekins into a large casserole dish and pour hot water until the level is halfway up the sides of the ramekin dish. Put into oven and bake until the custard is firm (the center should jiggle just a little when you shake it) approximately 40 -50 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and completely cool before you cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• To serve.
• Sprinkle the top with granulated sugar and using a blow torch caramelize the sugar. The oven broiler can be used in place of the torch.
• Place the ramekins in a tray of cold water and ice and leave in the broiler for 3-5 minutes--just enough to caramelize the sugar.
• Variations: 1/4 teaspoon grated lime peel can be substituted for the lemon grass.

LEMON CREME BRULEE TART

Steps:

• For crust: Combine flour, sugar and salt in processor.
• Blend 5 seconds.
• Using on/off turns, blend in butter until coarse meal forms.
• Add 4 teaspoons cream.
• Using on/off turns, blend until moist clumps form, adding more cream by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry.
• Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk.
• Wrap and chill at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roll out dough on floured surface to 12-inch round.
• Transfer to 9-inch diameter tart pan with removable bottom.
• Roll overhand in, pressing to form double thick sides.
• Bake crust until golden, pressing with the back of fork if crust bubbles, about 18 minutes (small cracks may appear).
• Brush inside of hot crust twice with egg white.
• Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling: Whisk 3/4 cup sugar, cream, yolks, and eggs in bowl to blend well.
• Mix in lemon juice and lemon peel.
• Pour filling into warm crust.
• Bake until filling is slightly puffed at edges and set in center, about 30 minutes.
• Cool completely about 1 hour.
• Preheat broiler.
• Place tart on baking sheet.
• Cover edge of crust with foil to prevent burning.
• Sprinkle tart with 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Broil tart until sugar melts and caramelizes, turning sheet for even browning, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer tart to rack.
• Cool until topping is crisp, about 1 hour.
• Push tart bottom up, releasing tart.
• Place on platter, garnish with lemon slices, if desired, and serve.

LEMON CREME BRULEE TART

Steps:

• 1. Crust: combine flour, sugar and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Blend in butter until course meal forms. Add 4 tsp cream, blend until moist clumps form, adding more cream by teaspoonfuls, if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap and chill at least 2 hours.,
• 2. Preheat oven 350. Roll out dough on floured surface to 12" round. Transfer to 9" tart pan with removable bottom. Fold overhang in, pressing to form double thick sides. Bake about 18 minutes, until golden, pressing with back of fork if crust bubbles. Brush inside the crust twice with egg white. Maintain oven temp.
• 3. Filling: Whisk 3/4 cup sugar, cream, yolk and eggs in bowl to blend well. Mix in lemon juice & lemon zest. Pour filling into warm crust. Bake until filling is slightly puffed at edges and set in center, about 30 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• 4. Preheat broiler. Place tart on baking sheet. Cover edge of crust with foil. Sprinkle tart with remaining sugar. Broil tart until sugar melts and caramelizes, turning sheet for even browning, about 2 minutes. Transfer tart to rack. Cool until topping is crisp, about 1 hour.
• 5. Push tart pan bottom up, remove tart. Place on platter, serve.

LEMON GINGER CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Heat the cream in a saucepan with the ginger. Bring it just below boiling. Don't let it boil. Stir it occasionally to prevent a skin from forming. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile cream together the egg yolks and 5 tbsp sugar in a mixing bowl.
• Remove saucepan from heat and add lemon. Strain into a bowl.
• SLOWLY pour the cream into the egg, whisking gently with a fork to mix evenly. Be careful not to incorporate any air into the mixture or you'll have bubbles in your custard. And be careful not to pour too quickly or you'll cook the egg.
• Divide the mixture evenly between 4 ramekins and place in a lasagna pan (something with high sides). Pour water into the pan (but don't get any into your ramekins) until it comes about halfway up your ramekins.
• Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes (more or less depending on the shape of your ramekins - short wide ones cook faster than taller narrower ones). They're done cooking when they are set, but the center is jiggly.
• Remove from the water bath and cool, uncovered, on the counter until they reach room temperature. Then cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days (they need to chill for at least 4 hours).
• When ready to eat, remove from the fridge, take off the plastic wrap, and top with a thin layer of white and brown sugar. Use a torch to caramelize the sugar, or you can place them under the broiler (but you have to watch them constantly to make sure they don't burn).

LEMON RASPBERRY CREME BRULEE (KAREN DEMASCO)

Steps:

• use regular lemon juice

CREME BRULEE WITH GINGER LEMON CREMES

Steps:

• 1. In heavy saucepan cook cream over medium-low heat until beginning to boil. Remove from heat. Set aside.2. In large bowl beat yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla and salt with wire whisk until just combined. Gradually whisk in cream.3. In large shallow pan place six 3/4-cup souffle dishes or 6-ounce custard cups. Pour egg mixture into cups. Pour enough boiling water into pan around dishes to reach halfway up sides of dishes. Bake at 325°F for 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center of custard comes out clean.4. Remove dishes from water. On wire rack cool for 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 8 hours.5. Let custards stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium heavy skillet heat 1/4 cup sugar over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt. Shake skillet occasionally for even heating. Do not stir. Reduce heat to low. Cook, shaking skillet occasionally, until sugar is melted and golden. Quickly drizzle over custards. Garnish as desired. Serve immediately with cookies.NOTE: Fat-free light cream does not work well in this recipe.

LEMON CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 300°F.
• Line a shallow baking pan with a kitchen towel.
• Have a pot of boiling water ready.
• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the lemon juice to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the juice is reduced to about 1 tablespoon, 3 to 5 minutes.
• In another saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream, lemon zest and the 1/2 cup sugar.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until steam rises, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes.
• In a bowl, whisk together the vanilla and egg yolks until smooth and combined.
• Slowly add the cream mixture, whisking constantly, then stir in the reduced lemon juice.
• Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl and divide among six 3 1/2 ounce ramekins.
• Place the ramekins in the prepared baking pan and add boiling water to fill the pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and bake until the custards are just set, about 40 minutes.
• Remove the ramekins from the pan and transfer to a wire rack.
• Cool the custards to room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours, then refrigerate for 3 hours.
• Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar evenly over the surface of each custard.
• Using a kitchen torch according to the manufacturer's instructions, move the flame continuously in small circles over the surface until the sugar melts and lightly browns.
• Serve immediately.

LEMON DROP CREME BRULEE MARTINIS

Steps:

• For the lemon curd: Beat the eggs and sugar in a small stainless steel or copper pot (do not use aluminum as it will leave deposits in your curd!). Add the lemon juice, zest, and butter. Bring to a high simmer and cook until mixture thickens. Strain immediately through a sieve or cheesecloth. Spoon 1-ounce of curd into each of the 10 martini glasses. This is best done while the curd is warm but can also be done once it's cooled if necessary. Chill the glasses with the curd until the curd is cold and set.
• For the custard: Split the vanilla bean with a paring knife and scrape the seeds into the sugar. Use your fingers to work the beans into the sugar ¿ making an even mixture. Mix this mixture with the egg yolks and the eggs. Don't whip it but be sure to completely mix it so the color is consistent throughout. Bring the cream to a boil, remove from the heat and slowly pour it into the egg mixture, stirring constantly. Add the vanilla extract.
• To bake the creme brulee: Pour 3 ounces of the warm custard mixture into each of the glasses (over the lemon curd). Find a deep pan (preferably at least 6 inches deep. Restaurant supply stores commonly sell these as "hotel" or "insert" pans) and place the filled martini glasses in them. Set the pan on the bottom shelf of a 325 degrees F oven. Using a water pitcher, pour enough water into the pan to at least cover the stems of the glasses - ideally you can pour enough to come up about 1/3 of the way on the part of the glass the holds the custard. Baking times will vary depending on the amount of water in the pan and the type of pan used, but will be somewhere around 45 minutes to 1 hour. The custard is done when you tap the side of the glass and it looks thick and moves as one (as opposed to the center of the custard giggling more than the outside). Carefully remove the pan from the oven and let cool at room temperature for about 1 hour. Transfer creme brulees into the refrigerator to cool and set completely.
• To finish the creme brulee: Sprinkle about a tablespoon of sugar over each of the custards. Use your finger to spread it evenly over the top. Light a blowtorch and turn it to the high setting. Melt and caramelize the sugar quickly. Note that a flame that is too low or prolonged heat towards the edge of the martini glass may break the glass. Use caution and practice on one away from the others so that if it does break you don't get glass in the other custards. Creme brulees can be caramelized ("burnt") up to 4 hours before service and held in the refrigerator.

LEMON CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, slightly beat egg yolks with wire whisk. In large bowl, stir whipping cream, 1/3 cup sugar, the vanilla and lemon peel until well mixed. Add egg yolks to cream mixture; beat with wire whisk until evenly colored and well blended.
• In 13x9-inch pan, place four 6-ounce ceramic ramekins.* Pour cream mixture evenly into ramekins.
• Carefully place pan with ramekins in oven. Pour enough boiling water into pan, being careful not to splash water into ramekins, until water covers two-thirds of the height of the ramekins.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until top is light golden brown and sides are set (centers will be jiggly).
• Carefully transfer ramekins to wire rack, grasping tops of ramekins with pot holder. Cool no longer than 1 hour or until room temperature. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours but no longer than 2 days.
• Uncover ramekins; gently blot any condensation on custards with paper towel. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons sugar over each custard. Holding kitchen torch 3 to 4 inches from custard, caramelize sugar on each custard by heating with torch about 2 minutes, moving flame continuously over sugar in circular motion, until sugar is melted and light golden brown. (To caramelize sugar in the broiler, see Kitchen Tip). Place 2 tablespoons raspberries over each custard. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving.

CREME BRULEE WITH LEMON AND LIME SHORTIES

Steps:

• 1. Heat the cream with the vanilla bean until it reaches boiling point. Whisk the egg yolks with the granulated sugar and pour the mixture over the hot cream
• 2. Stir the mixture over a low heat until it thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, Strain into a pitcher, then pour into six ramekins.
• 3. Stand the ramekins in a roasting pan half full of water and cook in a preheated oven, 300 F, for 1 hour, Let cool, then chill for at least 3 hours. Just before serving, dust thickly with confectioners' sugar. Place the ramekins Under a preheated broiler for 3-4 minutes.
• 4. Make the shorties while the creme brulees are baking: mix together the flour, cornstarch, sugar and lemon and lime peel. Rub in the butter, then bring the crumbs together to form a smooth ball. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface and stamp out 12-14 rounds with a 3 inch cookie cutter.
• 5. Place on a nonstick cookie sheet and cook in a preheated oven 325 F. for 20 min until goldent. Let cool until crisp and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

LEMON BASIL CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat the cream in a pot with the basil. Stir regularly, especially as it gets warmer, to avoid forming a skin on top. When it is simmering, but before it begins to boil, remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.
• In a small bowl, with a fork, cream the egg yolks and sugar until smooth. Try not to incorporate much air into the mixture.
• Place the 1 tbsp lemon curd in the bottom of each of four ramekins and spread evenly.
• SLOWLY drizzle cream into eggs, continuing to beat with the fork. If you pour too quickly, the hot cream will cook the egg. Again, try not to incorporate any air as you mix.
• Split the raw custard evenly between the ramekins. Place into a baking pan. Pour water into the pan (making sure not to splash any water into the ramekins) until the water goes halfway up each ramekin.
• Carefully transfer to the oven and bake about 30 minutes. Actual time will depend on the shape of the ramekin. Custard is done when it is set but still a little jiggly.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Then cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge. Chill at least a couple hours. You can keep this in the fridge several days if you like.
• Just before serving, sprinkle with a couple teaspoons of sugar. Use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize the sugar. If you don't have a kitchen torch you can use the broiler in your oven, but be careful, the sugar burns easily!

LEMON AND VANILLA CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150C/ 130C fan/ gas mark 2. Arrange six 125ml ramekins in a deep sided baking tin and set aside.
• Pop the kettle on to boil. Put the cream, milk and vanilla in a small pan over a medium heat until it is just starting to steam. Meanwhile, put the eggs, sugar, cornflour and lemon zest in a jug and mix well.
• Once the milk is steaming, stir a little into the egg mixture. Then gradually add remaining milk mixture, stirring all the time. Divide the brulee mix between the ramekins and pour enough boiling water into the roasting tin to come to a third of the way up their sides. This will act as a temperate control. If the eggs get too hot, they will curdle rather than cook into a smooth, creamy custard.
• Carefully transfer to the oven to bake for about 30 minutes or until almost set but still with a little wobble in the centre. Remove from the oven and carefully lift out of the bain-marie to cool completely. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Once the brulees are cold, sprinkle on the caster sugar and caramelise the sugar with a blowtorch, passing it back and forth across the tops until the brulees go a golden brown.
• Top with the mango chunks in the centre of the brulees and serve.

SILKEN LEMON CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Combine the tofu, cream cheese, sugar and lemon zest in the bowl of a food processor. Process until creamy and perfectly smooth, then add the lemon juice and pulse to combine, scraping the bowl down several times.
• Divide the mixture among six wide, shallow heat-proof dishes or bowls. Smooth the tops as flat as possible and chill for at least two hours.
• To caramelize, use a brulee torch or preheat broiler until blazing hot. Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar evenly over the surface of the custard. Set the dishes on an upside-down baking dish so the surface are no more than one inch away from the heat. Watch carefully as the sugar melts and then caramelizes; it goes fast once it starts. If you're using a torch, move the torch back and forth until the sugar melts and browns. Let stand a moment, then serve.
• Cook time does not include chill time.