Crème Brûlée Cookies are a delightful fusion of two beloved treats: the rich, creamy custard of crème brûlée and the comforting texture of a sugar cookie. These cookies feature a chewy, buttery sugar cookie base topped with a luscious vanilla pastry cream and finished with a crispy caramelized sugar topping. The result is a dessert that captures the essence of the classic French dessert in a portable, bite-sized form. Perfect for special occasions or as a sweet indulgence, these cookies offer a sophisticated flavor profile that's sure to impress.

Ingredients

For the Vanilla Pastry Cream

• 2¼ cups (540 ml) whole milk
  
  

• 6 large egg yolks
  
  

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp (225 g) granulated white sugar
  
  

• ⅛ tsp salt
  
  

• 1½ tbsp vanilla bean paste
  
  

• 3½ tbsp (28 g) cornstarch
  
  

• 3 tbsp (42 g) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  
  

For the Sugar Cookies

• 2½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  
  

• ½ tsp baking powder
  
  

• ½ tsp salt
  
  

• 1¼ cups (250 g) granulated white sugar
  
  

• 1 cup (224 g) unsalted butter, softened
  
  

• 1 large egg
  
  

• 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
  
  

• ½ cup (100 g) granulated white sugar (for rolling the dough in)
  
  

• ½ cup (100 g) granulated white sugar (for the brûlée topping)
  
  

Directions

For the Vanilla Pastry Cream

1. Heat the Milk: In a medium saucepan, heat the whole milk over medium-low heat just until it begins to steam.
   
   

2. Prepare the Egg Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, salt, vanilla bean paste, and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth and pale yellow.
   
   

3. Temper the Egg Mixture: Slowly add about ¼ of the hot milk to the egg mixture while whisking vigorously. Then, gradually add the remaining milk, continuing to whisk to prevent curdling.
   
   

4. Cook the Mixture: Transfer the mixture back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and soft peaks form, approximately 8–12 minutes.
   
   

5. Finish the Pastry Cream: Remove from heat and stir in the cubed butter until fully incorporated. Transfer the pastry cream to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until completely chilled.
   
   

For the Sugar Cookies

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
   
   

2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
   
   

3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1¼ cups of granulated sugar using an electric mixer on high speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
   
   

4. Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the egg and vanilla bean paste to the butter mixture, mixing on medium speed until well combined.
   
   

5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the dough comes together.
   
   

6. Shape the Cookies: Scoop the dough using a large cookie scoop and roll each portion into a ball. Roll each ball in the remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar to coat.
   
   

7. Bake the Cookies: Place the sugar-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 9 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
   
   

Assembling the Cookies

1. Top with Pastry Cream: Once the cookies have cooled, pipe or spoon a generous amount of chilled vanilla pastry cream onto the center of each cookie.
   
   

2. Caramelize the Sugar: Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar over the pastry cream on each cookie. Using a kitchen torch, carefully melt and caramelize the sugar until it forms a golden-brown, crispy topping.
   
   

3. Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes after torching to let the caramelized sugar set. Serve and enjoy the delightful contrast of textures and flavors.
   
   

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: Approximately 250 kcal
  
  

• Total Fat: 14g
  
  

• Saturated Fat: 8g
  
  

• Cholesterol: 55mg
  
  

• Sodium: 95mg
  
  

• Total Carbohydrates: 31g
  
  

• Dietary Fiber: <1g
  
  

• Sugars: 18g
  
  

• Protein: 2g