creme caramel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-Mid (Culinary context)Neutral, Culinary
Quick answer
What does “creme caramel” mean?
A baked custard dessert with a soft caramel topping or sauce.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A baked custard dessert with a soft caramel topping or sauce.
A specific, classic dessert consisting of a rich custard base, often flavored with vanilla, baked in a ramekin lined with caramel, and inverted for serving so the caramel becomes a sauce.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK/International English predominantly uses 'crème caramel' (with accent) or 'creme caramel'. US English may also use 'creme caramel' or the Spanish term 'flan'. The dessert is essentially the same.
Connotations
In the UK, it's a classic, often old-fashioned dessert found in traditional restaurants. In the US, it is less common as a standard term and may be perceived as a more European or 'fancy' dessert.
Frequency
More frequent in UK culinary contexts and international menus. In the US, the term 'flan' is often used interchangeably, though purists note subtle differences in texture.
Grammar
How to Use “creme caramel” in a Sentence
[verb] + creme caramel: make, serve, bake, prepare, eat, enjoy, order[adjective] + creme caramel: classic, individual, perfect, silkycreme caramel + [verb]: sets, wobbles, inverts, coolsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “creme caramel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- To properly creme caramel the mixture, it must be baked in a bain-marie.
- The chef demonstrates how to creme caramel the traditional way.
American English
- The recipe instructs you to creme caramel the custard for exactly one hour.
- They offer a class on how to perfectly creme caramel.
adverb
British English
- The custard set creme caramel smoothly.
- It wobbled creme caramel on the plate.
American English
- The sugar cooked creme caramel to a perfect amber hue.
- It inverted creme caramel onto the serving dish.
adjective
British English
- It had a delightful creme caramel texture.
- The sauce was too creme caramel for my liking.
American English
- The dessert offered a rich, creme caramel flavor profile.
- She preferred a more creme caramel consistency in her custards.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in hospitality/food industry marketing.
Academic
Rare, except in culinary arts or food history texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing desserts, ordering at restaurants, or sharing recipes.
Technical
Used in professional culinary contexts specifying recipes, techniques, and menu design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “creme caramel”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “creme caramel”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “creme caramel”
- Misspelling as 'cream caramel'.
- Confusing it with 'crème brûlée' (which has a hard, torched sugar top).
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'two cremes caramel' is less common than 'two creme caramels' or 'two portions of creme caramel').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In many contexts, especially in the US and Latin America, the terms are used interchangeably for a similar caramel custard dessert. Purists sometimes argue that 'flan' can be denser and may include cream cheese, while 'creme caramel' is strictly a milk/egg custard, but the distinction is not universally observed.
In British English, it's approximately 'krem KA-ruh-muhl'. In American English, it's often 'krem KER-uh-mel' or 'krem ker-uh-MEL'. The first word is pronounced like 'cream' without the full 'ee' sound.
Creme caramel has a soft, liquid caramel sauce on top (achieved by lining the mold with caramel before baking). Creme brulee has a hard, brittle caramelized sugar crust on top (achieved by sprinkling sugar on the cooked custard and torching it).
Yes, informally in culinary descriptions to denote a flavor, color, or texture reminiscent of the dessert (e.g., 'a creme caramel sauce', 'creme caramel-colored walls'). This is a metaphorical extension.
A baked custard dessert with a soft caramel topping or sauce.
Creme caramel is usually neutral, culinary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CREME = creamy custard, CARAMEL = golden sweet sauce. It's a creamy dessert with a caramel hat (when inverted).
Conceptual Metaphor
DESSERT IS A CONSTRUCTION (a layered, inverted creation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary distinguishing feature of creme caramel?