If you love the taste of homemade custard but you've always felt intimidated about making it yourself, fear no more. These two easy custard recipes give you the option to cook this wonderful dessert on the stovetop or in the oven.
Easy Boiled Custard Recipe
This stovetop method uses a double boiler and yields about four cups of custard.
Ingredients
- 2 cups scalded milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon honey or granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Scald the milk, remove it from the heat, and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- In a medium-size bowl, beat the egg yolks slightly, add the salt and the honey/sugar, and stir constantly while slowly adding the milk.
- Prepare a double boiler and pour the custard mix into the top. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens sufficiently to coat a spoon.
- Remove top of the double boiler from the heat and set it into a pan of cold water. Stir in the vanilla and let the mix cool.
- Pour the custard into a serving dish or individual custard cups.
Simple Baked Custard Recipe
This recipe uses a simple bain marie method to keep even heat around your custard cups while they bake, and it yields approximately six cups of custard.
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 quart whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium-size bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir in the milk and then strain into lightly buttered cups.
- Set the cups in a deep baking pan and add water until it reaches about 2/3 of the way up the sides of the cups.
- Carefully place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. When a knife blade cut into the custard comes out clean, the custard is done.
- Remove the pan from the oven and then remove the cups from the pan and let them cool.
Serving Your Custard
Custard can be served warm or cold, depending on your preference.
- If serving warm, allow the custard to cool for about 20 minutes until it's no longer hot enough to burn your mouth.
- If serving cold, let the custard cool on the counter for about 30 minutes before chilling it in the fridge for two hours. If you plan to let it chill longer than this, cover the cups with plastic wrap before placing them in the fridge. Put the plastic directly on the surface of the custard. This will prevent a skin from forming on the top.
Topping Suggestions
Once the custard is ready to eat, you can enjoy it just as it is, or you can top it with items like:
- Whipped cream or vanilla Greek yogurt
- Fresh or canned fruit or berries
- Granola or chopped nuts
- A cookie
- A light dusting of nutmeg or cinnamon and sugar
Storage Tips
Custard is always best when it's eaten the day it's made. However, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to three days as long as it's covered tightly with plastic wrap so the top doesn't become rubbery.
Enjoy That Homemade Flavor
Store-bought custard may be convenient, but there's no substitute for a delicious and creamy custard you made with your own two hands. You probably have these standard ingredients in your kitchen already, so why not give one of these recipes a try? You'll be glad you did.
