National Creme Brûlée Day

To me, every kitchen appliance is useful and nothing’s overrated. When I look at my little espresso machine, I don’t see coffee. I see a steaming valve as an opportunity to make amazing creme brulee.

Grant Achatz

Crème Brûlée is decadence incarnate, a rich creamy custard topped with a layer of hard caramel, combining the best of crunchy and creamy together into a single bite. It is seen as a mark of elegance, as one of the hallmark desserts of Paris, and National Creme Brûlée Day is here to celebrate it!

History of National Creme Brûlée Day

Crème Brûlée has been with us quite a long time, appearing first in a recipe book by one Francois Massialot in 1691. Known as the Cuisinier royal et bourgeois it held the first recorded recipe for this incredible treat, though when it was translated to English it became known as “Burnt Cream”, which is perhaps not an altogether unjust description of this confection. Oddly, for all that is deeply associated with France, and specifically with Paris, from 1740 to 1980 it appeared in not one French cookbook. Crème Brûlée came back onto the scene in a big way in the 1980’s, and became the “darling of the restaurant boom.”

National Creme Brûlée Day encourages you to indulge your own decadence, to hunt out recipes for this delicious treat or just restaurants that serve it and experience its luscious richness. Time has led to there being multiple versions you can try, from the traditional Crème Brûlée to crema catalana, a version of the treat from Catalan.

Traditionally served in ramekins, the dish looks like a small pie or tart, but once you crack that burnt sugar shell, it’s clear you’re enjoying something truly unique.

How to celebrate National Creme Brûlée Day

Celebrating is easy! Get out there and find a restaurant that serves up Crème Brûlée and indulge in two, three, or even four helpings! After all, it’s a delicious treat whose hallmark is decadence! Get your friends together for a Crème Brûlée cook-off, and see who can make the best one of their own. Crème Brûlée is a very simple affair, all things told, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an opportunity for variance and personal flair, why don’t you see what you have? Of course, you could just spend the day in hedonistic repast, and no one would blame you!