This time of year, after I’ve been away from the over indulgence of the holidays for a few weeks, my sweet tooth cravings return, and I find myself longing for crème brûlée. I’m not sure why my stomach and head make that connection each January and February, but I like to just roll with it. Why deny myself such a simple pleasure?
This Cappuccino Crème Brûlée is a riff on my family’s favorite Almond Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée. The deep rich coffee flavor is to die for. Well, at least that’s what I think. The rest of my family does not agree. They find my love for coffee flavored desserts confusing, and dare I say annoying, as they distract me from making them something they can enjoy, too. To that I say, too bad so sad. Coffee flavored desserts make Momma happy. And I simply cannot deny you, my fellow coffee flavored dessert lovin’ friends, this awesome recipe.
Our oldest daughter, while not pleased that I was making crème brûlée that she was probably not going to enjoy anyway, did take ownership in helping me pick out dishes to serve this in. I had three different styles of dishes out, but when she saw the small coffee cups and saucers, her face lit up and she said excitedly, “Mom, you HAVE to use the coffee cups for this recipe!”
I do believe she was right. The coffee cups make the perfect statement.
This Cappuccino Crème Brûlée makes me smile from head to toe. Is that even possible?!
Its flavor is deep and rich, more in tune to adult taste buds. The Kahlúa liqueur is not a timid ingredient in this cup, most certainly, and for that reason I really don’t feel right about serving this to our young girls anyway. So the girls and I also stirred up a batch of the almond vanilla bean crème brûlée, since Hatti has been craving crème brûlée, too. Cappuccino for me. Almond vanilla bean for the girls and Blake. It’s how we achieved family harmony this past weekend.
Creamy and luxurious, with a brittle caramelized topping that is oh so fun to break through, this Cappuccino Crème Brûlée is just the perfect excuse to gather a handful of coffee lovin’ girlfriends together.
Cappuccino Crème Brûlée
Ingredients
- 3 T. Kahlúa
- 1 T. pure vanilla extract
- 4 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 2 c. heavy whipping cream
- 6 large egg yolks
- ⅓ c. firmly packed brown sugar
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- 6 tsp. raw sugar
- freshly whipped and lightly sweetened cream
- cinnamon
- chocolate covered coffee beans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275° F.
- Pour Kahlúa and vanilla into a small to medium sized bowl. Add espresso powder and whisk until dissolved. Stir in cream.
- In a medium bowl, briskly whisk the egg yolks until pale in color, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1/3 cup brown sugar and cinnamon, and whisk until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Gently whisk in the cream mixture, just until combined.
- Place 6 small oven safe coffee cups (mine have a 1 cup capacity) in a baking pan. Divide the cappuccino custard mixture evenly between the 6 cups, allowing at least ¼’’ of head space for the sugar topping. Pour warm water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the cups.
- Bake in the oven for 60 to 65 minutes, or until center of each custard still jiggles just slightly. Remove from the oven and lift the cups from the hot water. Let cool for about 20 minutes on the counter, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
- When ready to serve, place the cups on a baking sheet. Evenly sprinkle 1 teaspoon raw sugar over each custard. With a hand-held torch, caramelize the sugar until it is browned evenly. Serve with a small dollop of freshly whipped cream, a dusting of cinnamon, and a chocolate covered coffee bean or two.
- Note: If using a more standard shaped dish for crème brûlée, one that is wider and allows the custard to be shallower, baking time will need to be lessened and adjusted accordingly. You will also want to add more raw sugar to the top of the baked and cooled custards, as the surface area is larger than when using the coffee cups.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
For more scrumptious coffee flavored desserts:
- Coffee Ice Cream with Mud Pie Mojo
- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Toffee and Coffee
- Espresso Brownie Bites with Kahlúa Buttercream Kisses
- Salted Caramel Mocha Cupcakes
- Mexican Coffee
- Espresso Brownies with Peanut Butter Marshmallow Frosting
- Homemade Espresso Marshmallows from Amanda at Heartbeet Kitchen
- Coffee Sugar Cookies from Amanda at i am baker
- Espresso-Biscoff Heart Cake from Heather at Sprinkle Bakes
Stunning! And more for those of us that love coffee + dessert :)
Thanks, Christina! :)
This cappuccino creme brulee looks amazing! Any leftovers send my way!
What a great idea. I love this.And also looking so YUM.
I will happily devour any that your daughter doesn’t like! Creme brûlée is my favorite!
I adore coffee flavored desserts too. Your daughter did a great job picking out the coffee cups-adorable! Pinned.
I love coffee desserts, your creme brûlée is gorgeous!
Love how you serve it in coffee cups! Gorgeous dessert!
Omg, this is so brilliant! Is it wrong I want this for breakfast? Or so… soooooo right?
These look amazing!! I know I would love these and beautiful photos!!
I love coffee everything and this looks 9 kinds of wonderful!
Thank you so much, Miss! :)
This looks absolutely amazing Brenda. I love that this can be a dessert or double in place of an after dinner coffee. Two in one, or I would even love this for brunch. Yum! Beautiful pictures too!
Or breakfast?! ;)
Oooohhhh…just one word – YUM.
Thanks, Lana. :)
Oh, who doesn’t Love coffee-flavored anything?(My husband doesn’t either, but that’s okay, I’ll eat his too!!!) Love this recipe Brenda. Thank you for the link to espresso powder. I now have it on hand to make this!!
Thanks, Wendy! And awesome about the espresso powder – so glad you found some!!
An all-time favorite dessert, Brenda. Thanks for sharing. Looks fabulous!
Thanks, Sandy! xo
Wow, these look amazing, Brenda! I love coffee-flavored desserts too. I agree with your daughter, serving them in the mugs is so cute (:
Thank you, Caroline!
I love when the kids chime in and help with styling – your daughter has a good eye! As for this dessert, I’m all for coffee flavored desserts, even if my husband shares your husband’s confusion. I could dive right in.
Thanks, Liren. My husband loves coffee and its flavor, but just can’t do it cold. He’s missing out!! :)
Please feel free to send any coffee desserts your family doesn’t want my way, lol. I’m in a similar boat! More creme brulee for us, right? :) (PS. Love the coffee cup serving idea. Kudos to your daughter!)
Thanks, Erin. My family agrees on most food flavors, so I can’t complain. But I can’t withhold such deliciousness from myself, either! ;)
What a lovely dessert! I say you can’t beat the coffee desserts!
Thanks, Gaby! :)
I’ve been on a creme brulee kick… yay for kitchen torches! This looks fabulous!
Thanks, Brian. Kitchen torches ARE so much fun!!!! ;)
This sounds so good!! I love the cappuccino flavour!
Thanks, Katrina! :)