Desserts like custard have a way of taking you completely by surprise. It has a great vanilla flavour and is rich, creamy, and sweet. It looks unassuming, which contributes to some of its attractiveness. It has been cherished throughout different countries and is undoubtedly a rich and divine treat. The term “custard” frequently refers to a broad range of foods from numerous international cuisines. The simplest definition is a concoction produced with sweetened milk or cream that has been thickened with gelatin, flour, cornflour, egg, or egg yolk. Custard can range in thickness from a thin pouring sauce for cakes, pies, and rice pudding to a thick pastry cream used to make crème brûlée (baked custard), crème anglaise, and fill éclairs and doughnuts, depending on the recipe, inspiration, and purpose. Let’s checkout the vanilla recipe preparation. Skip to bottom for recipe video.
Table of Contents
History of custard recipe
Although a variety of dishes that have been thickened might be referred to as “custard,” the term “custard” only refers to an egg-thickened custard in French cooking (or, more particularly, “creme” or “creme moulée”). Pastry cream, also known as confectioners’ custard, is created by combining milk or cream, egg yolks, fine sugar, flour, or another type of starch, and typically a flavouring like vanilla, chocolate, or lemon.
Since at least Ancient Rome, heated milk and egg mixtures have been a staple of European cooking. The French word “croustade” originally referred to the crust of custard tarts, which were immensely popular throughout the Middle Ages and gave rise to the English word “custard.”
Vanilla custard recipe
This is a basic dish that is easy to follow and tasty, despite the fact that it goes by several names. This recipe for vanilla custard is very conventional and is not intended to be extremely thick like a pastry cream for a cake. Custard is often mistaken for pudding; while frequently confused, they are very different. If cooked properly, the custard seems to be more velvety smooth. Pudding, which is made with sweetened milk and thickened with cornflour, is more commonly used in Western culture. Although thinner, it is still creamy.
But when making old-fashioned custard, full milk and eggs are heated slowly to cause the egg proteins to coagulate and thicken the sauce.
Traditionally, all the ingredients, including milk, sugar, vanilla essence and cornflour, are combined and cooked gradually on low heat until the sauce thickens to make the egg-free vanilla custard. By adjusting the amounts of milk or cornflour, custard can be made thin, medium, or thick. The fundamental recipe has several variations; some use milk, while others use cream or a combination of the two. The issue of eggs, a crucial component in making custard, is another. While some people favour using whole eggs, others are certain about adding only the yolks or most of the time it is also prepared without the eggs.
Custard powder
You can simplify the custard preparation by using premium quality store-bought custard powder. With custard powder, all you need is milk and sugar to prepare this delicious dessert. Vanilla custard is a traditional, creamy delight that goes great on its own, like pudding or when served with another dish. This custard is enhanced by the use of full cream milk. This decadent vanilla custard, which is packed with vanilla flavour, may be used in a variety of desserts. Use a liberal spoonful of it in place of vanilla ice cream with your slice of pie, piece of cake, a bowl of fruit, trifle or parfait, and layer it with cake and fruit. You’ll be adding vanilla custard to all of your favourite desserts once you learn how to prepare it.
Ingredients to prepare vanilla custard recipe
- Custard powder – 2 tbsp
- Milk – 500 ml
- Mixed fruits (optional) – 2 tbsp
Method to prepare vanilla custard recipe
- In a bowl mix 2 tbsp of DALE custard powder with 3 tbsp of milk taken from the 500ml milk and form a smooth paste.
2. In a saucepan heat 500ml milk.
3. As the milk begins to boil, add 3 tbsp of sugar or as per your taste and stir well, until the sugar completely dissolves.
4. Let the milk boil for a few minutes on medium flame.
5. Add the custard paste slowly into the boiling milk and stir well.
6. Continue stirring for 1 to 2 minutes on medium flame to low flame; avoid forming any lumps in the custard.
7. As you continue to stir gradually, the custard starts to thicken.
8. Keep the flame low to medium to avoid custard sticking to the pan.
9. Continue stirring until the custard thickens, keeping the flame on a simmer.
10. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, so keep whisking and cooking.
11. Turn off the heat. Remove the pan from the flame and let it cool to room temperature.
12. Refrigerate the vanilla custard for a few hours.
13. This custard sauce can be used to prepare trifles, fruit custard, bread & butter pudding, and other sweets.
14. Enjoy the vanilla custard recipe.
Tips and tricks to prepare vanilla custard recipe
- Before putting the vanilla custard sauce in the refrigerator, let it cool at room temperature.
- To prepare the custard, you can use whole milk or toned milk.
- This recipe can be modified to create a fruit-based custard sauce. Prepare custard, then let it cool. Then stir in fruit purées like strawberry, mango, apple, or banana to the sauce. Combine, then chill. Reduce the sugar in the basic custard sauce recipe when using fruit, especially very sweet fruit.
- You may also include chocolate chips to get some chocolate crunch in your dessert.
- Simmer gently while cooking. When the sauce is simmering, adjust the heat as necessary.
- Stir continuously to avoid custard sticking to the pan. Use a heavy-bottomed, high-quality steel pan to prevent the sauce from burning or being browned from the bottom.
Recipe Card
Ingredients to prepare vanilla custard recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Custard powder
- 500 ml Milk
- 2 tbsp Mixed fruits optional
Instructions
- In a bowl mix 2 tbsp of DALE custard powder with 3 tbsp of milk taken from the 500ml milk and form a smooth paste.
- In a saucepan heat 500ml milk.
- As ithe milk begins to boil, add 3 tbsp of sugar or as per your taste and stir well, until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Let the milk boil for a few minutes on medium flame.
- Add the custard paste slowly into the boiling milk and stir well.
- Continue stirring for 1 to 2 minutes on medium flame to low flame; avoid forming any lumps in the custard.
- As you continue to stir gradually, the custard starts to thicken.
- Keep the flame low to medium to avoid custard sticking to the pan.
- Continue stirring until the custard thickens, keeping the flame on a simmer.
- The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, so keep whisking and cooking.
- Turn off the heat. Remove the pan from the flame and let it cool to room temperature.
- Refrigerate the vanilla custard for a few hours.
- This custard sauce can be used to prepare trifles, fruit custard, bread & butter pudding, and other sweets.
- Enjoy the vanilla custard recipe.
Video
FAQ’s
What is the trick to preparing custard?
Cooking stirred custard in a sizable pot over medium-low heat is the key to perfection. Until the custard thickens and coats, the back of the spoon, stir continuously with a wooden spoon
How to serve the vanilla custard?
Vanilla custard is a traditional, creamy delight that goes great on its own, like pudding or when served with another dish or topped with fruits, cake or bread
How long do we need to refrigerate the custard to set?
For setting, the custard can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 hours
Can we use toned milk instead of full-fat milk for custard preparation?
Full-fat milk will give a smooth texture in the custard, but you can also substitute full fat milk with toned milk