Description
Creamy homemade egg custard brings nostalgic comfort from grandma’s kitchen. Silky smooth textures and delicate vanilla notes invite home cooks to savor each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 large eggs
- 4 cups (960 mL/32 fl oz) 2% or whole milk
- ½ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- Nutmeg for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Thermal Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F and delicately lubricate an 8×8-inch baking vessel with a gossamer coating of grease.
- Egg Fusion: Whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a capacious mixing vessel until the concoction achieves a velvety, homogeneous consistency.
- Milk Tempering: Gently elevate milk temperature in a compact saucepan to approximately 180°F, vigilantly avoiding boiling point.
- Liquid Integration: Cascade hot milk into the egg mixture with continuous whisking, preventing potential protein coagulation and ensuring seamless incorporation.
- Aromatic Layering: Pour the custard into the prepared dish, optionally dusting nutmeg across the surface for an elegant flavor enhancement.
- Water Bath Technique: Nestle the custard dish within a larger container, surrounding with one inch of water to guarantee uniform, gentle heat distribution.
- Baking Precision: Slide the assembled dishes into the preheated oven, allowing 45-50 minutes of transformation. Validate doneness by inserting a knife that emerges pristine with a subtle, sophisticated tremor.
- Cooling and Presentation: Remove from oven and permit natural temperature reduction. Serve either warm or chilled, accompanied by whipped cream, fresh fruit, or complementary spices. Refrigerate remaining portions.
Notes
- Precise Temperature Control: Heat milk to exactly 180°F to prevent curdling and ensure a smooth, silky custard texture without boiling.
- Gentle Whisking Technique: Continuously whisk while adding hot milk to egg mixture, creating a seamless blend that prevents unwanted egg scrambling.
- Water Bath Secrets: Use a one-inch water bath to distribute heat evenly, guaranteeing a creamy, perfectly cooked custard with no tough edges.
- Doneness Test Mastery: Look for a clean knife insert with a subtle wobble in the center, indicating the ideal custard consistency and preventing overcooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 152
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 118 mg