--- title: "Ramekin: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "A ramekin is a small, round, ovenproof dish for baking and serving single portions, such as crème brûlée, soufflé and baked eggs. Here is how to use one." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/ramekin" --- # Ramekin A ramekin is a small, round, ovenproof dish for baking and serving single portions, such as crème brûlée, soufflé and baked eggs. Here is how to use one. Also called Ramequin, Cocotte dish. A ramekin is a small, round dish with straight sides, usually made of glazed ceramic or porcelain, and sometimes of glass. It is ovenproof and sized for one person. Ramekins are the classic dish for a [soufflé](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/souffle), crème brûlée, baked custards, baked eggs, and small pot pies. They also work as little bowls for [mise en place](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mise-en-place) and for serving dips. ## How to use it Common sizes are 120 ml (1/2 cup), 180 ml (3/4 cup) and 240 ml (1 cup). A recipe for "six ramekins" usually means the 120 to 180 ml size. Measure yours with water to be sure. * **Soufflé.** Brush the inside with soft butter in upward strokes, then coat with sugar or grated cheese. The coating helps the batter climb the sides. * **Custards and crème brûlée.** Set the filled ramekins in a roasting pan and pour in hot water halfway up their sides. This [bain-marie](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bain-marie) keeps the custard smooth. They are done when the edges are set and the center still wobbles a little, the [jiggle test](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/jiggle-test). Chill, then [brûlée](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/brulee)the sugar on top just before serving. * **Baked eggs.** Butter the dish, add cream and an egg, and bake until the white is set. * **Molten cakes.** Grease and dust with cocoa so the cake turns out cleanly. Put filled ramekins on a sheet pan so you can move them in and out of the oven in one go. ## Substitutes Ovenproof tea cups or coffee cups, small glass jars rated for the oven, or a muffin pan for some recipes. Times change with the size and the material, so watch closely. One large dish also works for most custards, with a longer bake. ## Common mistakes * Using a different size than the recipe. Small ramekins overcook, large ones stay raw in the middle. * Moving a cold ramekin straight from the fridge into a very hot oven, or onto a cold wet surface right out of the oven. Thermal shock can crack it. * Using a ramekin under the broiler or with a torch when it is not rated for direct heat. Check before you do. * Overfilling. Leave a little space at the top, except for a soufflé, which is filled to the rim. ## In recipes "Divide among four ramekins" means equal portions in individual dishes. "Ramequin" is the French spelling. ## Recipes made with it 43 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Yogurt-Panna-Cotta-4.jpg)Yogurt Panna Cotta with Macerated Berrieswww.skinnytaste.com · 385 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/yogurt-panna-cotta/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/FlourlessChocolateCake.jpg)Flourless Chocolate Cakewww.skinnytaste.com](https://www.skinnytaste.com/flourless-chocolate-cake/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Skinny-Apple-Cobbler-11.jpg)Apple Cobbler Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 70 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-apple-cobbler/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Asparagus-and-Green-Lentils-with-Poached-Egg-1-7.jpg)Asparagus and Green Lentils with Poached Eggwww.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/asparagus-and-green-lentils-with-poached-egg/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/02/chicken-enchiladas-tomatillo-sauce.jpg)Chicken Enchiladas with Tomatillo Saucewww.onceuponachef.com · 80 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/chicken-enchiladas-with-tomatillo-sauce.html) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Screen-Shot-2023-05-18-at-6.50.39-AM.png)Healthy Creme Bruleewww.skinnytaste.com · 10 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/breakfast-creme-brulee/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Baked-Eggs-with-Wilted-Baby-Spinach.jpg)Baked Eggs with Spinachwww.skinnytaste.com · 22 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-eggs-with-wilted-baby-spinach/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/crab-cakes-benedict-1-6.jpg)Crab Cakes Benedict with Avocado Relishwww.skinnytaste.com · 90 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/crab-cakes-benedict-with-avocado-relish/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2023/02/Creme-brulee-1.jpg)Crème Brûléewww.onceuponachef.com · 60 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/creme-brulee.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2017/01/Lemon-Pudding-Cake-2.jpg)Lemon Pudding Cakeswww.onceuponachef.com · 65 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/lemon-pudding-cakes.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2021/01/Enchiladas-scaled.jpg)Beef Enchiladaswww.onceuponachef.com · 70 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/beef-enchiladas.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/04/Eggs-Benedict-Featured-Photo.png)Classic Eggs Benedictwww.onceuponachef.com · 60 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/eggs-benedict.html) ## Related terms * [SouffléA soufflé is a baked dish that rises high in the oven from whipped egg whites folded into a flavored base. See how to make it rise and when to serve it.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/souffle) * [BrûléeBrûlée means burnt in French. To brûlée is to melt sugar on top of a dessert with a torch or broiler until it sets into a thin, glassy caramel shell.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/brulee) * [Bain-marieA bain-marie is a hot water bath that cooks or melts food gently, such as custards, cheesecakes and chocolate. Here is how to set one up.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bain-marie) * [Mise en placeMise en place means having every ingredient measured, cut and ready, and every tool at hand, before you start cooking, so nothing burns while you chop.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mise-en-place) * [Jiggle testThe jiggle test checks if a custard, cheesecake or pie is baked by gently shaking it. The edges should be set while the center wobbles slightly.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/jiggle-test) [More in equipment](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/equipment)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)