Chocolate Creme Brulee is a more decadent version of the classic. You can make it ahead of time, and it’s an elegant way to finish any meal. 

This recipe makes eight servings for about $1.24 per serving. Therefore, the entire recipe costs approximately $9.89.

If Creme Brulee is your love language, like mine, I recommend trying my Instant Pot Creme Brulee and Spice Creme Brulee recipes. 

An overhead picture of Chocolate Creme Brulee with spoons dipping into the serving dishes.

Chocolate Crème Brûlée

If I am eating out at a restaurant and they serve Creme Brulee, I always order it because it’s my favorite dessert. Creme Brulee is a sweet, custard-like dessert topped with a crunchy caramelized sugar topping.

Making Creme Brulee at home may feel intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple when you follow my step-by-step directions. 

This recipe takes Creme Brulee up a notch by adding in chocolate. We all know that chocolate makes everything better! Chocolate-flavored Creme Brulee is pure Heaven. 

Chocolate Creme Brulee is perfect for Valentine’s Day, special occasions, and holiday dinner parties. Make the creamy mixture ahead of time and torch the sugar just before serving, making it a simple dessert that seems extra special.

A spoon in a pot of the finished Chocolate Creme Brulee recipe.

Ingredients and Estimated Cost

Per Serving Cost: $1.24

Recipe Cost: $9.89

  • 2 ¼ cups heavy cream – $3.78
  • 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips – $2.74
  • 6 egg yolks – $2.52
  • ¼ cup + 6-7 Tablespoons sugar  – $0.09
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar – $0.10
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons cocoa powder – $0.15
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla – $0.50
  • ¼ teaspoon salt – $0.01

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the pricing for this recipe in December 2022.

An overhead picture of all of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How To Make Chocolate Creme Brulee

  1. First, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. 
  2. Next, place a towel in the bottom of a roasting pan and set six to eight ramekin dishes on top of the towel. 
  3. Then, scald the heavy cream in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Stir the milk frequently. 
  4. Remove the milk from the heat when it reaches 180°-185°. 
  5. Whisk together the chocolate chips and cream until smooth.
  6. Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, vanilla, and salt using another bowl. 
  7. Next, slowly pour the chocolate heavy cream mixture into the egg mixture while whisking constantly. 
  8. Then, evenly divide the mixture between the ramekins. 
  9. Pour warm water into the roasting pan until the water is halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for thirty to thirty-five minutes. 
  10. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool to room temperature. 
  11. Cover each ramekin with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge to chill for four hours. 
  12. Finally, remove the ramekins from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Add one teaspoon of sugar to the top of each ramekin and use a culinary torch to caramelize the sugar, and serve immediately.

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

Recipe Variations

  • Milk chocolate chips may be used instead of bittersweet chocolate chips.

Storage Tips

SERVE: You can keep the finished dessert at room temperature for up to 90 minutes.

STORE: Creme Brulee may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

FREEZE: If you choose to freeze this dessert, you must do so BEFORE it gets its brûléed topping. Once it has chilled, cover the desserts tightly with 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of foil. Then, freeze for up to a month.

THAW: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then add the sugar and torch the top.

Recipe FAQs

Is crème brûlée just pudding?

Creme Brulee is more than just pudding. It is a creamy pudding-like mixture that is baked and then chilled. It is topped with sugar that is then torched to become caramelized. The topping cracks when you dig into it with a spoon, which is beyond satisfying. The main ingredients in basic Creme Brulee are heavy cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla.

Should crème brûlée be firm or soft?

Creme Brulee is soft, like pudding, yogurt, and custard. It is cooked until the edges are set, and the centers are still jiggly. 

Do you eat crème brûlée cold or hot?

After baking the creme brulee pudding mixture, you will place it in the fridge to chill for four hours. This allows the mixture to set and is therefore served cold. However, the topping is slightly warm as a result of using a culinary blow torch to caramelize the sugar topping just before serving.

An overhead picture of the finished Chocolate Creme Brulee.

More Desserts

A close up overhead picture of a finished Chocolate Creme Brulee recipe.
5 from 5 votes

Chocolate Creme Brulee

Recipe Cost $ $9.89
Serving Cost $ $1.24
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 5 minutes
8 people
Chocolate Creme Brulee is a more decadent version of the classic. You can make it ahead of time and it’s an elegant way to finish any meal.

Equipment

  • roasting pan
  • mixing bowls
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • wire whisk
  • liquid measuring cup
  • Medium-sized Saucepan
  • 6-8 Ramekins

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 ¼ cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 6 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 ½ Tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6-7 teaspoons sugar for caramelizing

Instructions

PREP OVEN AMD BAKING PANS:

  • Move the oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 300°.
  • Place a kitchen towel into the bottom of a roasting pan. Place (6) 4oz or (8) 3oz ramekin dishes on top of the towel in the roasting pan.

MAKE CHOCOLATE CUSTARD:

  • Scald the heavy cream by placing it into a medium-sized saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently.
  • The heavy cream will start to bubble around the edges of the pan, and the internal temperature should read 180°-185°.
  • Once scalded, remove the heavy cream from the heat.
  • Add the chocolate chips to the heavy cream and whisk together until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
  • In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, vanilla, and salt.
  • Once well combined, slowly pour the hot, heavy cream mixture into the egg mixture while whisking constantly.
  • The mixture should be smooth, but if you have any lumps, you can pour the mixture through a sieve to remove any lumps.
  • Evenly divide the mixture between the ramekins.

BAKE AND COOL CUSTARD:

  • Pour warm water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
  • Place the roasting pan into the preheated oven on the center rack.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes until the edges are set, and the centers are still jiggly.
  • Once baked, remove from the oven, place onto a wire cooling rack, and let cool to room temperature.

CHILL CUSTARD:

  • Once cooled, cover each ramekin with plastic wrap and place into the fridge to chill for 4 hours.

TO FINISH:

  • Once chilled, remove the ramekins from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap.
  • Add about 1 teaspoon of sugar to the top of each ramekin and use a culinary torch to caramelize the sugar. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • When tempering the eggs, make sure to whisk the egg mixture constantly and vigorously.
  • When you add in the hot, heavy cream mixture, add it in very gradually. If you add it in too fast, you risk cooking the eggs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ramekin | Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 222mg | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 240mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 1181IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. That looks so good it should be a crime. I love the combination of creme brulee and chocolate. Genius!

  2. Stephanie says:

    Less than $10 to make the entire recipe? Count me in! That looks delicious!

  3. Oh my deliciousness, you have taken crème Brûlée to the next level with this chocolate version. It’s simply divine.

  4. This looks absolutely scrumptious, definitely adding this to my desserts to make during the upcoming holidays!

  5. Dana Sandonato says:

    Great recipe! Never had chocolate creme brulee before and this was a hit. Would definitely make it again.

  6. I love creme brulee and this chocolate version is amazing. I will make it again for sure!