DISH RESEARCH · Dessert
Crema Catalana
Also known as: Catalan cream
Milk-and-egg custard with citrus, cinnamon and a caramelised sugar crust.

About Crema Catalana
Javier De La Hormaza’s crema catalana follows the Catalan milk-custard style, flavoured with lemon peel, orange peel and cinnamon. Egg yolks and corn flour give the cream its body.
The citrus and cinnamon perfume a sweet dairy base. A separate caramelised sugar surface adds a deeper, toasted sweetness above the custard.
The cream is presented in individual clay dishes or ramekins beneath its brittle sugar crust. Almond puff-pastry fingers and a glass of cava are published serving suggestions.
Allergens in this recipe
Contains: Milk, Egg.
Optional additions: Wheat (gluten), Almond.
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Crema Catalana
Javier De La Hormaza’s citrus-and-cinnamon crema catalana.
- Whole milkLiquid
- Caster sugarSweetener
- Egg yolksBinder
- Corn flourBinderIngredient page not linked
- Orange peelAromatic
- Lemon peelAromatic
- Cinnamon stickAromatic
- WaterLiquid
- Almond puff-pastry fingersAccompaniment · OptionalIngredient page not linked
- CavaAccompaniment · Optional
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Whole milk: Milk
- Caster sugar: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Custard and separate caramelised surface allocations consolidated.
- Egg yolks: Egg
- Corn flour: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Exact flour-versus-starch product unresolved; not forced into cornmeal/starch.
- Orange peel: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Lemon peel: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Cinnamon stick: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Water: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Method-only cold slurry water.
- Almond puff-pastry fingers (optional): Wheat (gluten); Almond. Named serving pastry; full subformula unspecified.
- Cava (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Named serving wine; no sulphites presumed.
Origins & food traditions
Cuisines & regions
- Catalan Cuisine
- Catalan CuisineCatalogue link pending review
- Andorran Catalan Pyrenean CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.