Sweet and creamy under a sugar-shell just waiting to be shattered by your dessert-hungry spoon. It’s time we creme brûlée again…
After the deliciousness that was Pumpkin Creme Brûlée, I wanted to create a version that was suitable for all times of year. If you want to pumpkin in July, then I’m all for it! But this Vegan Banana Creme Brûlée is perfectly appropriate for any and every month.
In Feasting on Fruit standards, this is not one of the healthiest treats. However, in creme brûlée standards this is incredibly healthy. It’s like the broccoli of creme brûlées. Because unlike your typical creme brûlée, this one contains protein from nutrient dense hemp seed, less sugar thanks to the natural fructose in bananas, and a serving of fruit!
For those of you who don’t like bananas, I’m sorry not sorry. Just go make cookies instead or something because we’re about to get our banana on over here.
So the custard. There are only three bananas in this recipe, one per serving, but baking really intensifies that banana flavor. When you steal a spoonful of the custard right after blending, it’s a mild delicious blend of vanilla and banana. But after baking the the final flavor is rich and intensely banana. And the custard is crazy creamy too! So it’s basically like banana cream pie hiding under a sugar shell. Mmmmm!
And I’m happy to report that no hemp tofu is needed this time either! What is hemp tofu made of? Water and hemp seeds and some gums and stuff. So, um, duh just use hemp seeds and some almond milk. Three month ago Natalie, why didn’t you think of that??
It’s quite an easy recipe–just dump, blend, bake, and broil. But I included a video anyways so you can see the sugar shattering for yourself…
Prep Time:
Yield:
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PinIngredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1 cup hemp seeds
- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk
- 2 tsps cornstarch
- 1/2 cup cane sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the topping: 3 tbsps cane sugar
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Stir or bang on the counter a few times to try to release as many air bubbles as possible.
- Divide between 3 ramekins. Place the ramekins in a pan with tall sides. Fill the pan around the ramekins with boiling water so the ramekins are halfway submerged.
- Bake for 50 minutes at 325F. Cool, then chill overnight.
- For the topping: Sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar over the top of each ramekin. Place the ramekins in the oven on the broil setting for about 4-5 mins or until the top is browned and crystalized. Alternatively you could use a blow torch.
- Serve immediately.
You’ve got me drooling over here! This looks crazy delicious and hemp seeds have been my go to lately for extra nutrition for the baby. More reason to eat this for dessert ?
I’m all about the hemp seeds lately too! And that is a great reason for dessert, use it while you can 😉
Well I don’t have anymore bananas, but I DO have hemp seeds that I’m not using 😉 I like it! Nice sweet cracking top hiding the banana fun! I’m feeling a lot of banana love lately 😉 The tides are turning over here!!!
It makes me so happy just to hear you say the words “banana” and “fun” together 🙂 You really are coming to the dark side…the nana dark side 😉
This looks absolutely decadent, yet so healthful! How could you not love this recipe? ;D
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Thanks Kennedy!
Natalie- this is an AMAZING creation! You are just so innovative! Can’t wait to try this one.
Thank you Michelle! Let me know if you do 🙂
Omg girl… this post has me drooling. I love how you describe this as the broccoli of Creme Brûlée!! This is a pinner for sure 😉
Thanks Erin!! When I wrote that I then started thinking of broccoli creme brûlée and got a little weirded out hahaha 😀
This recipe is another great way to use extra ripe bananas! I would kill to be as creative as you 🙂
That’s a big part of the reason why I made it…so many bananas! And than you Bethany, you are so sweet <3
Wow! You are amazing! 🙂
You are too kind, thanks Tiffany!
These are like RESTAURANT QUALITY EPIC!!! You need to go into business girl. Your food gets more and more amazing EVERY week. That crackle on top is calling my name!!
Oh man I can’t even imagine running a restaurant! Or more like a bakery, we all know there wouldn’t be any savory food in sight hahaha 😀 But thank you Kaila <3
Can you use flax seed instead of hemp seeds
No I don’t think so. Flax doesn’t blend up as creamy as hemp seeds, plus it would have a very strong flax taste. Sorry 🙁
Ok, I need to make my very first creme brulee now! One question though – do you have any suggestions for what I could use instead of hemp seeds? They are incredibly expensive here (also illegal for human consumption :O). I was thinking maybe cashews or sunflower seeds could work instead…?
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Hiya Kyra! Yep cashews will work just fine, you just need one of those nuts/seeds that blends up to be very creamy. I don’t know if you consume soy or not, but silken tofu works too. And that’s crazy that they are illegal! 😮 Well I would be sent to jail for sure haha!
Thanks Nat, I’ll try it with cashews! And I know, it’s ridiculous – Australia and New Zealand are the only countries that have yet to legalize hemp for human consumption :O
Would you substitute the Silken Tofu equally for the hemp seeds (1cup of hemp seeds = 1cup Silken Tofu?)
I am looking forward to making this for a dinner party I have this weekend!
You would replace the hemp seeds and non-dairy milk with one 12oz package of silken tofu. Yay, I hope everyone loves it!!
Creme brûlée is the best!! I’ve never tried a banana version before, it looks so incredible Natalie! The top looks so crisp and perfect! Your recipes are so creative and amazing. I definitely need to try this! <3 I love banana!
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OK, I’m on the verge of drooling all over my laptop here. For the third time mind you – after doing the same over your pics on FB and Instagram 😀 Just a side note: pumpkin creme brulee is totally suitable for all seasons!!!! In my mind anyway 😀 there can never be enough pumpkin, who cares what time of the year it is. Oh and the hemp seed base is just awesome!!! You’re a culinary genius <3 Plus I love that you included a torch-less option, I've been meaning to buy it for years but somehow I never have.
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Hahaha you are so sweet Lucie! And I will totally eat pumpkin things 365 days a year, but ya know some people want options 😀 I am really into hemp seeds right now, so I was happy to find that they would work in here. They make stuff so creamy, reminds me of cashews but a little less rich. And I’ve burned myself enough times that I don’t think a blow torch in my hands is a good idea for anyone, the oven works just find lol!
True, very true 🙂 Oh tell me about that, I’m so clumsy an extra flame in my hands would surely cause a major disaster 😀
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My kids (especially my banana loving son) would LOVE this! Recipe is really easy thanks Natalie!
I just need to steal your son as my taste tester I think 🙂
You know how much we loved your pumpkin brûlée, so I’m SUPER excited to try this!! I’m running low on hemp seeds otherwise I’d be making this today. Mmmmm, banana custard and crunchy, sugary top sounds pretty magical to me!! Yum!! ❤️
Low on hemp seeds, oh no! 😮 I actually started ordering them online because $20 a bag at the store was just craziness. I was actually pondering the idea of hemp seed rawnola recently, I kinda want to try that. Anyways I’m rambling, back to sugary banana custard 😀 Yep it was magical! There was enough pudding for a third creme brûlée, but it was so good pre-baking that I just saved that to eat haha! Well I hope you restock soon, those little seeds are good for everything 🙂 Thanks Mandy!
Wow Natalie this recipe and video totally caught me. Didn’t thought about a creamy vegan creme brulée. Thank you for the recipe. Lots of Love, Annelina
Hi Annelina, fun to see you over here rather than just on IG! Thank you for stopping by and watching 🙂 Vegan creme brûlée is just as dreamy as the original, I hope you give it a shot! <3
WOAH Your blog is amazing!
Thank you Sophia! I’m so happy you found my little corner of the internet 🙂
Ahhh, this looks so good! I really want to make this recipe but I don’t have hemp hearts. Could I substitute it with oats or some other kind of ingredient..? My younger sister is allergic to nuts so is there any way to substitute it with a nut free ingredient?
Oats aren’t quite high enough in fat to work in this recipe unfortunately. My best recommendation is to replace both the hemp seeds and non-dairy milk with either coconut cream/full-fat coconut milk or silken tofu. It will be about 3/4-1 cup of either of those. Hope that helps, good luck Mara!
if i were to add caramelised bananas on top, will it moisten the brûlée?
Yes it will unfortunately, but it sounds so delicious maybe just add them right before serving and dig in fast?
Drooling all over the computer after checking our your Salted Caramel Cookie “Twix” Smoothie and this Banana Creme Brûlée. Can’t decide on which one to try first! For this creme brûlée, I am not a fan of the taste of hemp hearts, I was wondering if I can use cauliflower like you did in the smoothie. Do you think that will work?
Hmm you could try it but I don’t think it will work tbh. You need something with more richness for the creme brûlée to cook and set properly. You could use cashews instead of the hemp hearts or silken tofu though!
Thank you!
Hi Natalie, do you think I could use dates to sweeten? And if so, how much (in cups)?
Hmm yes dates should be okay here. You will need about 3/4 to 1 cup, and possible an extra 1/4 cup milk to get it to blend since they will make the pudding much thicker. Good luck 🙂
Hi there 🙂 I’d love to make this tonight but I dont have any hemp seeds… is there anything that I can use in their place? Xxx
Raw cashews would work well too!
Hey I was just wondering if these would be good to freeze, I really love Creme Brulee, but no one else in my family does and I don’t think I could eat them all at once -let me rephrase- I probably could but I really shouldn’t ; )
Hmm I worry they will be icey after you defrost since they aren’t super high fat, but I haven’t tried it!
I do not have hemp seeds to cashews. I have raw almonds, almond butter and peanut butter at home? Could any of those work??
So I haven’t tased either, but I would try the almond or peanut butter (either would be yummy here in my opinion, whichever flavor you prefer!) And you won’t need quite as much so try like 2/3-3/4 cup. Let me know how it goes Lauren 🙂