Chocolate crème brûlée offers a rich chocolate twist on the classic custard dessert, finished with a crisp caramelized sugar crust. This recipe yields four servings and is an elegant, crowd-pleasing dessert for special occasions or a cozy night in.
My husband adores crème brûlée and he loves chocolate, so a chocolate crème brûlée was an obvious choice. I discovered the original version on Pinterest and finally tried a chocolate variation. After celebrating his renewal of a professional license, I served this dessert—he was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it immensely.
If you enjoy crème brûlée, this chocolate version is worth trying. If you prefer the traditional flavor, there’s also a classic crème brûlée recipe available on the same site.
Scroll down for a printable recipe card.
Do I Need Special Equipment?
This dessert looks impressive but is simple to prepare. You’ll need four 6-ounce ramekins and a baking pan with sides for a water bath. A kitchen torch is handy to caramelize the sugar top, but you can also use the oven broiler. Directions below include both methods.
Easy to Make
The chocolate custard is gently heated, poured into ramekins, baked in a water bath, then chilled until fully set. Once cold, a thin layer of granulated sugar is sprinkled on top and caramelized to form the signature crisp shell.
The Crisp Sugar Top
The caramelized sugar crust is one of the most satisfying parts of crème brûlée. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the chilled custard and use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize it into a thin, brittle shell. If you don’t have a torch, place the ramekins under a hot broiler for a few minutes—watch closely to avoid burning.
When the sugar crust cracks, the smooth chocolate custard beneath is revealed—rich, silky, and delicious.
Enjoy this decadent chocolate crème brûlée! It’s a simple way to treat someone special or end a meal on a luxurious note.
Looking for More Dessert Recipes?
Explore the recipe index for many dessert ideas. Some favorites include:
- Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake
- Strawberry Pie
- Lemon Cream Cheese Tart
- Mint Brownie Pie
- Lemon Bars
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Recipe source credited to the original creator.
Printable Recipe
Chocolate crème brûlée is a rich variation on the classic dessert, topped with a crisp sugar crust. Makes 4 servings.
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 egg yolks
- 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Bring a large pot of water to a full boil while you prepare the custard.
- Place the finely chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
- In a saucepan, combine the heavy cream, 1/4 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt. Heat over medium until steam rises but the mixture does not boil (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let sit a couple minutes, then whisk until smooth.
- Beat the egg yolks and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Very slowly stream the hot chocolate mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs. Once fully combined, divide the custard among four 6-ounce ramekins.
- Set the ramekins in a baking pan. For a water bath: place a damp dish towel in the bottom of the pan to keep ramekins from sliding (or use a creme brûlée pan and rack). Carefully pour the boiling water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the pan with foil and bake at 300°F for 25–30 minutes, until the custard is just set.
- Remove the ramekins from the water bath and chill them in the refrigerator for 4–6 hours or overnight until thoroughly chilled and set.
- Just before serving, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar evenly over each custard. Caramelize the sugar with a kitchen torch until it forms a crisp, golden shell. Alternatively, place the ramekins under a hot broiler for 2–3 minutes—watch closely to prevent burning. Allow the sugar to harden, then serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories: 674; Fat: 55g; Saturated Fat: 33g; Cholesterol: 310mg; Sodium: 63mg; Carbohydrates: 39g; Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 32g; Protein: 5g.
Here’s one more image to pin for inspiration: