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    Instant Pot Creme Brulee

    Instant Pot Dessert Recipes Desserts Gluten Free Instant Pot February 5, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 32 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Creme brulee has never been easier to make at home! This recipe for Instant Pot Creme Brulee comes together in minutes and is baked to creamy perfection in the moist heat of the Instant Pot.

    Featuring a rich, creamy custard and a "burnt" sugar topping, Instant Pot Creme Brulee is an easy, yet impressive dessert recipe.

    One custard cup filled with caramelized creme brulee. Raspberries, instant pot and vanilla bean to the side.


    There are a lot of desserts I recommend NEVER cooking in an electric pressure cooker. However, when it comes to desserts that benefit from moist, even cooking, the Instant Pot is the way to go!

    Creme Brulee, just like Instant Cheesecake and Instant Pot Lava Cakes, is the perfect example of desserts that are both BETTER and EASIER to prepare using an electric pressure cooker.

    This classic French dessert, which means, burnt creme, is classically made by baking custard in a water bath, then once chilled, finishing the custard by caramelizing the sugar to create a hard, sweet crust. Creme Brulee is insanely delicious, and with this recipe for Instant Pot Creme Brulee, it is insanely easy to make.

    Notes on Ingredients and Tools Needed

    Ingredients for creme brulee labeled on white counter.
    • Egg Yolks: Creme Brulee only calls for egg yolks, but don't throw away the egg whites. Use the eggs white to make recipes such as a Mediterranean Frittata or an Asparagus Frittata.
    • Cream: It is best to use pure heavy whipping cream to achieve the best texture for creme brulee. Look for one without carrageenan or other stabilizers (it should just read cream on the ingredient label.)
    • Vanilla Bean: While vanilla beans are traditional in creme brulee, you can use pure vanilla extract instead.
    • Sugar: For the custard, this recipe calls for granulated sugar. For the caramelized topping, it is best to use turbinado or Demerara sugar. However, if you don't have that on hand, granulated sugar will work.
    • Ramekins: You need three 6-ounce heat-safe ramekins for this recipe.
    • Kitchen Torch: This is optional, a broiler will work nearly as well!

    How to Make Instant Pot Creme Brulee

    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and salt together until well incorporated.
    • Cut open the vanilla bean pod and scrape out the vanilla beans into the mixing bowl.
    Vanilla bean pod split open open mixing bowl of custard
    • Place the cream in the microwave and warm for 45 seconds to 1 minute. You don't need to measure the temperature, just make sure the cream is very warm to your touch but not boiling--between 150-185 degrees.
    A digital thermometer inserted into a glass measuring cup of warm cream. Temperature reads 170
    • Whisk in a tablespoon or two of the warm cream into the egg yolk mixture, stirring constantly. This is called tempering. DO NOT ADD ALL THE CREAM AT ONCE OR YOU WILL SCRAMBLE THE EGG YOLKS.
    Warm cream being poured into the eggs and sugar with whisk to side
    • Once you have whisked in the small amount of warm cream, add the remaining cream, stirring constantly.
    A metal whisk whisking the custard in a glass bowl
    • Transfer the mixture evenly between the custard cups and cover each cup with foil.
    • Place a trivet into the inner pot of your instant pot and pour in cold water. Place the custard cups on top of the trivet.
    3 custard cups covered with foil and place on trivet inside instant pot
    • Cook on High Pressure for 7 minutes. Use the manual or pressure cook button to adjust the cooking time to 7.
    • Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release for exactly 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, do a quick release of the remaining pressure by knocking the venting knob from the sealed to the venting position. DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO DO A QUICK RELEASE OF PRESSURE. This is really important to keep the custard super smooth and creamy.
    • Once the pressure has been released, remove the lid from the electric pressure cooker. Carefully remove the custard cups from the inner pot.
    • Remove the foil from the ramekins and allow the custard to cool at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
    • Once chilled to room temperature cover the ramekins with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
    3 custard cups on trivet cooling after baking in instant pot
    • Remove from refrigerator 15-30 minutes before serving, to let the custard cups come closer to room temperature. This helps to prevent the custard cups from cracking when heated, so do not skip this step.
    • Right before serving, top each cup with a teaspoon or two of sugar.
    Sprinkling sugar on top of set creme brulee.
    • To brulee the sugar, you can opt to use a kitchen torch or simply use your oven's broiler. You are looking to harden the sugar so that a spoon must crack the surface. The contrast between the caramelized sugar and the soft, creamy custard is absolute perfection.
      • Using a kitchen torch, place the flame of the torch about 2 inches above the custard, and in a circular motion, move the torch back and forth to evenly melt the sugar and form a caramelized topping.
      • To broil, place the custard cups that have been sprinkled with sugar on a cookie sheet and place them under your broiler for 3-4 minutes, watching carefully not to burn.
    Spoon dishing out a bite of caramelized cremebrulee.

    FAQs about Instant Pot Creme Brulee

    I don't have vanilla beans, can I use vanilla extract?

    By scraping out the inside of a vanilla bean pod, you achieve absolutely incredible vanilla flavor. However, you will still have delicious creme brulee if you use 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract in place of the vanilla beans.

    Is it necessary to warm the cream?

    Yes, I highly recommend warming cream BEFORE whisking it into the custard from creme brulee. This helps the creme brulee recipe turn out better for 2 reasons. The warm cream helps to dissolve the sugar, creating a smooth custard and a warmer custard will cook more evenly.

    What if my custard did not set after pressure cooking?

    If you open your instant pot after pressure cooking and there is still liquid in the center of your custard, don't panic. Replace the foil on the custard cups, place them back in your instant pot, and cook for an additional 2 minutes on high pressure followed by 5 minutes of natural pressure release.

    Can this recipe by doubled?

    Yes! If you would like to double this recipe, simply double the ingredients and carefully stack the custard cups on top of each other in the instant pot. The cooking time will remain the same.

    More Instant Pot Dessert Recipes

    • Instant Pot Lava Cakes
    • Instant Pot Chocolate Cheesecake
    • Instant Pot Cheesecake
    • Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake

    I hope you enjoy this classic, yet easy recipe for Instant Pot Creme Brulee, and I would love for you to share your experience in the comments below. 

    Ramekin with creme brulee topped with fresh raspberries and mint.

    Instant Pot Creme Brulee

    Featuring a rich, creamy custard and a "burnt" sugar topping, Instant Pot Creme Brulee is an easy, yet impressive dessert recipe.
    4.86 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 335kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    For Baked Custard

    • 2 egg yolks (use yolks from large eggs)
    • ¼ fresh vanilla bean pod (scraped) or 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • pinch of sea salt
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream

    For the Caramelized Sugar

    • 2 teaspoons turbinado or Demerara sugar, per custard cup or 1 teaspoon granulated sugar per custard cup
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Prepare your instant pot by placing a trivet in the inner pot and pouring 1.5 cups of cold tap water into the bottom of your pressure cooker.
    • In a large mixing bowl, vigorously whisk together the egg yolks with the vanilla, ¼ cup sugar, and salt until well combined.
    • In a heat-safe measuring cup, heat the heavy cream for 45 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave or until very warm but not boiling. You are looking for a temperature between 155-180 degrees F.
    • Once the cream has been heated, quickly whisk in 1-2 tablespoons of the warm cream to temper the eggs and cream. Slowly whisk in the remaining cream and whisk until well combined and the sugar has dissolved.
    • Divide the cream mixture between three 6-ounce heat-safe ramekins. Cover each ramekin with foil.
    • Place the custard cups on the trivet (stacking on top if you double the recipe) and close the lid, being sure the venting knob is sealed.
    • Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes, using the pressure cook or manual button. Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, do a quick release of any remaining pressure by carefully knocking the venting knob from the sealed to the venting position. Be sure to stand back to prevent yourself from being burned.
    • Remove the lid from the pressure cooker and carefully remove the ramekins from the inner pot. Remove the foil and let the custard cool to room temperature for 30-60 minutes. Once cooled, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days before serving. 
    • Once chilled, remove the custard cups from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature for 15-30 minutes. This will prevent the ramekins from cracking due to extreme temperature changes.
    • Right before serving, top each ramekin with 2 teaspoons of turbinado sugar each (or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar.) Using a kitchen torch, place the flame of the torch about 2 inches above the custard, and in a circular motion, melt the sugar to form a caramelized topping. Alternatively, place the custard cups under a preheated broiler and watch closely until the sugar is browned. Serve immediately.

    Equipment Needed

    • Electric Pressure Cooker (6 or 8 quart)
    • 6-ounce custard cups

    Notes

    Before browning the sugar, it is best to let the creme brulee come to room temperature for 15-30 minutes. This helps the glass custard cups from cracking. Cold glass CAN break when exposed to high heat--while it is very rare, better to be safe.
    Not Cooked? If you open your instant pot and your custard is still liquid in the center, don't panic. Replace the foil on the custard cups, place them back in your instant pot and cook for an additional 2 minutes on high pressure.
    Doubling the Recipe: If you would like to double this recipe, simply double the ingredients and carefully stack the custard cups on top of each other in the instant pot.
    Water Temperature: Remember to use cold water not warm water in the bottom of your instant pot--this helps the instant pot to the proper temperature.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 238mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 72mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1340IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

    This post was originally posted in 2018 but updated in 2021 with a new video. 

    « Instant Pot Chili
    Instant Pot Lava Cakes »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Ali

      February 21, 2021 at 2:21 pm

      I followed the instructions to the T but when I opened the instantpot, all the contents of the ramekins had boiled over into the bottom of the pot. And what was left in each, was very lumpy. Any ideas on what I did wrong?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 22, 2021 at 7:23 am

        Hi Ali. Can I ask what size your ramekins were and if you covered with foil?

        Reply
        • Laurie

          September 11, 2021 at 3:08 pm

          Hi Kristen. I follow Recipe to the tea and the first two times it turned out great and now the last three times all I do is get a boiled mess inside my pot. I’m using 6 ounce ramekins I’ve got my settings on high pressure I’ve gone between less and normal on the instant pot and I do it for seven minutes. Then I let it rest and release naturally for five minutes and I’ll look at it and it’s all boiled over I cannot figure out what I’m doing wrong from the first times I’ve made it. I divide one recipe between four ramikens.

          Reply
          • Kristen Chidsey

            September 12, 2021 at 5:29 pm

            Hi Laurie, I am sorry you are having issues after having success. You need to be cooking on high pressure. You also want to be sure to hear your cream to the right temperature, that may be what is causing the issue.

            Reply
          • Laurie

            September 23, 2021 at 9:13 am

            Hi Kristen. I finally figured out why the ramekins were boiling over. On the Instapot, if you push pressure cook multiple times, their are three settings (normal, more, less). Most recipes just use normal which is where mine has been set. However, the instapot has to be set to “less” for the creme brûlée I bet this is what is happening to the others with this same problem. You may need to revise the instructions to include this. It is still high pressure but with the less highlighted.

            Reply
            • Kristen Chidsey

              September 25, 2021 at 12:58 pm

              Hi Laurie! Thank you for sharing. However, I have tested this recipe at High Pressure with NORMAL lit up. If adjusted to more, that would explain that boiling over. However, if your pot cooks hot, less may be ideal. Can you let me know the model of IP you have so I can further test with different models. I test all my recipes in 3 different IPs, but you may have one I don't. Thanks for your input!

    2. deepti

      December 23, 2020 at 11:15 pm

      5 stars
      I want to try this recipe on Christmas and I dont have time to get ramkin bowls..can I use any daily use bowls like soup bowls or any glass bowls?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 24, 2020 at 7:04 am

        Hi Deepti! Unfortunately, this recipe will not work with soup bowls, as they are not safe to cook at the high temperature of the instant pot. If you have glass bowls that are oven and microwave safe, they may work--but because they would be a different size, the cooking time would change and I don't know how to advise without knowing exact dimensions and practicing myself. Sorry I can't make it work for you in time for Christmas---I hope you still have a wonderful holiday.

        Reply
    3. Saralyn

      May 31, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      I would like to make this recipe for Father's Day in a few weeks. I see the custard calls for 1/4 cup sugar and the topping calls for 1-2 tsp sugar per serving, but it looks like the instructions say to add only 1.5 TB sugar to the custard. Does the topping sugar actually come out of that 1/4 cup listed under custard? Thank you for the recipe! I'm looking forward to trying it!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 31, 2020 at 12:54 pm

        I will clarify--I would use a full 1/4 cup in the custard.

        Reply
    4. dream

      May 10, 2020 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      I made this once, and it was perfect! Thank you so much! Delish! If I double the recipe, what time should I cook it to?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 10, 2020 at 6:14 pm

        The time remains the same--you will just need to stack the ramekins on top of each other. So glad you enjoyed.

        Reply
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    Creme brulee has never been easier to make at home! This recipe for Instant Pot Creme Brulee comes together in minutes and is baked to creamy perfection in the moist heat of the Instant Pot.

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    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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