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National Crème Brûlée Day

Food · July 27

A day for crème brûlée, the chilled vanilla custard with a thin layer of caramelized sugar that cracks under a spoon.

National Crème Brûlée Day falls on Tuesday, July 27, 2027. That is 273 days away.

Crème brûlée is a baked custard of cream, egg yolks, sugar and usually vanilla, finished with a layer of sugar melted into a hard, glassy top. The name is French for "burnt cream," which undersells it a little.

The pleasure is in the contrast. The custard underneath is cool, smooth and rich. The top is warm and brittle, and the first tap of the spoon makes a small, satisfying crack. Then the two meet in one bite, and the bitter edge of the caramel keeps the sweetness from getting heavy.

Making it at home is simpler than it looks. The custard bakes gently in shallow ramekins set in a water bath, then chills until firm. Just before serving, sugar goes on top and gets caramelized, often with a small kitchen torch, though a hot broiler works too. Restaurants tend to keep it classic, but plenty of cooks flavor the custard with coffee, citrus zest, lavender or a little chocolate.

The sugar top is best caramelized shortly before eating. Left too long in the fridge, it softens and loses the crack that makes the dessert what it is.

Ways to celebrate

• Bake a batch of classic vanilla crème brûlée at home.
• Try a new flavor, like coffee or orange zest, in the custard.
• Order crème brûlée for dessert at a local restaurant.
• Share a ramekin with a friend and take turns cracking the top.

Dates

Categories: Food days