Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients

Before starting, gather all your ingredients to streamline the process. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and prepare a baking dish for a water bath. This ensures even cooking for the custard.

1. Clean the crab meat thoroughly, ensuring no shell pieces remain.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, heavy cream, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.

Step 2: Combine and Assemble

Once the base mixture is ready:

1. Gently fold the crab meat and Parmesan cheese into the custard mixture. Be careful not to overmix, as you want the crab to retain some texture.
2. Pour the mixture into individual ramekins, leaving a small gap at the top to prevent overflow.

Step 3: Bake the Custard

The key to a silky custard lies in gentle cooking:

1. Place the ramekins into a deep baking dish.
2. Fill the dish with hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
3. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the custard is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.

Step 4: Caramelize the Topping

Here comes the exciting part—creating the signature brûlée crust:

1. Once the custards have cooled slightly, sprinkle an even layer of sugar on top of each ramekin.
2. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until golden brown. Don’t have a torch? Place the ramekins under a broiler for a few minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.