12 Unexpected Twists on Creme Brulee

Updated on Mar. 06, 2026

Creme brulee variations offer fun, unexpected twists on the classic. Try everything from corn creme brulee to creme brulee cheesecake.

When we think of creme brulee, an image conjures of the back of a spoon shattering through a glass-like caramel topping, revealing a soft vanilla custard inside. It’s luxe, wonderfully textured and, well, very familiar. For anyone who loves classic creme brulee but is craving something a little out of the box, these creme brulee variations reinvent the dessert. From exciting new flavors to whole new ways of experiencing creme brulee, we’ve rounded up our favorite creme brulee recipes that are still decidedly luxe.

Looking for new flavors? There’s plenty here, playing with both classic and modern takes like chocolate, sweet corn, pumpkin, caramel, chocolate-raspberry and caramel apple. For anyone who loves creme brulee’s classic caramel and vanilla flavors, they infuse wonderfully in the form of a cake, cupcakes, a cheesecake, doughnuts (they went viral!) and even an espresso martini. All these recipes are still bruleed with a kitchen torch, though, so make sure yours is ready to go.

Many of these recipes are naturally gluten-free and vegetarian (since creme brulee is), or they can be adapted accordingly. If you’re making a creme brulee recipe that bakes in ramekins, always bake the custard in a water bath to prevent it from drying out and cracking. It’s not a suggestion in the recipe—it really helps!

1/12

Creme Brulee Doughnuts

Total Time:45 min

Servings:16

Test Kitchen Approved

Creme Brulee Doughnuts Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: These creme brulee doughnuts have a crackly shell, just like the surface of creme brulee. The doughnut version is admittedly a little bit messier to eat—but they're well worth the sugary mess! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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2/12

Creme Brulee Cupcakes

1 Reviews

Total Time:1 hour 5 min

Servings:about 2 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

Creme Brulee Cupcakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: This recipe combines two classic desserts in one! The crunch on the top of these cupcakes is a nice contrast to the fluffy cake and creamy centers. —Alysha Braun, St. Catharines, Ontario

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3/12

Caramel Creme Brulee

6 Reviews

Total Time:1 hour

Servings:14

Test Kitchen Approved

Caramel Creme Brulee Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: This recipe comes out perfect every time and it's always a crowd-pleaser! A torch works best to get the sugar caramelized while keeping the rest of the custard cool. You may want to use more sugar to create a thicker, more even crust on top. —Jenna Fleming, Lowville, New York

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4/12

Creme Brulee Espresso Martini

Total Time:10 min

Servings:1 drink

Test Kitchen Approved

Creme Brulee Espresso Martini Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: An espresso martini is my drink of choice. This creme brulee variation is my go-to during the holiday season, or anytime I want something a little special. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

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5/12

Creme Brulee Cheesecake

1 Reviews

Total Time:2 hours 30 min

Servings:16

Test Kitchen Approved

From the Recipe Creator: Enjoy the decadent flavors of a creme brulee in the simplicity of a cheesecake dessert. You can enrich the flavors of the creamy vanilla filling by using a high-quality vanilla bean paste. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

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6/12

Classic Creme Brulee

7 Reviews

Total Time:1 hour 15 min

Servings:8

Test Kitchen Approved

Classic Creme Brulee Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: My favorite dessert is this creme brulee recipe. Recently I was at a party where the guests finished preparing their own desserts by “broiling” the sugar on their portions with a small torch. What a great idea! —Joylyn Trickel, Helendale, California

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7/12

Chocolate Creme Brulee

Total Time:1 hour 5 min

Servings:6

Test Kitchen Approved

Chocolate Creme Brulee Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: Make ramekins of chocolate creme brulee on special occasions like Valentine's Day, anniversaries or simply when you have time to put extra effort into dessert. Finely chopped chocolate is melted into the custard to make it even more decadent. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan

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8/12

Creme Brulee Cake

Total Time:1 hour 15 min

Servings:16 pieces

Test Kitchen Approved

Creme Brulee Cake Recipe photo by Jonathan Melendez for Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: Break out your kitchen torch! Our creme brulee cake recipe has the classic creme brulee burnt sugar topping, plus a whipped custard filling and buttercream frosting to round out the layers of vanilla cake. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan

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9/12

Chocolate-Raspberry Creme Brulee

1 Reviews

Total Time:1 hour 5 min

Servings:10

Test Kitchen Approved

Chocolate-Raspberry Creme Brulee Recipe photo by Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: Just when I thought nothing could beat the specialness of creme brulee, I created this decadent version that stars rich chocolate and sweet raspberries. Cracking through the top reveals a smooth and rich custard that everyone enjoys. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois

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10/12

Sweet Corn Creme Brulee

2 Reviews

Contest Winner

Total Time:1 hour 10 min

Servings:6

Test Kitchen Approved

From the Recipe Creator: The starch in corn acts as a natural thickener for this dessert and adds an extra sweetness. The caramelized sugar crust and fruit garnish make for a lovely presentation. —Maryanne Jensen-Gowan, Pelham, New Hampshire

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11/12

Caramel Apple Creme Brulee

1 Reviews

Total Time:1 hour 30 min

Servings:6

Test Kitchen Approved

From the Recipe Creator: Here's the cream of the apple dessert crop. Fruit, caramel and cinnamon flavors enhance the rich, velvety custard. Served warm or chilled, it's a classic end to a meal. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina

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12/12

Pumpkin Creme Brulee

7 Reviews

Total Time:45 min

Servings:8

Test Kitchen Approved

Pumpkin Creme Brulee Recipe photo by Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

From the Recipe Creator: I've never met a creme brulee that I didn't love! I'm not a big pumpkin fan, but this is fantastic. —Tamara Leonard Merritt, Raleigh, North Carolina

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Creme Brulee Variations FAQ

What flavors can you add to creme brulee?

Flavorings to add to creme brulee include extracts, liqueurs, spices, or powders such as cocoa or strawberry powder. You can infuse ingredients into the creme brulee’s milk through steeping too. For example, if you wanted to make a lavender creme brulee, you would pour the creme brulee’s milk measurement in a pot, bring it to a simmer, turn off the heat, add the lavender flowers, then cover it. Allow the lavender flowers to steep, as you would with tea, then strain the milk through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the lavender flowers. Now the milk is infused with lavender’s floral flavor and can be used in your creme brulee recipe.

What are some common mistakes when making creme brulee?

Common mistakes when making creme brulee include using whole eggs instead of just the egg yolks, splashing water into the ramekins and using the wrong sugar. Egg whites make the custard very set, while egg yolks keep the texture jiggly and tender. Creme brulee typically bakes in a water bath, but accidentally splashing water into the creme brulee will make the inside mushy and the top pebbly. Lastly, use white sugar, not other sugars, when making creme brulee. You’ll be able to see more easily when the sugar is bruleed, whereas brown sugar is already brown and it might be hard to tell when it’s caramelized and not just melted.

How else can I brulee if I don’t own a kitchen torch?

If you don’t own a kitchen torch, you can brulee in the oven under the broiler. However, this can be done only with a custard creme brulee, not a creme brulee varation like creme brulee cake or creme brule martini. Also, make sure your dish is oven-safe or it can crack at such high heat. Another method to try, although it won’t set in a hard crack, is just to top the custard with salted caramel sauce.