Recipes › Ornamental Pumpkin (Squash) › Mini Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
Mini Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
Individual ornamental pumpkins transformed into the most theatrical dessert on any fall table — rich pumpkin custard set inside the pumpkin shell itself, finished with a crackling caramelized sugar top. Uses edible mini varieties as natural ramekins. Extraordinary for dinner parties.
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Ingredients
- 4 small edible ornamental pumpkins, tops sliced off, seeds scooped out, scraped cleanBaby Boo or Jack-Be-Little varieties recommended
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 5 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup granulated sugar, plus 4 tsp for brûlée topping
- ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.13 tsp salt
Contains: eggs, milk.
Method
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Place hollowed pumpkins in a deep baking dish. Pre-bake for 15 minutes to firm up the shells.About 18 min
- Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until just steaming — do not boil. Remove from heat.About 5 min
- Whisk egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt in a bowl. Slowly pour in warm cream while whisking constantly to temper.About 3 min
- Pour custard into pre-baked pumpkin shells, filling to 1/2 inch from the top. Pour 1 inch of hot water into the baking dish around the pumpkins.About 3 min
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until custard is set with a slight wobble in the center. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.About 40 min
- Just before serving, sprinkle 1 tsp sugar evenly over each custard. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize until amber and crackling.About 3 min
Tips
- Tempering — adding hot liquid slowly to eggs — prevents scrambling; don't rush this step
- The water bath ensures gentle, even heat that sets the custard smoothly
- Torch the sugar immediately before serving so the crust stays crisp
Ring the changes
- Add 1 tbsp bourbon to the custard for a smoky depth
- Use brown sugar for the brûlée top for a deeper, more complex caramel
Keeping it
Refrigerate custard-filled pumpkins for up to 2 days before brûléeing. Once torched, serve immediately.
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