Southern Boiled Custard Recipes

GRANDMOTHER'S BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Break eggs into the top of a double-boiler and beat well with an electric mixer.
• Measure sugar and cornstarch into a small mixing bowl, stirring well to combine.
• Add sugar mixture, 4 cups of milk and pinch of salt to beaten eggs.
• Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly; adjust heat if necessary so that water simmers constantly but does not reach a hard boil.
• Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until mixture turns an even, golden color and begins to thicken slightly (approximately 20 minutes).
• Remove top of double-boiler from heat immediately and stir in vanilla extract.
• Allow custard to cool slightly, and then check the consistency.
• If it is too thick, you may use as much as one additional cup of milk to thin it without compromising the texture or flavor (cold is fine-- no need to heat it first).
• If any solid'pips' have formed, pour custard through a mesh strainer to remove.
• (That sometimes happens if the heat gets a little too high. Won't hurt you, but they're not very appealing.) This may be served warm or cold, but we much prefer it chilled.

SOUTHERN BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Pour milk into a double boiler.
• Heat to boiling.
• Beat eggs, add sugar, and mix well.
• Add to milk and cook until thick enough for your tastes, stirring constantly.
• Add vanilla, stir well, and serve.

OLD FASHION SOUTHERN BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Rinse top of double boiler with hot water to keep milk from scorching. Scald whole milk (approx. 180°). Blend eggs and sugar in blender. Slowly add to scalded milk in top of double boiler stirring constantly. Cook until mixture thickens and coats spoon well (appox. 180º). Remove from heat. Add pure vanilla. Let cool a little then strain into containers. The straining is important to make sure there are no lumps in the custard.

AUNT JUNE'S BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat the milk, cream, and vanilla bean and reserved seeds in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat just until scalded (just before the boiling point). Remove from the heat, add the sugar and salt, and whisk until the sugar dissolves. Discard the vanilla bean.
• Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk to mix. Slowly whisk about 2 cups of the milk mixture into the eggs to temper the eggs. Whisk the egg mixture back into the pan with the remaining milk mixture.
• Place over very low heat and cook, whisking constantly, for 5 to 7 minutes longer, until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, or for up to 3 days. Serve chilled.
• Sara's Swaps
• Let this easy recipe do double duty around the holidays and use it to make eggnog in addition to custard. When the custard comes off the heat, stir in bourbon to taste and let cool. Meanwhile, place 6 large egg whites in a glass or metal bowl and beat to soft peaks with an electric mixer. Add 1 cup heavy cream whipped to soft peaks and lightly sweetened. Gently fold the egg whites into the custard and serve chilled, topped with freshly grated nutmeg and more lightly sweetened whipped cream.

BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 cups of the milk in a double boiler until a skim forms (just before boiling) on the top of the milk.
• Sift together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a mixing bowl. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Whisking constantly, slowly stream 1/4 cup hot milk into the eggs.
• Slowly pour the egg-milk mixture back into the double boiler, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Stir in the sugar mixture and continue cooking the custard until it thickens, about 15 minutes, stirring constantly (see Note). Stir in the vanilla.
• From Gwen
• Don't be turned off by the term custard. This is delicious served cold.
• Note
• Combining hot milk and eggs is a delicate process, and lumps may appear even if you are very careful. If lumps do appear, strain the custard through a fine sieve.

SOUTHERN BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• 1. Whisk 1/4 c sugar and egg yolks. Set aside. Note-bring eggs to room temperature.
• 2. Combine milk and remaining sugar in a heavy pan. Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat. Heat till milk is steamed. Do NOT boil.
• 3. Scoop out about a half cup of the hot milk mixture to add slowly to egg mixture.
• 4. Add egg mixture to pot of milk mixture stirring constantly until it begins to thicken. 20-30 minutes A whisk works best.
• 5. Remove from heat when it reaches 160 degrees and coats a spoon, and add vanilla. Extract plus paste or caviar of choice. Optional - A dash of nutmeg and cinnamon but not to much, after all if you wanted eggnog you could just buy it!

EASY EGG CUSTARD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
• 2. Place six 4-ounce ovenproof cups (you can use ramekins, or coffee cups marked as oven-safe) in a deep baking pan just large enough to hold them.
• 3. In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• 4. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks, sugar, and vanilla.
• 5. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the simmering milk, whisking gently to combine.
• 6. Pour the mixture through a fine strainer into the cups (if the strainer clogs, use a spoon to scrape it clean), then sprinkle lightly with the nutmeg.
• 7. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cups.
• 8. Bake until the custard is just set (it can still be a little loose), 30 to 35 minutes.
• 9. Let the custard cool in the water bath for about 2 hours before serving.

SOUTHERN BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Into the lower pot of a double boiler, add water. In the upper pot, add milk. Heat through over medium heat.
• Beat eggs together until light. Add sugar and mix well. Pour a small portion of hot milk into the eggs and sugar to warm and thin this portion. Pour slowly into hot milk.
• Cook, stirring constantly until it will coat a spoon. Do not over cook. Add vanilla extract. Chill in refrigerator before serving.