crème brûlée

American  

[krem broo-ley, kreem, krem bry-ley] / ˌkrɛm bruˈleɪ, ˌkrim, krɛm brüˈleɪ /

noun

French Cooking.

• crèmes brûlées
  plural

1. a custard that has been sprinkled with sugar and placed under a broiler until a brown crust forms on top.

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crème brûlée British  

/ krɛm bryle /

noun

1. a cream or custard dessert covered with caramelized sugar

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• crèmes brûlées
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crème brûlée

1885–90; < French: literally, burnt cream

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crème brûlée

If you go to a restaurant charging €19.50, your total cost for a veal steak with rice and a crème brûlée is just $23 at current exchange rates.

From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026

One character in “Never Mind” has “a face like a crème brûlée after the first blow of the spoon, all covered in little cracks.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026

Options change frequently, but could include a black sesame crème brûlée with sake ice cream, a Mont Blanc, or a hojicha chocolate soufflé.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2025

We loved eating crème brûlée at the movies!

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2024

I feel protected by her, like I can pretend to be mashed potatoes or crème brûlée or whatever I want to be if I see myself through her eyes.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman