Vegan Crème Brûlée

This vegan crème brûlée is crunchy, creamy, and ultra-satisfying. Try this plant-based twist on a classic that features silky custard with a crackly caramelized topping. Once you try your first bite, you may never go back to the original!

What is crème brûlée? 

Crème brûlée is an iconic French dessert made from a base of custard (or vegan custard in this case). What makes it so special is the top layer of caramelized sugar, which is achieved with a kitchen torch.

Typically, the custard is vanilla flavored, but there are so many variations you can experiment with. I can’t wait for you to try this one!

Is crème brûlée vegan?

Of course, a traditional crème brûlée is not vegan-friendly since it’s made with both eggs and dairy. But you can make a vegan version by swapping out the dairy with vegan butter and oat milk.

For the egg replacement, I've opted for cornstarch and agar flakes. The final result is not exactly the same, but it closely emulates a non-vegan version while still tasting incredible!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Oat barista blend: I recommend oat barista blend for its extra rich and creamy taste. You can also use other options like soy, cashew, or almond milk.
• Sugar: To delicately sweeten the custard and caramelize the top. I prefer vegan-friendly granulated sugar, but you could also use organic cane sugar.
• Cornstarch: To thicken the custard, creating a creamy texture. If you don’t have cornstarch available, replace it with potato starch. I find tapioca starch a bit too gummy.
• Vegan butter: Provides a rich flavor and velvety texture. It also adds a subtle yellow color, making this vegan crème brûlée look similar to classic recipes. 
• Agar flakes: Gives the custard structure and provides a flan-like texture, which is traditionally what crème brûlée tastes like.
• Vanilla extract: I recommend pure vanilla extract as the aroma and flavor are far superior to artificial extract. Plus, a little goes a long way!
• Salt: To enhance the other ingredients in this crème brûlée. Use fine-ground salt for an even distribution of flavor.
• Turmeric: Again, for a touch of custard yellow color.

Instructions

• Step 1: Place all ingredients into a medium saucepan, but leave the butter and the extra  sugar to the side for now. Whisk the ingredients together until there are no more clumps of cornstarch.

• Step 2: Heat the saucepan over low-medium while continuously whisking it (do not let it boil). It will start to thicken after a couple of minutes, then fully thicken after about 5 minutes.

• Step 3: Once it looks thickened, immediately remove the saucepan from the heat. Whisk in the butter until it completely dissolves into the custard.
• Note: Use a wooden or silicone spatula to check if your custard is ready. Coat the spatula with custard and run your finger through it. If it stays clean, it is ready to go!

• Step 4: Pour the custard evenly into ramekins and let it cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Refrigerate the ramekins for at least 6 hours, but it’s best to leave them overnight.

• Step 5: Caramelize them by evenly spreading a layer of sugar on top of each custard.

• Step 6: Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar by aiming it 2-3 inches away from the ramekins. Keep moving the torch in a circular motion to avoid burning one area.

• Step 7: Let the caramel harden for a couple of minutes before serving. Serve your dairy-free crème brûlée as soon as the caramel hardens.

Vegan crème brûlée toppings

Some popular additions to crème brûlée include fresh berries, coconut whipped cream, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Each of these will add a bit more texture and flavor to the dessert.

Storage

Once you’ve made your vegan crème brûlée, follow these steps for the perfect storage:

• Fridge: Store your dessert in the fridge for 2-3 days. Just cover it with plastic wrap or a lid to prevent it from becoming dry.
• Freezer: Freeze vegan crème brûlée in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: Thaw your dessert in the fridge overnight when you’re ready for another treat.
• Prep ahead: Prepare crème brûlée ahead of time, then keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it. Just add the sugar topping right before you serve it.

Variations

• Coconut: Bring a creamy tropical flavor to your vegan crème brûlée with full-fat canned coconut milk in place of oat milk.
• Chocolate: For an even more decadent variation, replace some of the custard mixture with melted vegan dark chocolate.
• Colored: Add superfood powders like matcha, butterfly pea, pitaya, or blue spirulina for a unique and festive twist on the color of your treats.
• Salted caramel: Swirl some vegan caramel sauce throughout the custard base, then add a sprinkle of coarse sea salt on top of the crunchy caramel for a knockout flavor combo!

Top tips

• Don’t let it boil: Do not let the custard mixture boil in the saucepan. Keep it at a low simmer until it thickens.
• Cool first: Let your custard cool completely before adding the caramelized sugar layer to avoid the topping from melting.
• Kitchen torch: If you can, it’s best to use a kitchen torch to achieve that quintessential caramelized finish.

FAQ

Similar recipes

If you enjoyed this vegan crème brûlée recipe, be sure to check out some more of my favorite treats like these:

• Chai Hot Chocolate: An easy hot chocolate recipe with chai spices.
• Vegan Peach Ice Cream: Simple vegan ice cream with a fruit-forward flavor.
• Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies: A small batch recipe that’s simple to prepare.
• Carrot Pie: A fun take on a sweet potato pie made from 100% carrots.
• Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream: Beautiful, soft and fluffy cupcakes topped with easy to make strawberry buttercream.