National Creme Brûlée Day
On July 27, Crème brûlée Day is observed to celebrate one of the oldest desserts in the world.
This delightful French dessert that has captured multiple hearts across the globe is known for its creamy custard base and the crispy caramelized sugar topping. It is a simple dessert made with easily available ingredients, yet the taste remains unrivaled till date.
Although, there are no exact records of the origin of Crème brûlée Day, it is a cherished tradition for dessert lovers and culinary experts across the world.
The Origins Of Crème Brûlée
We don't know how this famous dessert was made because France, England, and Spain say it was made there.
The first ever recipe for crème brûlée was prominently found in a 1691 French cookbook Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois written by François Massialot, a cook at the Palace of Versailles.
According to this recipe, it was kind of a sweet custard that was made up of egg yolks, milk and a burnt sugar crust which is very similar to the present crème brûlée version. The second edition of the book named the dessert crème anglaise.
This popular dessert was known as “burnt cream” at Trinity College, Cambridge. A hot iron was used to imprint the college logo onto the sugar on top of the custard.
There are reports saying that it was first served in 1630 at Trinity, imitating Massialot's recipe. As per the Catalans in Spain, their dessert “crema catalana” is the original version of crème brûlée.
It was made up of rich creamy custard, with cinnamon and orange or lime zest, then topped with sugar that was caramelized.
The first record of Crema Catalana, also called Crema de Sant Josep after Saint Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary, dates back to the 18th century, and in Spain and many parts of Europe, this traditional dessert is served on Saint Joseph's Day, celebrated on March 19th.
How to Celebrate Crème Brûlée Day
Food lovers, chefs, and dessert lovers look forward to National Crème Brûlée Day to celebrate and indulge in the sweet treat.
Several restaurants and bakeries offer special discounts and variations on this iconic dessert so that everyone can savor this classic.
You can also make crème brûlée at home by trying different flavors and techniques. Do not forget to share your creations online with the #NationalCrèmeBrûléeDay.
In recent years, crème brûlée has seen countless innovative twists, with chefs experimenting with flavors like chocolate, coffee, lavender, and citrus, and playing with presentation using different molds or complementary toppings and sauces.
