Sometimes you need a little indulgent treat to top off the tummy after a delicious meal. But if you’re trying to avoid white refined sugar most store-bought custards or even custard recipes you find online are a pretty big no-no.
Maple syrup comes to the rescue in this delicious melt-in-your-mouth treat that keeps you satisfied – I love that there is no refined sugar added; it is super simple to make with real natural ingredients. Plus homemade custard doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, preservatives, or wheat-based thickening agents that some store custards do.
I even have this yummy maple custard as a snack because of the protein from the eggs, calcium from the dairy, and the energy I get from the maple syrup. (sounds downright good for you when you think of all the real whole food ingredients)
So without further ado…
Our Super Simple Natural Custard Recipe
• 6 farm-fresh eggs
• 3 cups whole milk
(milk alternatives can also be used: coconut, almond, hemp, etc..)
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• nutmeg (optional)
Making Custard: Preparation and Baking
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2) Whisk together eggs, salt, milk, and vanilla – blend in maple syrup (yes it really is that easy)
3) Pour into 8×8 (or 2 Liter) glass baking or casserole dish
3) Bake for 40-50 min (until nice and brown on top and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean)
4) Serve warm or cold, sprinkle with nutmeg (or we love it with pumpkin spice)
5) Enjoy!
Extra Tips for Making Perfect Baked Egg Custard
While I love this custard recipe because it is so simple, baking any egg dish takes a bit of practice to get the texture right. Here are a few tips and extra methods for making a great custard.
Eggs:
Using the freshest eggs you can find when making egg custard is the key. We are lucky enough to have a local small farm where we get fresh pastured eggs. If you can’t get pasture-raised eggs opt for organic eggs for the most health benefit (the more orange the egg yolk the more nutrients).
Beat the eggs gently with a wire whisk before adding in the other ingredients. Your custard will come out much smoother. Also, beating the eggs lightly prevents air bubbles from forming which changes the texture of the custard.
Strain the eggs:
A simple tip for a smooth creamy custard is to strain the egg mixture before cooking. This removes any unmixed egg whites which let your custard get its smooth on so to speak. A smooth custard is a happy custard.
Water Bath:
While you don’t need a water bath (I’ve made some great custard with the no-frills method I mentioned above) a water bath ensures your custard is cooked evenly. Also, if you choose to bake your custard in ramekins a water bath is essential.
To make a water bath, place the baking dish or ramekins into a deep baking dish lined with a tea towel. Add hot water into the lined baking dish about 2/3 the way up until it reaches the level of the custard inside the ramekins or dish.
A water bath or bain-marie (the Fancy Nancy name) protects the custard from the direct heat of the pan bottom, this assures the custard cooks gently and doesn’t overheat and separate.
Timing:
Making egg custard is a delicate balance when it comes to timing because you don’t want to overcook your custard. A trick is to shake the baking pan to check for doneness.
Does your custard wiggle only slightly when you shake it? Then do a happy dance because it is ready to be taken out of the oven and enjoyed!
If your eggs don’t have that nice jiggle, they are overcooked and the custard won’t have the proper texture.
Do you have a delicious homemade custard recipe you really love? Let us know; we always like trying healthy new recipes. And remember sharing feels good – please share this simple custard recipe with at least a million friends (that’s a lot of feelgood-ness)
Love desserts, but they don’t love you? How would you like to sink your teeth into 50 guilt-free dessert recipes (okay fine don’t eat the recipes just the nummy desserts you make)
I am in love with the Healing Gourmet’s new dessert cookbook – they revamped all your favorite dessert recipes to remove every ingredient that was unnatural or refined, as well as anything that would spike your blood sugar or cause your body to store fat. They are actually GOOD for you!
Give it a try by clicking below:
FAQs
Custard is high in fat and calories, and consuming too much can lead to weight gain or an increase in cholesterol levels. Additionally, custard can be high in added sugars, which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or other health problems.
How long does custard take to thicken? ›
Whisk eggs, sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl until sugar dissolves. Set the saucepan back over low heat. Pour in egg mixture slowly, whisking constantly, until custard thickens enough to coat the bottom of a spoon, 5 to 10 minutes.
What is the difference between creme brulee and custard? ›
Is Egg Custard the same as Creme Brulee? Egg custard and creme brulee are not the same. The main difference between the two is that creme brulee is topped with a layer of sugar that caramelizes under a broiler or torch, resulting in a crunchy, burnt sugar topping.
What makes custard rubbery? ›
Avoid baking cold custard in a cold shell, though; it'll take so much longer to cook that you run the chance of it turning to rubber.
Which is healthier, ice cream or custard? ›
Nutritional Value
Frozen custard is higher in fat and calories than ice cream. This is because of the egg yolks and heavy cream used in its recipe. Frozen custard is also typically denser than ice cream, which means it is more calorie-dense. Ice cream is typically lower in fat and calories than frozen custard.
Is custard bad for high cholesterol? ›
Foods with high levels of saturated and trans fats raise the levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood, and should be avoided: These foods include; Full fat: milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice-cream and custard.
How do I know if my custard is done? ›
The center will jiggle slightly when dish or cup is gently shaken. Custard will continue to “cook” after it's removed and center will firm up quickly. Over baked custard may curdle. The knife test: Test for doneness with a thin-bladed knife.
Why isn't my custard thickening up? ›
Keep an eye on the heat when cooking the custard - too low and it won't thicken, too high and you'll have scrambled eggs.
Can you overcook custard? ›
Here's how to avoid one of the worst kitchen mishaps: overcooking. Egg-based puddings and custards can curdle if cooked beyond 185 degrees. We take crème anglaise off the heat when the mixture registers 175 to 180, but when making the base for ice cream we push the temperature to 180 to 185 for maximum thickness.
What is custard called in America? ›
The British word 'pudding' is commonly used to refer to any sweet dessert eaten after a meal. Americans use the term only to mean an egg custard that is usually sweet but could also be savory. The most popular custards of this type in the US are chocolate, vanilla and butterscotch.
Both custard and pudding are sweet, goopy desserts made mostly from cream and then cooked. However, custard (and therefore flan) is made with eggs and sweetened milk alongside the cream, and flan itself includes caramel.
What is the English name for crème brûlée? ›
Crème brûlée or crème brulée (/ˌkrɛm bruːˈleɪ/; French: [kʁɛm bʁy. le]), also known as burnt cream or Trinity cream, and virtually identical to crema catalana, is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hardened caramelized sugar.
What are the mistakes when making custard? ›
Experts Reveal 12 Big Custard Mistakes You're Probably Making
- Not Knowing The Difference Between Starch-Thickened And Egg-Thickened Custards. ...
- Not Knowing The Difference Between Stovetop And Baked Custards. ...
- Adding The Eggs To Your Custard Too Quickly. ...
- Overcooking Custard. ...
- Cooking Custard At Too High A Temperature.
Stir constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard thickens and coats the back of the spoon. Stirring distributes the heat so the custard doesn't become too hot, which can curdle it. Draw a finger across the back of the spoon and if it leaves a trail, your custard is ready.
How can I make my custard more solid? ›
Using a Thickening Agent
Mix flour and cold water well, making sure the mixture is smooth. For 1 cup (240 mL) of custard, use 2 tablespoons (17 g) of flour mixed with 4 tablespoons (59 mL) of cold water. Add the mixture into your custard ingredients as they cook on the stove. Use cornstarch as an alternative to flour.
Is store-bought custard healthy? ›
Store-bought powder custard has no benefits at all. However, freshly made custard has more carbohydrates and lipids than powdered custard. The Benefits Of Custard. It's an excellent source of protein.
Is custard more fattening than cream? ›
Custard is generally made of cream, egg yolks, and sugar while cream is just cream, possibly mixed with some sugar. The egg yolks in custard contain cholesterol and the cream has high amounts of saturated fat, which isn't the best combination. Unless the custard is made with gelatin, I think cream would be "healthier."
Is there a lot of sugar in custard? ›
Custard contains 247 calories per 260 g serving. This serving contains 8.9 g of fat, 13 g of protein and 29 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 28 g sugar and 0 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Custard contains 4.1 g of saturated fat and 190 mg of cholesterol per serving.
Does custard have a lot of fat? ›
Rich and creamy, premium custard has a fat content of approximately 6%, regular custard is 1–3% fat and low-fat custard has a fat content of 0–1%. Made from full-fat milk (around 90%), sugar, thickener, flavourings, vegetable gum and colours. Long-life custard can be stored at ambient temperatures for long periods.
