Dessert · Spanish
Crema Catalana
A classic Spanish custard dessert infused with citrus and cinnamon, finished with a crisp caramelized sugar crust.
Saved from youtube.com ↗
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 70 min
- Serves
- 6
- Level
- Medium

Method
Tap a step to mark your place.
Put the milk, cream, cinnamon stick and all the citrus zest in a saucepan set over a medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the milk is just steaming but not boiling, about 3-5 mins. Remove from the heat, cover with a plate and leave to infuse for at least 30 mins.
When the cream mixture has infused, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour together in a separate bowl for 3-5 mins, or until light and pale in colour. Pour the infused milk through a sieve into the egg mixture, whisking continuously. Return the mixture to the saucepan.
Put the saucepan over a medium-high heat and whisk for around 10-12 mins. The mixture should start thickening to a custard-like consistency – you can tell it’s ready by dipping a wooden spoon in the mixture, then running a finger through the mixture on the back of the spoon. If the line holds, it's ready. Sieve the mixture into a jug to remove any froth.
Divide the custard between six 150ml ramekins or small terracotta dishes, then leave to cool for 1 hr at room temperature until set with a slight wobble. Chill overnight.
Just before serving, sprinkle 1 tbsp caster sugar over the top of each ramekin and caramelise using a kitchen blowtorch. Alternatively, slide the ramekins under a hot grill until the sugar turns golden and starts to bubble. Serve straightaway.
Cook this in ChefBook
Keep it. Plan it. Cook it.
- Save & planKeep it in a cookbook and drop it into your week — free.
- GroceriesEvery ingredient on your list in one tap, scaled to your servings.
- Cook ModeOne big step at a time, with timers and the screen kept awake. Premium.
phone camera
