Crema Catalana

5 from 5 votes

Crema Catalana is similar to creme brulee but easier and with a wonderful orange undertone.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Spanish (Catalan)

Servings:

Calories: 261kcal

Author: Caroline's Cooking

Gently warm the milk over a medium-low heat in a small saucepan with the pieces of orange and lemon peel and the cinnamon stick to infuse it. The mixture should become fairly warm but not boiling (small bubbles around the edge are fine).
Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and corn starch (corn flour).
Take the lemon and orange peel and cinnamon out of the milk. Gradually add the egg mixture into the warm milk, whisking as you go to ensure you don't get scrambled egg lumps. I usually take it off the heat to do this to help avoid heating the egg too much. (You can also temper the egg mixture by adding a little of the milk to the egg first before then adding the egg to the main milk. I don't usually find I need to do this, but if the milk has become hot this is probably the best option.)
Put the pan back on a low heat and warm, stirring constantly until it is just thickening.
Pour into individual ramekins (or ceramic dish), let cool then refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight. I'd recommend covering with cling wrap against the surface to avoid it forming a thick skin.

Sprinkle fine sugar evenly over the top then melt the sugar either with a blowtorch or under a broiler (grill) to form a sugar crust.

Note if you have any lumps in the the mixture, you can strain it through a fine sieve as you pour into the ramekins/dish.

If you want to make a larger quantity, multiply everything up apart from the cinnamon stick - just one is fine with double or triple the recipe.