Crème brulée, the French vanilla custard with a caramelized sugar crust, is one of my all-time favorite treats. If it's on a restaurant's dessert menu, then I can't help but order it. And sometimes, for a special occasion, I'll make it at home.

It's not that difficult to make; the technique is similar to homemade ice cream, but instead of putting the mixture in an ice cream maker, it's baked in a bath of water. It requires time to chill, so plan in advance, especially when entertaining.

I love how such simple ingredients (cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla bean) can be transformed into something that's absolutely sublime and truly sophisticated. Ready to learn how it's done?