Champagne Blood Orange Crème Brûlée screams Valentine's Day. From the vibrant red citrus, to the bubbly in the rich and creamy custard, this is a dessert to remember!
This isn't chocolate. And it's perfect for Valentine's Day dessert. What!? 😉
I'm only okay with a non-chocolate dessert (for Valentine's Day, or otherwise), when it's super creamy, rich and delicately flavored with seasonal fruit.
When I was asked to bring a dessert or a bottle of bubbly to my monthly LA food blogger meeting, I decided I wanted to bring the bubbly in a dessert.
And the inspiration for this recipe came from my recent desire to marinate blood orange segments in champagne. I knew it would be beautiful and delicious.
I love the way this Champagne Blood Orange Crème Brûlée recipe evolved.
It developed into creme brûlée because, well, I had to add the creamy and rich elements.
What's in this recipe?
- champagne and blood oranges, of course 😉
- heavy cream
- vanilla beans
- egg yolks
- sugar
How to Make it
-Marinate blood orange segments in champagne and a little sugar.
-Add cream, blood orange zest and vanilla beans and pod to a medium-sized pot and place it on the stove.
I always try to pause to appreciate the beauty of the ingredients.
And whether you make the Champagne-Blood Orange Crème Brûlée for Valentine's Day or not, I hope you love it as much as I do!
More recipes for Valentine's Day:
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Hazelnut Waffles
- Passion Fruit Chocolate Ganache Bars
- Gluten-Free Nutella Brownies
- Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Spicy Mayan Chocolate Truffles
- Flourless Chocolate Kahlúa Cake
Blood Orange-Champagne Crème Brûlée
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons champagne
- ½ cup blood orange segments
- 2½ cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon blood orange zest (from about 4 small oranges)
- 1 vanilla bean
- 8 large egg yolks
- 6 thin, horizontal slices peeled blood orange
- 5 tablespoons plus ½ teaspoon granulated sugar, divided
- about 6 tablespoons super fine granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prep ramekins. Place 6 (6-ounce) ramekins on a baking sheet and set aside.
- Marinate the orange. Place the the blood orange segments in a bowl and add the champagne and ½ teaspoon granulated sugar. Set aside. (Here's how to segment the orange.)
- Scald the cream with the zest and vanilla. Add the cream and blood orange zest to a medium-sized pot and place it on the stove. Use a paring knife to make a slit in the vanilla bean lengthwise, and then use the back of the knife to spread each half open, and scrape all of the beans into the cream. Add the emptied pod to the cream as well.Now turn the heat to medium-high under the pot of cream and scald it -- it should not quite be boiling, and should just have tiny bubbles along the edges.
- Meanwhile, whisk eggs with sugar. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the remaining 5 tablespoons of sugar. Whisk until it's thick and a lighter yellow, about 5 minutes.
- Temper and combine the cream mixture with egg mixture. Turn the heat off of the cream and use a large ladle to add a cup or so of the hot cream to the egg mixture, and whisk it immediately. Repeat this one more time, and then add this to the remaining cream in the pot. Turn the heat to medium-low and whisking constantly, cook until the mixture is thick, about 6 minutes or so. It should coat the back of a spoon and stay there. (Should it look like the mixture is separating - becoming grainy -- quickly and carefully, pour it in a blender and blend. This should bring it back together.) Set aside.
- Assemble. Use a slotted spoon to add about one sixth of the champagne-marinated blood orange segments to each ramekin.Now add 1½ tablespoons of the excess blood orange-champagne juice that's left in the bowl, to the custard and mix.Pour equal amounts of the custard over the blood orange segments in each ramekin. Then very gently press one of the thin blood orange slices on top of each one. Then place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, and ideally overnight.
- Brûlée! When you're ready to serve, sprinkle each one evenly with 1 tablespoon of the super fine sugar. (A sugar shaker is perfect for this.) Then use a small kitchen blow torch to brown the sugar to create a crust. If you don't have the kitchen torch, you can also place them under the broiler, fairly close to the flame, just until they brown, 1 minute or less.
Notes
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Judy at Two Broads Abroad
These were not only a sight to behold but absolutely delicious. Genius.
valentina
Thank you so much, Judy!. 🙂
Lizthechef
Fantastic - I am the anti-chocolate girl (usually) so this is printing for our next dinner party dessert. I bet this would work with Meyer lemon but wouldn't be half as pretty. Pinning like crazy...
valentina
Thanks so much, Liz! Yes, delicious with Meyer lemons! 🙂
Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash
So elegant. So delicious. Thanks for sharing.
valentina
Thank YOU, Patricia! 🙂
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons
I'm a big fan of non-chocolate Valentine's dessert, and this has GOT to be one of the most beautiful creme brulees I've ever seen! I haven't been able to get enough of blood oranges this year, either. OBSESSED.
valentina
Thanks so much, Lori. I can't get enough of any citrus. Best fruit season ever!
Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought.com
Stunning! Scrumptious! Satisfying! What a great dessert.
valentina
What great "S" words! Thank you! 🙂
Christina
I was lucky enough to nab one of these babies at the FBLA meeting and absolutely adored it! This is a perfect Valentine's Day dessert, no matter who you're serving it to! Love your pics, too!
valentina
Thanks so much, Christina! xo
David
More and more as I get older, citrus desserts appeal to me much more than chocolate. Go figure. This one rocks!
valentina
I can't get enough citrus (or chocolate)!
DessertForTwo
I just saw this in the FBHEO facebook group, and I had to click over! Wow, so beautiful! Pinned!
valentina
Thanks for clicking over! And for pinning. Very much appreciated!
Laura | Wandercooks
If only blood oranges came in love heart shapes... Just kidding! These look incredible, and anything drenched in champagne has gotta be good. Now you've given me the perfect excuse to go out and get that kitchen torch I've been wanting for ages. Thank you! <3
valentina
Oh yes, you must have a torch! 🙂 Enjoy!
Renee
Creme Brulee is the dessert that will make me order dessert when I don't need dessert. No chocolate necessary, unless it's a chocolate creme brulee. Beautiful dessert!
valentina
Thanks so much, Renee. There are only certain desserts worth ordering, I agree. 🙂
Brianne @ Natural Girl Modern World
I love creme brulee and blood oranges, but have never thought of putting the two together! Thanks for sharing!!
valentina
And thank you for checking out my recipe!
Claudia | Gourmet Project
Wow! What a beautiful, delicious, gourmet recipe. Thanks for sharing, I oove the champagne touch ?
valentina
Thanks so much, Claudia! 🙂
Immaculate
I need to go on a hunt for blood oranges this weekend!! These look delicious and I especially love how you incorporate champagne with the blood oranges!
valentina
Thank you! You should see them in most markets this time of year. Enjoy & Happy Valentine's Day!
Jillian @ Food, Folks and Fun
This looks like a fabulous dessert. Creme Brulee is my all-time favorite and the addition of blood orange sounds divine!
valentina
Thanks so much Jillian! Hope you try it & Happy Valentine's Day!
Sammi
After pouring the mixture into the ramekins why do you place them in the fridge instead of the oven?
valentina
The custard is already cooked on the stove -- it then goes int he refrigerator to set up and become firm. 🙂
Roshani Khanna
Mmmmmm…..yum. This looks totally amazing. I’m just starring at the screen looking at how delicious they look. Thank you for sharing your recipe 🙂 will definitely give this a try!
valentina
Hi Roshani, Thanks so much! Hope you try it and love it! 🙂
Claudia Ospina
surprised that they are not baked
I have to try them they look so good😋yummmm
Thank you for sharing
valentina
Thanks so much. Hope you love them as much as I do. 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
Champagne soaked blood oranges!? Now you've got my attention! I love a good blood orange, and we've been known to drink a bottle or two of champagne on occasion. This dessert sounds amazing...and perfect for Valentine's Day, too!
valentina
Thanks, David. Happy Valentine's Day! 🙂 ~Valentina
Kim Lange
This is so stunning! Has all the 'wow' factors to impress! Pinning! xo
valentina
Thank you, Kim. Happy Valentine's Day! 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef
Those desserts look so cool. I've never had a champagne creme brulee.
valentina
Hope you try and love it. Thanks, Jeff. 🙂 ~Valentina