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Vanilla custard with a spoon in it in a white bowl topped with whipped cream and berries.
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4.99 from 60 votes

Homemade Vanilla Custard

Homemade vanilla custard is an easy-to-make and decadent dessert that your whole family will love! Made with simple ingredients, my homemade custard recipe takes about twenty minutes to prepare and a few hours to chill and set up.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
chill3 hours
Total Time3 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 258kcal
Author: Chef Dennis Littley

Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • ½ cup light cream or milk
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Add the granulated sugar, table salt, and cornstarch to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Add the egg yolks, milk, and light cream to the mixture and whisk until well combined.
  • Place a saucepan over medium-low heat and pour the custard mix into the pot.
  • Cook the mixture for 10-12 minutes (or until thickened), whisking continuously to keep the mixture from scalding.
    *Mix until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Remove the pan from the heat, then add the butter and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
  • Pour the custard into a medium bowl and cover by placing a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard, leaving no space between the plastic and custard. This prevents a skin from forming.
  • Refrigerate the custard for 3-4 hours (overnight is best) before serving.

Notes

Can I use whole eggs to make the custard?

You could, but I wouldn't advise it. The whites of the egg will change the texture and may end up getting gritty, and then you'd need to use a fine mesh strainer to get a creamy custard.
You can use real vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste instead of the extract. Both will give you those delicious vanilla speckles in the custard and give you a more prominent vanilla flavor.
*If you use a vanilla pod, scrape the vanilla seeds out of the pod using a knife.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 0.05g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 522IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 0.4mg