1. Make the Crème Brûlée Filling

1. Heat the Cream: In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it’s just about to simmer (don’t boil).
2. Whisk the Yolks: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla extract, and cornstarch until smooth.
3. Temper the Eggs: Slowly pour the hot cream into the egg mixture while whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
4. Cook the Custard: Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens (about 5-7 minutes).
5. Cool the Filling: Once thickened, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Transfer to a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

2. Make the Donut Dough

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan with non-stick spray.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean paste (if using).
4. Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Fill the Pan: Spoon the donut batter into the donut pan, filling each well about 2/3 full.
6. Bake: Bake the donuts in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Cool: Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Fill the Donuts

1. Create a Hole: Once the donuts are completely cool, use a knife or small spoon to gently hollow out the center of each donut, creating space for the filling.
2. Fill with Crème Brûlée Custard: Use a pastry bag or a spoon to carefully fill each donut with the chilled crème brûlée custard.

4. Caramelize the Sugar Topping

1. Top with Sugar: Once filled, sprinkle a thin layer of granulated sugar on top of each donut.
2. Caramelize: Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar until it forms a golden, crispy crust. If you don’t have a torch, you can place the donuts under the broiler for about 1-2 minutes, but watch them closely to avoid burning.

5. Serve

1. Enjoy!: Serve the Baked Crème Brûlée Donuts warm and enjoy that perfect combination of creamy, crispy, and sweet.