Description
This easy custard recipe yields a silky, creamy, and versatile vanilla custard that can be served warm or chilled. Made with simple ingredients like heavy cream, whole milk, egg yolks, honey, and vanilla, it’s perfect as a decadent topping for cakes, pies, or enjoyed on its own as a smooth dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Custard Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 5 large egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or tapioca flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the cream: Add the heavy cream and milk to a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk occasionally until the mixture just starts to simmer and bubbles form along the edges, then immediately remove from the heat to prevent boiling.
- Temper the eggs: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, honey, chosen starch (cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or tapioca flour), and vanilla extract. While continuously whisking, very slowly pour half of the hot cream mixture into the bowl to gradually warm the eggs without curdling them.
- Combine and cook the custard: Return the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining cream mixture. Stir constantly over medium-low heat for 1 to 3 minutes, until the custard slightly thickens. Be careful not to overcook to avoid curdling. The custard will thicken further as it cools.
- Serve: Serve the custard warm drizzled over cakes, pies, or other desserts. Alternatively, transfer it to a bowl and cover the surface tightly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. Spoon into individual glasses for serving cold.
Notes
- This vanilla custard is silky, creamy, and simple to make with basic pantry ingredients.
- Be sure to temper the eggs slowly to prevent curdling and achieve a smooth texture.
- Covering the custard with plastic wrap touching the surface avoids skin formation when chilling.
- Custard continues to thicken as it cools, so avoid overcooking during the stove step.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 353
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 51 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 318 mg
