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    Home » Instant Pot » Instant Pot Creme Brulee

    Published: Jan 18, 2021 · Modified: Feb 9, 2021 by Lisa Johnson

    Instant Pot Creme Brulee

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

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    A bite of creme brulee on a spoon with title graphic across the top of the image.

    Enjoy your favorite restaurant dessert at home with this rich and creamy Instant Pot Creme Brulee recipe that is simple to make and delicious to eat! All you need is 5 simple ingredients to create this silky smooth dessert.

    For even more delicious pressure cooker recipes, check out the Instant Pot Recipes page.

    Instant Pot Creme Brulee in a white ramekin, topped with fresh raspberries.

    I bet you are dying to crack that caramelized top with a spoon, aren't you?

    This is the perfect dessert to serve for special occasions or when trying to impress your guests!

    What is Crème Brûlée?

    It is a thick custard dessert that is lightly sweetened with a caramelized sugar topping. It is traditionally cooked in a water bath in the oven, but pressure cooking creates the same moist environment.

    What is Crème Brûlée made of?

    Cream, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla.

    Ingredients to make Instant Pot Creme Brulee in white bowls.

    I have always made my Creme Brulee with a combination of granulated and brown sugar to create the crackly topping. Feel free to use all granulated sugar if you prefer.

    This version is made with vanilla bean, but you can substitute 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract if you prefer.

    Looking down on four white ramekins filled with creme brulee and toped with fresh raspberries.

    How do you make Creme Brulee in an Instant Pot?

    Fill a large pot with 1-inch of water and bring to a boil.

    In the meantime, beat together the egg yolks, 4 tablespoons of granulated sugar and the paste from the vanilla bean in a large, stainless steel bowl until thick and creamy.

    Beaten egg yolks, sugar and vanilla bean paste in a stainless steel bowl.

    In a small saucepan over LOW heat, stir and heat the heavy cream until is almost comes to a boil. Remove from heat.

    Use a ladle to pour a small amount of the heated cream into the egg mixture. Whisk to combine.

    Egg mixture tempered with hot cream in a stainless steel bowl.

    This is called tempering the eggs. We want to raise the temperature of the egg mixture without creating scrambled eggs.

    Slowly pour in the remaining cream while whisking to combine.

    Place the mixture on top of the pot of boiling water.

    Creme Brulee mixture in a double boiler on the stove.

    Reduce heat to simmer. Stir mixture over simmering water until it thickens and lightly coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 3 to 4 minutes.

    Cooked Creme Brulle on the back of a wooden spoon with a line drawn through it.

    Remove mixture from heat and pour into four 8-ounce ramekins.

    Creme Brulee mixture poured into four white ramekins.

    Wrap each ramekin with a piece of aluminum foil.

    Four ramekins topped with foil.

    Place a trivet in the bottom of the pressure cooker liner, and add 1.5 cups of water. Carefully stack the ramekins in the pressure cooker.

    Four foil wrapped ramekins stacked in a pressure cooker. Three on the bottom and one on top.

    Secure the lid and check to make sure the knob is in the "Sealing" position.

    Turn on the Instant Pot and press the "Pressure Cook or Manual" button. Set the time to 15 minutes on High Pressure.

    Instant Pot set for 15 minutes Normal High pressure on the Pressure cook setting.

    When the pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. (do not do anything, just let it do it's thing for 10 minutes.)

    Release any remaining pressure and remove the lid. Carefully remove the ramekins from the pressure cooker, place on a cooling rack, and remove the foil.

    Cooked creme brulee in white ramekins sitting on a cookie sheet.

    Allow to cool completely then cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.

    When ready to serve, mix the remaining granulated sugar with the brown sugar in a small bowl.

    Brown and granulated sugar mixed together in a small white bowl.

    Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the chilled custard.

    Sugar mixture sprinkled over the top of four creme brulee in white ramekins.

    Melt the sugar with a kitchen torch using a circular motion around the entire top. It will smell like you are roasting marshmallows.

    A blow torch melted the sugar topped creme brulee.

    Serve as is or top with fresh berries.

    A bit of caramelized cream brulee on a spoon with the ramekin below.

    How do you caramelize the top of the Creme Brulee without a torch?

    Turn on your oven set to BROIL. When hot, place your Creme Brulee on a baking sheet just below the broiler for a few minutes to melt the sugar. You may need to place your custard back in the refrigerator to set again if it gets too warm. Remove from refrigerator and serve.

    Can Creme Brulee be made without dairy?

    Yes it can! Simply replace the cream with canned coconut milk (make sure to shake the can before opening). All other ingredients remain the same.

    I also have a dairy-free Creme Brulee made in the oven if you do not have an Instant Pot.

    Additional Instant Pot dessert recipes:

    • Chocolate Lava Cakes
    • Kahlua Flan
    • Chocolate Cheesecake
    • Lemon Cheesecake
    • Apple Crisp

    Tools used to create this recipe:

    • 6 quart Instant Pot - the Plus model is sold out
    • wire whisk
    • ramekins
    • stainless steel bowl
    • large pot - as you can see, I do not own a double-boiler.
    • kitchen torch

    Enjoy!!

    Instant Pot Creme Brulee in a small white ramekin topped with fresh raspberries.

    Instant Pot Creme Brulee

    Enjoy your favorite restaurant dessert at home with this rich and creamy Instant Pot Creme Brulee recipe that is simple to make and delicious to eat!
    No ratings yet
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Keyword: pressure cooker dessert, custard recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Pressure Release: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 688kcal
    Author: Lisa Johnson

    Equipment

    • Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 6 large egg yolks lightly beaten
    • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar divided
    • 1 whole vanilla bean split open and scraped
    • 2.5 cups heavy cream substitute canned coconut milk for dairy-free
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • fresh berries to garnish optional
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    Instructions

    • Fill a large pot with 1-inch of water and bring to a boil.
    • In the meantime, beat together the egg yolks, 4 tablespoons of granulated sugar and the paste from the vanilla bean in a large, stainless steel bowl until thick and creamy.
    • In a small saucepan over LOW heat, stir and heat the heavy cream until is almost comes to a boil. Remove from heat.
    • Use a ladle to pour a small amount of the heated cream into the egg mixture. Whisk to combine. This is called tempering the eggs. We want to raise the temperature of the egg mixture without creating scrambled eggs.
    • Slowly pour in the remaining cream while whisking to combine.
    • Place the mixture on top of the pot of boiling water. Reduce heat to simmer. Stir mixture over simmering water until it thickens and lightly coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Remove mixture from heat and pour into four 8-ounce ramekins. Wrap each ramekin with a piece of aluminum foil.
    • Place a trivet in the bottom of the pressure cooker liner, and add 1.5 cups of water. Carefully stack the ramekins in the pressure cooker.
    • Secure the lid and check to make sure the knob is in the “Sealing” position. Turn on the Instant Pot and press the “Pressure Cook or Manual” button. Set the time to 15 minutes on High Pressure.
    • When the pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. (do not do anything, just let it do it’s thing for 10 minutes.)
    • Release any remaining pressure and remove the lid. Carefully remove the ramekins from the pressure cooker, place on a cooling rack, and remove the foil. Allow to cool completely then cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
    • When ready to serve, mix the remaining granulated sugar with the brown sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the chilled custard.
    • Melt the sugar with a kitchen torch using a circular motion around the entire top. It will smell like you are roasting marshmallows.
    • Serve as is or top with fresh berries.

    Notes

    HOW DO YOU CARAMELIZE THE TOP OF THE CREME BRULEE WITHOUT A TORCH?
    Turn on your oven set to BROIL. When hot, place your Creme Brulee on a baking sheet just below the broiler for a few minutes to melt the sugar. You may need to place your custard back in the refrigerator to set again if it gets too warm. Remove from refrigerator and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 688kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 62g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Cholesterol: 480mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 139mg | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 2554IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 1mg
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