5 from 2 votes

Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

Host Zoe Francois’ pumpkin creme brulee, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 1.

This is the pumpkin creme brulee I make with my son, Henri, on Zoë Bakes on Magnolia Network after visiting Barten Pumpkins. My Substack Extras subscribers can access a Q&A with the owners of Barten Pumpkins here.

Host Zoe Francois scoops her roasted pumpkin into a food processor, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 1.

It’s so easy to roast your own pumpkins to make this tasty recipe and you can’t beat fresh roasted pumpkin in your fall recipes! Roasting pumpkins intensifies the flavor and just makes it even sweeter.

If you love fall as much as I do, be sure to check out these fall recipe collections I put together: Pumpkin Desserts, Fall Spices, Apple Desserts. You can also check out the apple episode of Zoë Bakes (Season 1) on discovery+ and the Magnolia | Time Well Spent app.

Don’t forget to try my squash and white chocolate scones — also from this episode of Zoë Bakes!

Host Zoe Francois’ pumpkin creme brulee, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 1.
Pumpkin Creme Brulee baked inside mini pumpkins!
Host Zoe Francois’ pumpkin creme brulee, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 1.

Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

Delicious roasted pumpkin crème brûlée is easy to make and so much fun. You can bake it in mini pumpkins if you like and torching it may be the very best part! This makes 8 large or 12 smaller servings.
5 from 2 votes
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Course: Desserts
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (200 grams) lightly packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (56 grams) unsalted butter
  • 3 cups (720 milliliters) heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 8 large egg yolks
  • 1 1/4 cups (281 grams) pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar

Instructions

  • In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, cook the brown sugar and butter together over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon or carefully whisking. The sugar and butter will separate at first, but as the sugar melts it will become easier to blend them together. Cook and stir until the sugar melts and the butter/sugar mixture just starts to brown; it will start to smoke slightly as well.
  • Slowly add the cream, one cup at a time. The hot butter mixture will sputter and seize up as you add the cold cream, so continue to cook until the seized sugar dissolves again. Then add the salt and vanilla bean.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly add some of the hot butterscotch-cream to the yolks as you whisk and adding just enough to warm the yolks slightly. Pour the yolks back into the pot of hot butterscotch-cream and gently whisk to combine. Stir in the pumpkin puree and the pumpkin pie spice. Strain the mixture into another bowl.
  • Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  • Divide the custard into 8 to 12 small ramekins, espresso cups, or teacups. Place them in a roasting pan and fill the pan with hot water so that it comes halfway up the side of the ramekins.(Using cool water will prevent them from baking evenly.) Tent the pan with aluminum foil.
    Host Zoe Francois pour the creme brulee custard into little cups to bake, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 1.
  • Bake until the custards are set, 25 to 40 minutes. This will depend on the temperature of the mixture when you put it in the oven and the size of your containers. It is best to check them after 25 minutes to gauge how much longer they need. Unlike a cake, you can open the oven and check them as often as you like without hurting them. To test if they are done, gently tap the side of each ramekin: If the custard ripples like water, it needs to bake longer. If it moves like set gelatin, then it is done. Be careful not to overbake them or they will be grainy and “eggy.”
    Host Zoe Francois tests to see if her pumpkin creme brulee are done, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 1.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and allow the custards to cool completely in the water bath, then remove them from the pan, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
  • Before serving, sprinkle an even layer of the granulated sugar over each custard. Using a kitchen torch, lightly brown the sugar in a slow, even motion.
    Host Zoe Francois and her son Henri brulee the tops of the pumpkin custards, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 1.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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4 thoughts to “Pumpkin Crème Brûlée”

  1. 5 stars
    I love this brûlée. I used a local pumpkin and made a half recipe with sweet success. I made a mistake by not first puréeing the cooked pumpkin but the recipe was forgiving and the straining took care of that problem. This will be a dessert on my holiday table. Thanks!

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