Luxurious Creme Brulee Cookies Recipe: Sweet Golden Bliss

Delicate creme brulee cookies blend the creamy elegance of classic French dessert with a delightful crisp texture.

Sweet memories dance across your palate with each delectable bite.

Classic pastry techniques merge seamlessly with innovative baking approaches.

Caramelized sugar creates a golden crackle reminiscent of traditional creme brulee’s signature top.

Butter, vanilla, and delicate cream notes harmonize in this irresistible treat.

Professional bakers and home cooks alike will adore these sophisticated cookies.

Crack through the caramelized surface and discover pure culinary magic waiting just for you.

Creme Brulee Cookies Overview

• Conquer Complex Flavors: Transform the classic French dessert into a delightful cookie that brings sophisticated taste to your baking adventure without needing professional pastry skills.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: These cookies blend familiar comfort with gourmet elegance, making them perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or surprising guests with a unique sweet treat.
• Master Impressive Technique: Learn the art of caramelizing sugar with a kitchen torch, adding a professional touch that elevates these cookies from ordinary to extraordinary and impresses everyone around you.
• Customize with Ease: Experiment with different vanilla extracts or adjust sugar coating techniques to make these cookies uniquely yours, allowing personal creativity in the kitchen.

Ingredients for Creme Brulee Cookies

• Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps create a tender cookie texture.
• Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Contribute sweetness and help with cookie caramelization.
• All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base structure of the cookie.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds moisture.

• Cornstarch: Helps create a softer, more delicate cookie texture.
• Baking Soda: Assists in cookie rising and browning.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor balance.

• Cream Cheese: Creates a smooth, tangy base for the frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps thicken the frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth of flavor to both cookie and frosting.
• Granulated Sugar: Used for caramelizing the cookie topping.

Instructions for Creme Brulee Cookies

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350°F. Grab two cookie sheets and line them with parchment paper for smooth cookie magic.

Step 2: Whip Up the Base

• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar

Whip these ingredients until they transform into a fluffy cloud-like mixture.

This takes about 3-4 minutes of mixing power.

Step 3: Bring in the Moisture

Drop in the egg and vanilla extract.

Mix thoroughly so every bit of the batter gets coated with delicious flavor.

Step 4: Create the Dry Blend

• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Baking soda
• Kosher salt

Gently fold this dry mix into the wet ingredients.

Stir until just combined – no over-mixing allowed!

Step 5: Shape and Bake the Cookies

Use a cookie scoop to create perfect dough balls.

Place them on the prepared sheets and give each a gentle press. Slide the sheets into the oven and bake until edges turn a light golden brown, around 9-10 minutes.

Let them rest on the sheets for 2-3 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.

Step 6: Craft the Creamy Frosting

Beat cream cheese until silky smooth.

Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Mix until the frosting becomes perfectly creamy with zero lumps.

Step 7: Dress the Cookies

Pour granulated sugar into a small bowl. Spread a tablespoon of frosting on each cooled cookie.

Roll the frosted top in sugar for a delightful coating.

Step 8: Torch and Transform

Grab a kitchen torch and carefully caramelize the sugar-topped frosting.

Wait for the sugar to cool and harden, creating that classic creme brulee crackle. Serve and enjoy your decadent creation!

Expert Tips for Creme Brulee Cookies

• Sift dry ingredients carefully to prevent lumps and ensure even distribution of baking soda and salt throughout the dough.
• Cream butter and sugars thoroughly for at least 3-4 minutes to create a light, airy cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
• Avoid overmixing the dough after adding dry ingredients to maintain a soft, tender cookie consistency.
• Use a kitchen torch carefully when caramelizing the sugar topping, keeping the flame moving to prevent burning and achieve an even golden-brown crust.
• Chill the cookies briefly after frosting to help the sugar adhere better and create a more stable caramelized top.

Variations on Creme Brulee Cookies

• Gluten-Free Cookie Variation: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and ensure cornstarch is certified gluten-free for celiac-friendly cookies.
• Vegan Creme Brulee Cookie Adaptation: Substitute butter with coconut oil, replace egg with a flax egg, use vegan cream cheese, and swap granulated sugar with coconut sugar for plant-based friendly version.
• Chocolate Infused Version: Mix cocoa powder into the dry ingredients and replace vanilla extract with dark chocolate extract to create a rich chocolate undertone in the cookies.
• Citrus Zest Upgrade: Incorporate lemon or orange zest into the cookie dough and frosting to introduce a bright, refreshing citrus flavor profile that complements the caramelized sugar topping.

Pairing Suggestions for Creme Brulee Cookies

• Select a sweet Sauternes or late-harvest Riesling to complement the caramelized sugar and creamy frosting, creating a luxurious flavor harmony that echoes the creme brulee cookie's delicate profile.
• Brew a rich espresso or smooth medium-roast coffee to balance the cookie's sweetness, with the coffee's robust notes cutting through the creamy texture and enhancing the caramelized sugar's depth.
• Serve alongside a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to amplify the cookie's classic creme brulee essence, allowing the cool creaminess to contrast with the crisp caramelized sugar topping.

Storage Advice for Creme Brulee Cookies

• Refrigerate Carefully: Store cookies in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper. Keep chilled for up to 3 days to maintain texture and prevent frosting from melting.
• Freeze for Future Enjoyment: Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, place in freezer-safe container, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
• Reheating Gently: Warm cookies briefly in oven at 300°F for 2-3 minutes to restore slight crispness. Avoid microwave to prevent softening the caramelized sugar topping.
• Restore Caramel Crunch: If sugar topping loses crispness, quickly torch surface again just before serving to recreate the classic creme brûlée crackling effect.

FAQs

• Why use cornstarch in this recipe?

Cornstarch helps create a tender, soft cookie texture by interfering with gluten formation and providing a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth quality to the cookies.

• Can I make these cookies without a kitchen torch?

Yes, you can use your oven’s broiler setting. Place cookies on a baking sheet and broil for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning, to achieve the caramelized sugar effect.

• How do I know when the cookies are perfectly baked?

Look for slightly golden edges and a soft center. The cookies will continue to set as they cool, so avoid overbaking to maintain their soft texture.

Creme Brulee Cookies Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Luxurious creme brulee cookies blend French pastry elegance with classic American cookie charm. Caramelized sugar tops buttery shortbread, creating a delightful dessert you’ll crave with afternoon tea or coffee.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 large egg
• 190 g (6.7 oz) unsalted butter (softened)
• 100 g (3.5 oz) brown sugar (firmly packed)
• 100 g (3.5 oz) granulated sugar
• 250 g (8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
• 15 ml (0.5 fl oz) pure vanilla extract
• 10 g (0.35 oz) cornstarch
• 5 g (0.18 oz) baking soda
• 1.25 g (0.04 oz) kosher salt
• 225 g (7.9 oz) cream cheese (softened)
• 155 g (5.5 oz) powdered sugar
• 5 ml (0.17 fl oz) pure vanilla extract
• 50 g (1.8 oz) granulated sugar (for caramelizing)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and arrange parchment paper on two cookie sheets to prevent sticking during baking.
2. Using an electric mixer, whip butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
3. Blend egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, ensuring even distribution for consistent flavor throughout the dough.
4. Sift flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and kosher salt in a separate bowl, then gradually fold into the wet ingredients until a thick dough forms, being careful not to overmix.
5. Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto prepared sheets, gently flattening each one. Bake for 9-10 minutes until edges turn golden brown.
6. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to complete cooling process.
7. Whip cream cheese until smooth, then incorporate powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until frosting becomes completely uniform.
8. Spread approximately one tablespoon of frosting on each cooled cookie, then delicately press the frosted surface into granulated sugar for even coating.
9. Immediately before serving, use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar-coated frosting, creating a crisp, glassy surface reminiscent of traditional creme brûlée.
10. Let caramelized cookies cool completely to ensure the sugar topping hardens to a delicate, crackling texture.

Notes

• Ensure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smooth, even mixing that prevents lumpy textures and ensures consistent cookie quality.
• Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients carefully to maintain a light, tender cookie structure and prevent tough, dense results.
• If you don’t have a kitchen torch, place cookies under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning the sugar coating.
• Swap regular flour with gluten-free blend and use dairy-free cream cheese and butter alternatives to create allergen-friendly versions of these indulgent cookies.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 183
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 75 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 0.3 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg