Trader Joe’s Creme Brulee Tarte

The pros: Trader Joe’s Creme Brulee Tarte is a very well done tarte that gets almost everything right. This will also allow you to skip needing a blow torch. I strongly disagree with the serving size. These are 4 very large servings. That’s a good thing.

The cons: This is a seasonal item. This was difficult to move from parchment to a pie plate.

The verdict:  So many sweets, so little time. I actually can’t wait until January 1st comes. Because this right here is what we call in my household “red light food.” If you are unfamiliar with the phrase, then let me clarify. It is something that you should stop eating. It’s something you probably should not have even entered your home. This creme burlee tarte is red light food.

Trader Joe’s gets this right on so many levels, most importantly, the amount of sugar was ideal. This created a mostly uniform sugar crust to the top that makes a creme brulee a creme brulee. They did not cheap out and in fact I think mine actually turned out a bit prettier than the box it came in, which for store-bought food can be a rare thing to happen.

The crust had a cookie like taste to it. It tasted like most of the other tartes that Trader Joe’s has offered in the past. However, quantity is important here. The crust is placed evenly around the bottom and the edges with nothing being folded over. You’ll have to watch this part almost more than the sugar as mine was starting to get darker than I would like. The custard filling was rich and creamy. It was thick, eggy, and just decadent with the hardened sugar topping.

Now, it’s not a blog post until I find something to complain about. I defrosted mine on parchment paper and then topped it with sugar and broiled it. Moving this treat seemed like it was not going to happen without some disastrous outcome. The more I moved it the more the crust seemed like it was willing to release itself from the filling. So I opted to move the parchment paper around the tart. Other than a minor crack or two, it was fine. If you are crazy about presentation then perhaps it would concern you.

My favorite part was the serving size. Normally, I complain about things like “How is this ___ servings?” usually referring to how small the serving sizes can be. Not here. I think after a meal, you’ll be able to manage 6 servings. I had 1/8 of this tarte and it was more than enough for my liking. For $5.99, this is absolutely worth a try. I also think this is worth stocking up on before it disappears from store shelves for the season. The box says you should eat it within 24 hours too. That sugar crust will only stay caramelized for so long. Worth picking up.

Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:

The box of Trader Joe’s Creme Brulee Tarte:

The nutritional information:

The ingredients:

How to prepare:

Out of the package you get the tarte and a sepa:

After being thawed and the sugar broiled on top it came out almost better looking (minus the fruit and mint leaves) than the box it came in:

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe’s Creme Brulee Tarte again. I might stock up if they have them there. It made for a quick and tasty dessert. Best of all, after a holiday meal this is one of the few products I actually think you can get more than 4 servings out of.

Want to see more items I’ve reviewed from Trader Joe’s? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!