One of the sweetest souvenirs you can bring home from Barcelona isn’t tucked into your suitcase. The city’s most iconic dessert is Crema Catalana. Imagine the satisfying crack as your spoon breaks through a golden layer of caramelized sugar, giving way to silky custard infused with citrus and cinnamon. More than just a treat, it’s a bite of Catalan tradition. The best part? You don’t need to wait for your next trip to Spain to enjoy it.
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Bringing Barcelona Home
Learning how to make Crema Catalana at home is a delicious way to relive your travels. Share a taste of Barcelona with friends and family, and keep those sun-soaked memories alive in your own kitchen! Here's an easy-to-follow traditional recipe for Crema Catalana, the deliciously decadent creamy dessert with a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus flavor.
Ingredients You'll Need to Make Crema Catalana at Home
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- zest of 1 lemon
- zest of 1 orange
- 6 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- granulated sugar for caramelizing the top
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Crema Catalana Like in Barcelona
In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk, cinnamon stick, lemon zest, and orange zest. Heat over medium-low heat until the mixture begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let it steep for about 15 minutes to infuse the flavors.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and granulated sugar until pale and creamy.
In a separate small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in a few tablespoons of cold milk, then whisk it into the egg yolk mixture until smooth and well combined.
Remove the cinnamon stick and citrus zest from the milk mixture, then return the saucepan to the stove over medium heat.
Gradually pour the egg yolk mixture into the warm milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it thickens and coats the back of the spoon, about 5-7 minutes. Do not let it boil.
Once thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat and strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps.
Divide the custard evenly among individual serving dishes or ramekins. Allow the custard to cool to room temperature, then cover each dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours, or until set.
Just before serving, sprinkle a thin layer of granulated sugar evenly over the surface of each custard. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until golden brown and crispy. Alternatively, you can place the dishes under a preheated broiler for a few minutes until the sugar caramelizes.
Allow the caramelized sugar to cool and harden for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with a slice of orange or a sprig of mint if desired.
Serve the Crema Catalana immediately and enjoy the creamy texture and crunchy caramelized topping!
Barcelona Restaurants Dishing up Traditional Crema Catalana
This traditional dessert is sure to make a delightful ending to any meal. Several restaurants in Barcelona are known for serving excellent Crema Catalana. Our favorite include:
Can Culleretes
Els 4 Gats
Casa Alfonso
La Vinateria del Call
Can Solé
