These 3-Ingredient Creme Brulee Cookies Are Shockingly Easy

As you know, the holidays can get pretty crazy, and sometimes the thought of dirtying up the whole kitchen for a batch of show-stopping Christmas cookies is the furthest thing from peace, love, and joy.

Holiday cookies can range from shockingly simple to extremely elaborate, but we like to meet somewhere in the middle. That’s why these crème brûlée cookies were a must-try on our baking list this year. With just three ingredients, you can create glassy, picture-perfect beauties that will be completely unrecognizable from their store-bought beginnings.

How to Make Creme Brulee Cookies

Crème brûlée is one of those wow-worthy, special-event kinds of desserts, so a personal-sized, handheld adaptation feels especially elegant. This cookie is loaded with so much texture and flavor that I promise, you’ve never had a Christmas cookie quite like it.

Starting with a roll of packaged sugar cookie dough, simply bake the cookies as directed. While they’re still hot out of the oven, take the back of a spoon and make a circular indentation in the center of the cookies, leaving the edge raised. This will make the perfect shallow surface for a pool of creamy vanilla pudding.

Be sure to not skimp on the sugar—it may seem excessive, but it will create the lovely, stained-glass crust that makes these cookies so luxurious. Each cookie turns out beautifully unique, giving it a hand-crafted appeal.

Vanilla cookies and pudding were the obvious flavor combo here, but feel free to use this same easy method with chocolate chip, gingerbread, or snickerdoodle cookies as well. The contrast of crisp and crackly texture next to the smooth creaminess of the pudding, all piled up on a chewy, flavorful cookie base is pretty much the picture of decadence.

Unfortunately, you can’t use an oven broiler to create the crème brûlée effect — the cookies will burn faster than the sugar will heat up — but luckily, a kitchen torch is an inexpensive and useful tool to keep in your kitchen cabinet. These cookies won’t last too long in storage, so make sure to assemble them right before you plan to serve.

For another effortless adaptation of crème brûlée for holiday entertaining, check out this Easy 3-Ingredient Vanilla Crème Brûlée recipe.

3-Ingredient Creme Brulee Cookies Recipe

• 1 (16.5-ounce) package sugar cookie dough
• 2 (13-ounce) vanilla pudding cups
• ½ cup white sugar

1. Bake cookies according to package instructions. While the cookies are still warm, use the back of a spoon to make a circular indentation in the center of each cookie, working all the way to the edge. Work quickly before the cookies cool.
2. Fill the indentation with a shallow layer of pudding (a couple of teaspoons in each) and use the spoon to smooth it into an even layer.
3. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of sugar evenly onto each cookie. Working quickly but carefully, use a kitchen torch to heat the sugar until bubbly and golden brow. Continue heating until the entire surface is caramelized. Serve immediately.

Recipe adapted from Oh, Bite It!