Description
A decadent Crème Brûlée Cocktail that blends vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, and a brûléed sugar garnish for a taste of the classic dessert in a glass.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 oz Vanilla Vodka
- 1 oz Crème de Cacao (white)
- 1 oz Heavy Cream
- ½ oz Simple Syrup
- Pinch of Sea Salt
- Optional: A few drops of Vanilla Extract (if your vanilla vodka isn’t strong enough)
- Garnish: Sugar for brûléeing, Orange Peel
Instructions
- Chill Your Glass: Freeze a coupe or martini glass for at least 15 minutes.
- Combine Ingredients: In a cocktail shaker, combine vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, heavy cream, simple syrup, and sea salt. Add vanilla extract if needed.
- Add Ice: Fill the shaker ¾ full with ice.
- Shake Vigorously: Shake for 15-20 seconds.
- Double Strain: Strain into the chilled glass using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh sieve.
- Prepare Brûléed Sugar Garnish: Lightly dampen the rim of the glass with water or simple syrup. Sprinkle a thin, even layer of granulated sugar around the entire rim of the glass.
- Brûlée the Sugar: Using a kitchen torch, hold the flame a few inches away from the sugar. Move the torch slowly and evenly around the rim, allowing the sugar to melt and caramelize. Aim for a beautiful golden-brown color.
- Let it Cool: Let the sugar cool and harden for a minute or two before serving.
- Garnish with Orange Peel: Express an orange peel over the cocktail, rub it around the rim, and drape it over the rim as a garnish.
- Serve Immediately: Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Use high-quality vanilla vodka.
- Adjust simple syrup to taste.
- Don’t skip the sea salt!
- For a dairy-free option, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or cashew cream.
- If you don’t have crème de cacao, you can substitute it with a chocolate liqueur or even a small amount of chocolate syrup.
- For a spicy twist, add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cocktail shaker.
- For a coffee-inspired crème brûlée cocktail, infuse your vanilla vodka with coffee beans for a few hours before making the cocktail.
- Make sure your kitchen torch is filled with butane and that the flame is strong enough. Also, ensure that the sugar is evenly distributed on the rim of the glass. If the sugar is too thick, it will take longer to brûlée and may burn in some spots.
- Reduce the amount of simple syrup if the cocktail is too sweet. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice to balance the sweetness.
- Add a few more drops of vanilla extract if the cocktail is not vanilla-y enough. You can also try using a different brand of vanilla vodka.
- Make sure you’re not over-shaking the cocktail. Shaking for too long will dilute the drink. Also, use plenty of ice in the shaker if the cocktail is too watery.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes