Crema Catalana
Lemon and cinnamon scented custard with a crisp burnt sugar top.
- Time50 mins plus chilling
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.40 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Warm the milk with the lemon zest and cinnamon until steaming. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes, then strain.
15 min - 2
Whisk the yolks, sugar and cornflour in a bowl until pale.
- 3
Slowly whisk in the warm milk. Pour back into the pan and stir over a low heat for 5 to 8 minutes until it coats the back of a spoon.
7 min - 4
Pour into 4 shallow dishes and chill for at least 4 hours.
- 5
Sprinkle the sugar on top. Melt it with a kitchen blowtorch, or under a very hot grill, until dark gold. Let it set for 2 minutes before serving.
2 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.