Citrus Vanilla Crème Brûlée

Sep 6, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Origin: Tahitian Vanilla: Beans Medium

Citrus Vanilla Crème Brûlée in a ramekin with a caramelized sugar crust

Citrus crème brûlée flavored with a whole vanilla bean. An intermediate recipe: 15 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking, plus chilling; serves 6. Best vanilla for this: Tahitian (floral, cherry, anise), or Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 15 min

Cook 40 min

Chill 3 hr

Total 3 hr 55 min

Servings 6

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)heavy cream
5.0large egg yolks
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar

Topping

6.0 tbsp (75.0 g)granulated sugar, for the crust
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
1.0 tbsp (6.0 g)orange zest

Make it at home

As an Amazon Associate, VanillaGoods earns from qualifying purchases. We only suggest tools that fit this recipe.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and bring a kettle of water to a boil for the water bath.
Heat the cream with the vanilla in a saucepan until it steams and bubbles form at the edges, then remove from the heat and let it steep for 10 minutes to deepen the flavor.
Stir the orange zest into the warm cream, let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain it out.
Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until smooth and slightly lightened in color.
Pour the warm cream into the yolks in a slow stream, whisking constantly so the eggs don't scramble, then strain the mixture through a fine sieve.
Divide among six ramekins set in a baking dish. Pour hot water into the dish to reach halfway up the ramekins, then bake at 325°F (165°C) for about 35 minutes, until the centers are just set but still jiggle slightly.
Chill for at least 3 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle an even layer of sugar over each custard and caramelize it with a kitchen torch until it melts into a deep amber, glassy crust.

Tips

Zest only the colored part of the peel; the white pith underneath is bitter.
Don't toss the scraped pods: tuck them into a jar of sugar for homemade vanilla sugar.
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Choosing vanilla: Tahitian vanilla (floral, cherry, anise) suits this recipe best; Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic) is a great alternative, and any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make crème brûlée?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hr chill. The recipe makes 6 servings.

How should I store crème brûlée?

Refrigerate the baked custards, covered, for up to 3 days. Add and torch the sugar topping just before serving so it stays crisp.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This version uses 1 split vanilla bean. You can swap in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder instead; they're interchangeable at these amounts. Beans give the most visible specks and the fullest aroma.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

428 Calories / serving

31.9g Fat

32.5g Carbs

4.3g Protein

31.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~2568 cal · 191g fat · 195g carbs · 26g protein · 188g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 428 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 81 min·4.7 mi·~9500 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 58 min·2.9 mi·~5800 steps
Moderate cycling 43 min·8.6 mi
Swimming laps 60 min
Jogging 42 min·3.5 mi·~6700 steps
Stair climbing 40 min·~3600 steps
Dancing 70 min
Bodyweight circuit training 43 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 99 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.