Classic Creme Brûlée turned Keto! Creamy vanilla custard baked and brûléed with a sweet and crispy top!
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Jump to:
- ❤️ Why You'll Love this Sugar Free Creme Brûlée
- 🛒 What's in Sugar-Free Creme Brûlée
- 🔪 How to Make Keto Creme Brûlée
- How to Caramelize Sugar for Crème Brûlée without a Blowtorch?
- How Many Carbs are in Sugar-free Crème Brûlée?
- How Many Calories are in Sugar-free Crème Brûlée?
- What is the Difference Between Baked Custard and Crème Brûlée?
- Can You Make Keto Creme Brûlée Ahead of Time?
- Tips for Making the Best Keto Creme Brûlée
- More Keto and Low Carb Desserts
❤️ Why You'll Love this Sugar Free Creme Brûlée
- Perfectly smooth and velvety creamy texture
- Rich vanilla flavor
- Crisp sweet topping, just like traditional creme brûlée
- Incredibly easy to make
If you’ve never made Creme Brûlée before because you were intimidated, give this recipe a try. This Keto creme brûlée is much easier than you think and it tastes every bit as decadent as the original version!
If you have never had creme brûlée it before, think smooth and creamy custard gently baked with a sugary crunchy hard shell topping. This is a very gourmet Keto dessert, but without all the carbs!
Now of course we're keeping it Keto so instead of sugar, I brûlée the top with Swerve granular and it worked just as well as regular sugar!
🛒 What's in Sugar-Free Creme Brûlée
- Heavy cream
- Swerve confectioners
- Swerve granular
- Eggs
- Vanilla bean paste
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
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🔪 How to Make Keto Creme Brûlée
Boil about 1-2 quarts (depending on the size of your baking pan) of water and have it ready to use for the water bath.
Preheat oven to 300F.
Add the heavy cream to a saucepan and turn on medium high. Heat until you see tiny bubbles forming around the edges, but do not boil.
As the cream is heating up, add the eggs and ½ cup Swerve in a bowl.
Whisk until well combined.
Once the cream is ready, remove from the heat and slowly pour into the egg and Swerve mixture, whisking the entire time.
Mix in the vanilla bean paste (or extract) and once combined, pour into 6 ramekins and set inside an oven safe pan.
Tip: If you don't have vanilla bean paste, you can use the scrapings from a vanilla bean or use double the amount of vanilla extract.
Pour the boiling water in the pan, about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Carefully place in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the custard slightly jiggles when shaken.
Remove the ramekins and leave at room temperature for 15 minutes, then place in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours or until set.
Note: You will have 4 egg whites leftover from this recipe. You can use them to make my Keto Mocha Meringue Cookies.
Once ready to serve, sprinkle about 2 ½ teaspoons of the Swerve granular over the top of each ramekin. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the Swerve and allow to sit for 2 minutes until the Swerve hardens.
How to Caramelize Sugar for Crème Brûlée without a Blowtorch?
If you don't have a torch, you can use your broiler for about 1-2 minutes, watch closely not to burn it.
How Many Carbs are in Sugar-free Crème Brûlée?
There are only 4 carbs in a serving of this Keto Creme Brûlée.
How Many Calories are in Sugar-free Crème Brûlée?
In this low carb Creme Brûlée there are 447 calories.
What is the Difference Between Baked Custard and Crème Brûlée?
The main difference is the caramelized sweetener on the very top, only creme brûlée has it.
Can You Make Keto Creme Brûlée Ahead of Time?
Another beautiful thing about this luxurious Keto dessert is you can make the custard part of the recipe the night before or even a couple days before you'll serve it.
Because you want to keep the sugary top crispy, you can brûlée the top right beforehand.
Tips for Making the Best Keto Creme Brûlée
Keeping the Flavors of Creme Brûlée Fresh
When storing creme brûlée or any type of custard in the fridge, you'll want to make sure it's wrapped really well with plastic wrap. The pure and simple flavors of the creamy custard can pick up the flavor of other things that are stored in the fridge next to it when left uncovered.
Why Does Creme Brûlée Need to Be Cooked in a Water Bath?
In order to prevent curdling or cracking, the proteins in the eggs in Keto creme brûlée are very heat sensitive and need to be gentle, humid heat. The water bath ensures the eggs stay soft and silky smooth.
Can You Freeze Creme Brûlée?
You actually can freeze it. Allow your creme brûlée to come to room temperature, double wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for up to a couple of months.
Thaw it slowly overnight in the fridge. But again, wait to brûlée the top until right before you're ready to serve it.
What Sweetener is Best for Sugar-Free Creme Brûlée?
This recipe uses Swerve confectioners sugar substitute in the custard part of this recipe. Recently, I've experimented with Allulose and have been pleasantly surprised with the results. It also taste very much like traditional sugar.
I don't notice a cooling effect, like many other Keto sweeteners have. If that's what you have on hand, you can certainly use it for the custard. But to brûlée the top, I recommend using with granular Swerve or erythritol.
What Flavorings are Best for Keto Creme Brûlée?
You can easily change up the flavors of this sugar free creme brûlée by using different extracts. Coconut, banana and maple extracts are some of my favorite flavors.
During the holidays, give this sweet, creamy and delicious Keto Pumpkin Creme Brûlée a try. Your guests will be amazed!
How to Tell When Sugar-Free Creme Brûlée is Done
There are a couple of things you can do to ensure you don't undercook your creme brûlée. After all, nothing is more frustrating than wasting time and ingredients for a dessert that flops! No worries, I've got you covered with these tips:
- You can use a instant read thermometer to check for doneness. Fully cooked custard should be 170 degrees F.
- The top of the creme brulee will have an even glossy surface, without any wet looking spots in the center.
- If you don't have a thermometer, that's okay. You can tell it's done when it still has a slight jiggle in the center when you move it around. Keep in mind, it will continue to firm up as it cools. However, when you move it around if the outer edges jiggle, it’s not ready yet.
More Keto and Low Carb Desserts
- Almond Joy Fudge
- Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
- Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
- Mixed Berry Crumble
- Lemon Mascarpone Tart
If you'd like to know more about baking on Keto, this article, Keto Baking Made Easy, is loaded with tips and info that you'll find helpful. You might also check out my Keto Sweet Treats eBook that has 50 amazing Keto dessert recipes, all with color pics, macros and more! I'm offering it at 50% off when you subscribe to my free weekly emails here.
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Keto Creme Brûlée (Sugar Free)
RECIPE VIDEO
Ingredients
- 3 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup swerve confectioners
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 whole egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste, (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons swerve granular
Instructions
- Boil about 1-2 quarts (depending on the size of your baking pan) of water and have it ready to use for the water bath.
- Preheat oven to 300F.
- Add the heavy cream to a saucepan and turn on medium high. Heat until you see tiny bubbles forming around the edges, but do not boil.
- Once the cream is ready, remove from the heat and slowly pour into the egg and swerve mixture, whisking the entire time. Mix in the vanilla bean paste (or extract) and once combined, pour into 6 ramekins and set inside an oven safe pan.
- Pour the boiling water in the pan, about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Carefully place in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the custard slightly jiggles when shaken. Remove the ramekins and leave at room temperature for 15 minutes, then place in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours or until set.
- Once ready to serve, sprinkle about 2 ½ teaspoons of the swerve granular over the top of each ramekin. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the swerve and allow to sit for 2 minutes until the swerve hardens. if you don't have a torch, you can use your broiler for about 1-2 minutes, watch closely not to burn it. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.
*Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.
© Copyright for Keto Cooking Christian LLC. Please use the share buttons to share on social media, but please do not copy/paste the recipe.
Rate this Recipe*Originally published on May 2, 2018, updated on March 19, 2021 with new photos, new video and helpful tips.
ALICE MORGENWECK
I'm looking forward to trying this! your recipes are amazing 👏
God bless!
Keto Cooking Christian
Thank you so much.
Michele
Love Creme Brûlée and look forward to trying this! Question!! How would Allulose work for the topping and browning with a kitchen torch or under the broiler?
Keto Cooking Christian
Allulose would likely not work, as it does not crisp up like Swerve/erythritol does. Allulose is best in recipes that you want be be chewy, like cookies, or not crystallize, like ice cream. So you can use allulose in the custard itself, but definitely use an erythritol-based sweetener for the topping. I hope you do give it a try!
Mike
If swerve has 3 carbs per tsp then a half cup has over 70 carbs. That seems high enough to me as a 40 year diabetic. With 3 carbs per tsp how is it 0 calories if 1 carb has 4 calories. There should be 12 calories per tsp no?
Keto Cooking Christian
The carbohydrates in Swerve come from erythritol and oligosaccharides and are not fully metabolized by the body, which is why it does not contribute to calorie intake or affect blood sugar levels like regular carbohydrates. Even though it technically contains carbohydrates, they are not absorbed in the body the same way. If you have other questions about Swerve and how the nutrition is calculated, here is their website that may help you: https://swervesweet.com/
Dorinda
Crème Brûlée is my alltime favorite dessert.
Keto Cooking Christian
Mine too, and with this recipe, you can enjoy it guilt-free.
Sarah Webber
I can't have any dairy. So I took the same amount of unsweetened Almond milk and a bit of xanthan gum to mimic the thick, creamy texture of cream. It was an experiment and I did not proceed until the Almond milk was the consistency of cream. It worked and now I have something akin to Creme Brûlée. Thank you for giving me the inspiration and a great recipe.
Keto Cooking Christian
You are so welcome. I am so glad you were able to make a dairy-free version.
Rachel
Hi, I noticed the recipe calls for 3 TBSP of granulated swerve, but only sprinkling 2 1/2 tsp on top before broiling. Where does the rest go? Looking forward to having this tonight for my mother-in-law’s birthday!
Keto Cooking Christian
You sprinkle about 2 1/2 teaspoons of the Swerve granular over each ramekin. I hope you both enjoy it!
Leona Boswell Pardo
i eat really clean, so with the torch, doesn't it get the gas on the dessert.
Keto Cooking Christian
I really can't speak about all torches. But if you are looking at getting one, you'll want a kitchen torch, like a butane torch, because butane gas is pure alkane that burns cleanly and doesn't leave byproducts on your food.
Lynn
Five minutes in instant pot
Keto Cooking Christian
I have not tested this particular recipe in the IP so I can't say for sure how it would work. But it sounds like something worth trying for sure.
DASHA HERVEY
I was really wanting a decadent Keto dessert and this was so satisfying. I did edit the recipe by using 3 tsp. of vanilla and used a 1/2 cup of monkfruit sugar w/xylitol. It was better the next day after sitting in frig for night. Perfectly creamy, dense, and silky. I was not able to create a crisp sugar layer as I didn't have Swerve. I also baked these in a water bath in larger, 6" diam. ramekins for the same amount of time. Will hands down make a gain. Ridicously easy.
Keto Cooking Christian
I am so glad you enjoyed it The water bath is key for them to turn out perfect every time.
Jules
Would this work in a rectangular pyrex dish rather than individual servings? Looks delicious!!
Keto Cooking Christian
Honestly, I've never tried that before. I imagine the cooking time would increase greatly, but I'm not even sure it would give you the right texture.
René’ Robelin
I’ve been wanting to make low carb Creme Brûlée for months and finally purchased ramekins and a culinarily torch. These turned out amazing! I experimented with different low carb sweeteners for the caramelized topping and liked Swerve the best- the topping hardened but was easy to break up and enjoy with each bite. Lakanto (monk fruit and Erythritol blend) was a decent option as was the Inulin. Avoid Allulose for caramelizing; it turned chewy and got stuck in my teeth. Check out the photos below in the comments.
Keto Cooking Christian
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
Rene Robelin
I just purchased 6 ounce ramekins and a torch and am so excited to make this! I just have one question- do you know the size of the ramekins this recipe was designed for to make the 6 servings? Thank you!
Debbie
I wonder what the cook time would be in an Instant Pot?
Keto Cooking Christian
I've never made it in the IP, so I'm honestly not sure.
Lynn
Made this for my boyfriend & it’s now one of his favorite desserts!!
Keto Cooking Christian
Yay, so nice to hear that! It's actually my husband's absolute favorite dessert that I make 🙂
Denise
This was delicious! I would definitely make it again.
Keto Cooking Christian
Awesome, glad you liked it!
Jill A Parks
If we go by the recipe at 6 servings, then the carb count is correct. But you state in the instructions that there are only 4 (pour into 4 ramekins), which makes the net carbs 5.7. Clarify?
Keto Cooking Christian
Hi Jill,
The typical ramekin is more shallow than what I used, so the recipe will serve 6. If you make them in 4 as I did, they will be a bit too much for one person to consume. I recently made them again using 6 servings and the amount for each person was perfect.
Jonathan Ross
Too much to consume? Challenge accepted!
Thanks for the recipe. I don’t cheat on the whole keto thing, so this is legit.
Great Work!
Keto Cooking Christian
Awesome, glad you enjoyed it!
Rod Wal
This Creme Brûlée is hands down my all time favorite desert! If you have not already tried this recipe, add it to your bucket list, and just try it. I could eat one every night.
Keto Cooking Christian
Hi Rod,
Glad you liked the creme brûlée, it's one of my favorites too!
Tammy
Do you think this would work with Xylitol?
Keto Cooking Christian
Honestly, I've never used it before. I have a dog so I never bring it in my house since it's toxic to dogs. I'm betting it probably would work, if you ground it to a fine powder for the custard and keep it granular to brûlée on top.
Pat Lynn
Do you have the macros for this recipe?
Keto Cooking Christian
Hi Pat,
Yes, I've included them for 6 servings.