Bake The Ultimate Fall Crème Brûlée With One Added Spice Blend

Where else can you find comfort, indulgence, and elegance all at once like with crème brûlée? You crack that caramelized top, the spoon sinking into its silken, creamy center, and it's pure magic right from the start. Then comes the custardy sweetness laced with hints of vanilla and a burnt-sugar warmth — it's all undeniably irresistible. No need to stop there when you can also make changes to give this familiar dessert an exciting edge in the colder seasons. Adding a chai spice blend is the perfect way to embrace fall and winter nostalgia and aromatic warmth with not much extra effort.

From inclusion in steaming hot lattes to crème brûlées, chai spices can be trusted to impart complexity of flavor. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves give this spice blend its exquisitely warm base, freckled with nutty, floral, sweet, and peppery nuances. It's a subtle thrill woven into a richly sweet crème brûlée; each bite more intriguing than the previous thanks to the everchanging flavor notes. Layered over that and lingering softly in the aftertaste is the spice blend's aroma — a perfect way to evoke fall's quintessential coziness. The dessert is still what you know and love at its core, only coaxed with an enchanting spiced spell that balances sophistication with seasonal delight.

Adding chai spices to a classic crème brûlée recipe takes barely one extra step. It's as simple as sprinkling a chai spice mix straight in as you're simmering the crème anglaise base. To make your own blend, mix a teaspoon each of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger powder, with a half teaspoon each of ground nutmeg and cloves, plus some fennel seeds, and grind together. You can also just steep chai black tea bags in the warming cream. Once done, pour the steeped liquid base into the whisked eggs, combine, and divide into ramekins. As usual, prepare a water bath before baking in a low oven for around 30 minutes. After about an hour to set and cool in the fridge, blow torch a sprinkling of sugar over the top, and your chai crème brûlées should be ready. You can get a kitchen torch like this Sondiko butane torch for under $20 online.

Fall elements, of course, are more than just chai spice. They can also be found in other ingredients, many of which work like a charm as a garnish for crème brûlée. How about a textural contrast with chopped nuts, where each spoonful is velvety smooth juxtaposed with delicious crunch? Fall fruits, such as apples, pears, and figs offer a beautiful sweet-tart melody and give the crème brûlée an appetizing appearance. If nothing else, cinnamon sticks and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon will lend the dish quintessential fall flair.