Crema Catalana is one of the world’s most beloved spoon-desserts: creamy, fragrant, and defined by its unique crunchy sugar crust. Thanks to this guide, you will learn how to prepare a superb Crema Catalana with your Thermomix in just a few minutes, achieving professional results right in your own kitchen.
Start by inserting the Butterfly whisk into the Thermomix mixing bowl. Add the milk, room temperature egg yolks, granulated sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Mix for 15 seconds at Speed 3.
Add the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick (broken into large pieces for easy removal). For a milder flavor, use only a single strip of lemon zest. Set the Thermomix to cook for 12 minutes at 90°C (195°F) at Speed 2.
Carefully remove the lemon peel and cinnamon stick. Pour the hot custard into ceramic ramekins or traditional shallow terracotta dishes. Allow to cool to room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator for 2-3 hours until perfectly set.
Just before serving, create the signature crispy topping. Sprinkle the surface of the custard with brown sugar. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar until it turns golden brown and crunchy. Alternatively, place the ramekins under a very hot oven broiler for a few minutes (be careful: this method will slightly warm the custard).
If using a kitchen torch, remove the custard from the fridge 30 minutes before serving so it is cool but not ice-cold. If using the broiler, take it out at the very last second.
You can prepare the custard base a day in advance, but only caramelize the sugar right before serving to prevent the humidity from softening the crust.
