Blood Orange Creme Brûlée. Vegan, Gluten-free.

 Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée from An Unrefined Vegan

A quick request: Saveur has opened up their 2015 Blog Awards and I’d really appreciate your nomination of An Unrefined Vegan! You can enter your nomination(s) here. Thank you!

Creme brûlée. One of my favorite pre-gan desserts. Rich and creamy but with a sweet layer of crunch. Breaking through that crisp sugary crust…Heaven. Here I take those qualities and add a plant-based twist. The cream and eggs are replaced by tofu and blood orange juice joins vanilla to create a lightly-sweet dessert. 

You gotta love a fancy-looking dessert that’s fast and easy to put together. And involves an open flame.

Despite the fact that this is a dessert, it does have beneficial qualities:

Orange juice:

  • Vitamin C, of course! This antioxidant battles cell-damaging free radicals.
  • It’s fat-free and sodium-free – and since it’s animal-free, it’s also cholesterol free!
  • Get a dose of folic acid which is necessary for cell health.

Tofu:

  • You don’t need fish to get your omega-3s. These fatty acids are beneficial for joint health, curbing depression, and may protect against memory loss and dementia.
  • Instead of Got Milk? It should be Got Tofu? Tofu gives your body the calcium that dairy milk doesn’t!
  • It’s high in protein, low in fat.

I shared this easy recipe at the Virtual Vegan Linky Potluck!

Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée by An Unrefined Vegan

Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée
Serves 4
Lightly sweet and citrusy, this tofu-based vegan creme brûlée is easy to make but is elegant enough for a dinner party. Grab your kitchen torch!
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 15 min
151 calories
20 g
0 g
5 g
9 g
0 g
176 g
47 g
14 g
0 g
4 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
176g
Servings
4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 151
Calories from Fat 43
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5g
8%
Saturated Fat 0g
2%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 47mg
2%
Total Carbohydrates 20g
7%
Dietary Fiber 1g
2%
Sugars 14g
Protein 9g
Vitamin A
3%
Vitamin C
40%
Calcium
17%
Iron
9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
  1. 1 1/4 cups fresh blood orange juice
  2. 12-ounces firm or extra firm tofu (not silken)
  3. 1 Tbsp. + 1/4 tsp. tapioca flour/starch
  4. 2 Tbsp. granulated Natvia or 3/4 tsp. liquid stevia (or your favorite sweetener, to taste)
  5. 1/8 tsp. orange oil (go easy here; this stuff is powerful) and/or zest from one small blood orange
  6. pinch sea salt
  7. 2 Tbsp. pure maple sugar (or your favorite granulated sugar)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven the 325-degrees. Place four 1/2-cup ramekins in a deep, oven-safe baking pan. Place the baking pan on a baking sheet - this just makes it easier to move the baking pan in and out of the oven. If you have a tea kettle, fill it and get it going; you're going to need hot water for the water bath. Otherwise, boil 3-4 cups water in a saucepan while you prepare the brûlée.
  2. Put the blood orange juice, tofu, tapioca starch, stevia, and orange oil in a high-speed or regular blender. Process until very smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender if necessary. Taste and adjust for sweetness.
  3. Add the orange zest and pulse a few times to incorporate. Divide the mixture between the ramekins. Now, carefully pour that hot, hot water into the baking pan so that it reaches about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Gently lift the baking sheet and put it into the oven, trying not to spill water on yourself or into the brûlée.
  4. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the brûlée start browning a bit at the edges and the center is soft but firm. Let the ramekins rest in the water bath for a few minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack. When they've cooled down to room temperature, cover them with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight. This rest makes for a nicer texture.
  5. When ready to serve, divide the maple sugar between the four ramekins, making sure to sprinkle some evenly all over the tops. You can either set the ramekins under a broiler until the maple sugar bubbles, browns, and forms a lovely crust - or you can get all fancy and use a kitchen torch. Either way, don't get distracted and let the sugar burn! Once brûléed, your dessert is ready to serve!
Notes
  1. Each time I've made this, the color has been different. Some blood oranges are a dark red, and some - not so much.
  2. You can use navel or Cara Cara oranges here, just make sure to taste and adjust for sweetness prior to baking.
  3. Make it sugar free by skipping the brûlée!
beta
calories
151
fat
5g
protein
9g
carbs
20g
more
an unrefined vegan http://www.anunrefinedvegan.com/

Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée by An Unrefined Vegan

Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée by An Unrefined Vegan

Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée by An Unrefined Vegan

Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée by An Unrefined Vegan

Vegan Blood Orange Creme Brûlée by An Unrefined Vegan

 

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42 thoughts on “Blood Orange Creme Brûlée. Vegan, Gluten-free.

  1. veggiesdontbite

    This looks delicious Annie!!! Yum! And I’m obsessed with blood and cara cara oranges right now! BTW, what recipe plug in and pin it button (the kind on your images) did you go with? Still trying to decide!

    Reply
    1. An Unrefined Vegan Post author

      So many decisions, right?! I used the jQuery Pin It Button and Recipe Card (yumprint). Having so many great choices is…great, but makes it difficult, too! And thank you! Yes, we are eating all of the blood oranges, caras and clementines that we can right now.

      Reply
  2. Steve

    I seem to have lost the address for your restaurant/cafe… 😉

    I’m dying to try this – looks delicious!

    Reply
  3. Veggiewitch

    LOVE! I’ve been dreaming of a vegan, Creme Brûlée, so you are a dream come true… erm… and this recipe. ;0)

    Thank you! ❤

    Reply
  4. Pingback: “Blood Orange Creme Brûlée. Vegan, Gluten-free.” from Annie @ An Unrefined Vegan | veggiewitch

  5. Mason

    I cannot wait to make this recipe! Your redesign is great and I just nominated your blog on Saveur! Good luck!

    Reply
  6. The Vegan Kat

    This recipe looks amazing! I’ll have to try making these this weekend :) I haven’t caught up on my vegan blog reading in a long while…congratulations on the upcoming book!

    Reply
  7. Jessica Eagle

    I just submitted your nomination for you Annie :) Best of luck.

    Miammm !!!! Your creme brulee looks amazing !!!

    Reply
  8. MarianaMariana

    This looks amazing! Is it possible to use corn starch instead of tapioca? Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  9. Choc Chip Uru

    Your new site looks stunning my friend 😀 As does this exotic creme brûlée :)

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
  10. The Vegan 8

    Just voted for you my gorgeous friend!! Also, this dessert is amazing and dreamy. I have never actually had creme brûlée I don’t think, but you had me at “a sweet layer of crunch”….oh my!! The orange is a beautiful addition!

    Reply
  11. Sophie33

    I just voted for your blog & wrote this: Anne, the author eats, lives & breathes vegan. She makes non-processed healthy vegan foods. I also love her writing & cool photos. All of the recipes, I have tested, never failed me & were amazing! She rocks! :)

    This special dessert looks amazing & even fantastic, dear Anne! I hope you will win! xxxx

    Reply
  12. apsara

    Just voted for you! Wasn’t sure which category, thought. I hope I entered the correct one. Very lovely dish, wonderfully presented, as always!

    Reply
  13. alline85

    Beautiful presentation as always, Annie! Which method of brulee-ing did you use for these photos – oven-broiling or torching?

    Reply
  14. chrysta2014

    omg! what a cool way to use blood oranges. Im a bit obsessed with citrus right now. This is a fun and pretty way to serve them up. Thanks!

    Reply
  15. harrietemilys

    Wow! What an amazing, inspiring recipe! It looks so beautiful! I will definitely have to try making it :)

    Reply
  16. Brittany

    This dish is stunning!! I also cannot get over your new blog, I know I commented on it before, but it’s just GORGEOUS!

    Reply
  17. tearoomdelights

    I’ve never used tofu in a dessert but this looks fantastic. I would never have thought of using a broiler in place of a kitchen torch for something like creme brulee either, thanks for the tip.

    Reply
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