Soft Custard Recipes

SOUTHERN-STYLE SOFT CUSTARD

Steps:

• Beat together eggs, sugar and salt. Scald milk (heat to 180°) and pour slowly over egg mixture. Return mixture to top of double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water, and constantly whisk the egg yolks, water and lemon juice until mixture reaches 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon., Mixture will not have the consistency of a firm baked custard. Cool over ice water, stirring occasionally. Add vanilla. If mixture separates, beat with egg beater until smooth. Serve chilled over slice pound cake; top with berries.

SIMPLE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Cook and stir milk, vanilla extract, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove mixture from heat before it comes to a boil.
• Whisk eggs, sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl until sugar dissolves.
• Set 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.

BAKED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In medium bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt with wire whisk or fork. Gradually stir in milk. Pour into six 6-ounce custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
• Place cups in 13x9-inch pan on oven rack. Pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups (see box, below).
• Bake about 45 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Remove cups from water. Cool about 30 minutes. Unmold and serve warm, or refrigerate and unmold before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

SOFT ORANGE CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the eggs, flour and salt. Beat for about 2 minutes or until thickened. Add the orange juice, orange zest and lemon juice. Stir in milk., Pour into five 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Place ramekins in a 13x9-in. baking pan. Add 1 in. of boiling water to pan. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove ramekins from water bath. Serve warm or chilled. Refrigerate leftovers.

SOFT CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat split vanilla bean, cream, and milk in the top of a double boiler over gently simmering water, until almost boiling.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar. Scrape vanilla seeds into milk, and discard pod. Pour a little of the hot milk into the eggs, whisking constantly. Pour the remaining hot milk into eggs, still whisking constantly. Transfer the egg mixture back to the double boiler, and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Be sure not to let the mixture boil, because it will curdle.
• Remove the pan from the heat, and pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl set in a bowl of ice water. Stir the mixture as it cools to stop the cooking. When cool, transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Will keep 2 days in refrigerator.

CLASSIC CUSTARD ICE CREAM BASE

Steps:

• In a small pot, simmer heavy cream, milk, sugar and salt until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove pot from heat. In a separate bowl, whisk yolks. Stirring constantly, slowly whisk about a third of the hot cream into the yolks, then whisk the yolk mixture back into the pot with the cream. Return pot to medium-low heat and gently cook until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer).
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cool mixture to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Churn in an ice cream machine according to manufacturers' instructions. Serve directly from the machine for soft serve, or store in freezer until needed.

SOFT CUSTARD

Steps:

• Put 1 3/4 cup milk in saucepan, cover and bring to a boiling point.
• Reduce heat.
• Combine eggs, sugar, salt, and remaining milk.
• Add to scalded milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook stirring constantly, until a coating forms on a spoon.
• Remove and cool, add vanilla.
• Serve in tall glasses with whipped cream and coconut or use as a pudding sauce.