These luxurious Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes combine the rich, creamy texture of New York-style cheesecake with the elegant caramelized sugar topping of classic crème brûlée. Each individual cupcake delivers an indulgent dessert experience that’s perfect for special occasions or when you want to impress your guests with something truly spectacular.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes offer the perfect marriage of two beloved desserts in one stunning bite. The buttery graham cracker crust provides the ideal foundation for the silky-smooth cheesecake filling, which is infused with aromatic vanilla bean seeds for an intensely flavorful base. The crowning glory is the caramelized sugar topping that creates that signature crème brûlée crack when you tap it with a spoon.
What makes these cupcakes particularly special is their individual portion size, making them ideal for entertaining without the hassle of slicing and serving a large cheesecake. The combination of textures – from the crunchy crust to the creamy filling and the crispy caramelized top – creates a dessert that’s both sophisticated and satisfying. Plus, they can be made ahead of time, making them perfect for dinner parties or special celebrations.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Crust:
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Crème Brûlée Topping:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
How to Make Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Preparing the Crust: Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (163°C) and lining a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and melted butter. Mix thoroughly until the mixture resembles wet sand and holds together when pressed. Divide this mixture evenly among the prepared muffin cups, pressing down firmly with the back of a spoon or your fingers to create a compact base. Bake the crusts for 8-10 minutes until they’re lightly golden and set. Remove from the oven and let cool while you prepare the filling.
Making the Cheesecake Filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, continuing to beat until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Pour in the sour cream and heavy cream, mixing until just combined. Add the vanilla bean seeds and vanilla extract, mixing until the filling is smooth and uniform in color.
Assembling and Baking: Divide the cheesecake filling evenly among the prepared crusts, filling each cup about 3/4 full. Tap the muffin tin gently on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the centers are almost set but still slightly jiggly. The tops should not be browned. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan before transferring to the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Creating the Crème Brûlée Topping: Just before serving, remove the cupcakes from the refrigerator and sprinkle approximately 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar evenly over the top of each cupcake. Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar by moving the flame in small circles until the sugar melts and turns golden amber. Allow the caramelized sugar to cool and harden for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Helpful Tips
Always ensure your cream cheese is completely softened before beginning – this prevents lumps in your filling and ensures a smooth, professional texture. If you forgot to take it out ahead of time, you can soften it quickly by cutting it into cubes and microwaving for 15-20 seconds.
When scraping vanilla bean seeds, use the back of a knife to scrape along the inside of the split pod. Don’t discard the empty pod – you can add it to your sugar container to create vanilla-scented sugar for future baking projects.
For the smoothest filling, mix ingredients at room temperature and avoid overmixing once you add the eggs. Overmixing can incorporate too much air, leading to cracks during baking.
If you don’t have a kitchen torch, you can achieve the caramelized topping by placing the sugar-topped cupcakes under a preheated broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Details
These Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes serve 12 people and require approximately 45 minutes of active preparation time, plus chilling time. The combination of textures and flavors makes them an impressive dessert that looks far more complicated than it actually is to prepare.
The vanilla bean seeds provide intense vanilla flavor and create the characteristic black specks throughout the cheesecake, while the caramelized sugar topping adds both visual appeal and textural contrast. Each cupcake contains approximately 320 calories and delivers a restaurant-quality dessert experience.
Notes
Room temperature ingredients are crucial for achieving the smoothest cheesecake filling. Plan to remove your cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream from the refrigerator at least 2 hours before baking.
The cupcakes will continue to set as they cool, so don’t worry if they seem slightly soft when you first remove them from the oven. This is normal and will result in the perfect creamy texture once chilled.
For best results, use a kitchen torch for the caramelized topping, as it provides better control than a broiler and creates a more even caramelization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time? Yes, these Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes are perfect for make-ahead desserts. You can prepare them up to 2 days in advance and store them covered in the refrigerator. Add the caramelized sugar topping just before serving for the best texture.
What if I don’t have a vanilla bean? While vanilla beans provide the most intense flavor and visual appeal, you can substitute with 2 teaspoons of high-quality vanilla extract. The flavor will still be delicious, though you won’t have the characteristic vanilla bean specks.
Can I use a different crust? Absolutely! You can substitute the graham cracker crust with crushed vanilla wafers, digestive biscuits, or even chocolate cookie crumbs for a different flavor profile.
Why did my cheesecake filling crack? Cracks typically occur from overmixing (which incorporates too much air) or overbaking. Make sure to mix just until ingredients are combined and watch for the slight jiggle in the center as your doneness indicator.
Can I freeze these cupcakes? Yes, you can freeze the cupcakes without the caramelized topping for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and add the sugar topping before serving.
Storage Instructions
Store your Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The caramelized sugar topping will gradually soften over time, so for best results, add the sugar and torch it just before serving. If you’ve already added the caramelized topping, consume within 24 hours for optimal texture.
For longer storage, freeze the cupcakes without the caramelized topping in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw completely in the refrigerator, then add the sugar topping and caramelize as directed.
Conclusion
These Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Cupcakes represent the perfect fusion of two classic desserts, creating something truly special for your dessert table. The rich, creamy cheesecake base infused with aromatic vanilla bean seeds, combined with the dramatic caramelized sugar topping, delivers both visual impact and incredible flavor. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, celebrating a special occasion, or simply wanting to treat yourself to something extraordinary, these cupcakes are sure to impress. The individual portion size makes them elegant and convenient, while the make-ahead nature means you can enjoy the party along with your guests. Once you master this recipe, you’ll find yourself returning to it again and again for those moments when only the most indulgent dessert will do.