Authentic Crema Catalana Recipe

Name: Authentic Crema Catalana
Prep time: 190 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 large egg yolks; 1 cup sugar; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 tablespoon lemon zest, from 1 lemon; 2 cups whole milk; 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Prep: 3 hrs 10 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 3 hrs 20 mins

Servings: 4 servings

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Crema Catalana or Catalan Cream is the Catalan name and version of the often-enjoyed French dessert, crème brulée.

Despite the French claim, however, there are many regions that lay claim to the origin of this popular dessert. Catalonia, in the northeast corner of Spain (near the French border), is one of them.

Wherever crema Catalana originated, enjoy and let it dissolve in your mouth. It is a great dessert for spring and it is also called crema de Sant Josep, or St. Joseph’s cream, traditionally prepared on March 19th, St. Joseph’s Day, the Spanish equivalent of Father’s Day in the United States.

Do you prefer to follow a step-by-step recipe with photos? Then our how to make crema Catalana tutorial is for you.

4 large egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon lemon zest, from 1 lemon
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Before You Begin

This crema Catalana recipe is a great Spanish dessert to make ahead of time, since it is very easy but does require between 2 and 3 hours of refrigeration before serving.
You can make it the day before serving, and leave it in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat. For the caramelized sugar crust, simply heat the broiler, caramelize the sugar and serve.

Make the Crema

In a large saucepan, beat together the egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar until the ingredients are thoroughly blended and the mixture turns frothy.
Add the cinnamon stick and lemon zest and stir.
Add the milk and cornstarch and slowly heat the mixture, stirring constantly, just until it begins to thicken.
As soon as the mixture thickens and you feel resistance while stirring, remove the pot from the heat immediately or the mixture may curdle or separate. If this happens, the texture of the finished crema Catalana will be grainy instead of smooth and creamy as it should be.
To cool, remove the cinnamon stick and ladle the milk mixture into 4 to 6 ramekins (depending on size). Allow them to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours.
Before serving, heat the broiler. Take the ramekins with the crema Catalana out of the refrigerator and sprinkle the rest of the sugar over each ramekin.
When the broiler is hot, place the ramekins under the broiler on the top shelf and allow the sugar to caramelize and bubble, turning golden brown. This may take 5 to 10 minutes or so, depending on your broiler. Keep a close eye on your crema Catalana so that it does not burn. Remove and serve immediately.
If you'd like, you can serve the crema Catalana chilled, but some think it has more flavor when served warm from the broiler.

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat-resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
362	Calories
10g	Fat
59g	Carbs
11g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	362
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g	13%
Saturated Fat 4g	21%
Cholesterol 244mg	81%
Sodium 126mg	5%
Total Carbohydrate 59g	21%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 56g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 2mg	10%
Calcium 177mg	14%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 240mg	5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.