Grandma's Old-Fashioned Vanilla Custard Recipe (2024)

This homemade vanilla custard recipe is so delicious, you’ll want to eat it with a spoon. (At least, that’s what I did!)

The combination of milk and cream makes it rich but not too heavy. And using real vanilla beans guarantees the most incredible sweetness.

It’s tasty served warm on top of cakes and pie, cold in a trifle, or as a cake filling. Either way, it’s a must-make!

Why You’ll Love This Vanilla Custard

Vanilla custard is a labor of love, offering silky, dreamy, vanilla-infused bliss in every spoonful.

Here’s why you need to make it:

Ingredients

Whether you serve it warm from the stovetop or chilled from the fridge, there’s no wrong way to enjoy vanilla custard.

It’s one of those simple pleasures that never fails to delight.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Whole Milk: Provides a rich, creamy base. The high-fat content helps create a smooth, luxurious texture, so be sure to use whole milk.

• Heavy Cream: Another layer of richness that also creates a silky mouthfeel.

• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the custard and helps create a balanced flavor. Feel free to swap in brown sugar if you want a more caramel-like taste. Just know it will make the color more brown than yellow.

• Salt: Enhances the vanilla flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Vanilla Bean*: Steeping the bean infuses the custard with pure, intense vanilla flavor, elevating it to gourmet status.

• Egg Yolks: To thicken and emulsify the custard.

• Cornstarch: Helps thicken and stabilize the custard.

*Vanilla Paste. If you don’t have beans, vanilla paste is the next best thing.

With the brand I use, 1 vanilla bean is equal to 1 tablespoon of vanilla paste. But that can vary depending on the brand and type of paste.

For example:

• Dr. Oetker Madagascan Vanilla Bean Paste states: 1 teaspoon = 1 vanilla bean.
• Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste (the brand I use) states: 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste = 1 tablespoon vanilla extract = 1 whole vanilla bean = 1 tablespoon vanilla powder

If you’re unsure of how much to use, check the package for instructions. Start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste.

How to Make Vanilla Custard

Unlike instant powder, there are a few key techniques for making custard at home.

You’ll steep real vanilla beans in milk, temper the eggs, and strain the final custard to achieve the silkiest, smoothest, most luxurious texture and flavor.

But I promise, it’s nothing you can’t handle! Here are the basic steps:

Tips For the Best Vanilla Custard

There’s something so comforting and nostalgic about the smooth, creamy texture and rich vanilla flavor of this custard.

But if you’ve never made it before, check out these tips and tricks before you get started:

• Have everything ready. Measure the ingredients and have the sieve and bowl prepared for when the custard is done.

• Stir/whisk constantly. Keep the milk moving to prevent scalding. Then, whisk the eggs and custard constantly to avoid scrambled eggs and lumps.

• Keep it smooth. After straining, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard before chilling. Otherwise, it will form a thick ‘skin’ on top.

• Flavor options. To vary the flavor, experiment with different extracts, such as almond or coconut, liqueurs like Grand Marnier, or spices like nutmeg. You can even add chocolate chips to the hot custard and whisk until smooth.

• Serving suggestions. Enjoy custard chilled with fresh berries, as a cake or fruit pie filling, layered in trifles or banana pudding, or warm drizzled over desserts like apple crisp.

• Frozen custard. Transfer the chilled, set custard to an ice cream maker and churn until smooth.

What Is Tempering?

Tempering eggs is a technique used when making custards, sauces, and soups.

In such dishes, you need to slowly raise the temperature of the eggs so they mix smoothly into the hot liquid.

This thickens the dish without cooking the eggs in solid pieces.

Here’s how to temper eggs:

The key point is to combine the hot and cold mixtures very gradually while whisking vigorously.

This controlled heating prevents the egg proteins from coagulating and curdling before they are dispersed throughout the liquid.

How to Store

Vanilla custard is a great make-ahead recipe, as it needs to chill in order to set. However, you can also serve it warm, straight from the pan, or reheated.

Either way, here’s how to store it:

Note: I don’t recommend freezing vanilla custard as the texture will become grainy and watery when thawed.

How to Serve Vanilla Custard

I love this stuff so much, I lick the bowl clean and eat it right out of the tub!

But it’s a lot more versatile than you think! Here are a few great ways to serve and use homemade vanilla custard:

Pear Crisp
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Croissant Bread Pudding
Banana Pudding Cake
Chocolate Trifle

Vanilla Custard Recipe

Course: DessertCuisine: American

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

521

kcal

Vanilla custard is so delicious, you’ll want to eat it with a spoon. Serve it warm on top pie or cold in a trifle – either way, it’s a must-make!

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tablespoon vanilla paste – see note)

• 4 large egg yolks

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, stir the milk with the cream, sugar, and salt. Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and add them to the pot with the pod. Warm over medium heat, stirring frequently with a spatula, until the edges just start to bubble. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, whisk the egg yolks and cornstarch in a separate bowl until very smooth.
• Carefully remove the vanilla pod from the milk mixture. Then, slowly pour or ladle about 1 cup of the hot milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly to temper them. When the eggs are warmed, pour them into the saucepan, whisking constantly.
• Cook the custard over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes. Do not let it boil.
• Remove the pot from the heat and add the butter. Mix until the butter is melted and the custard is smooth and glossy. (If using vanilla paste, add it now.)
• Immediately pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Spread flat, then press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard. Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Serve the custard cold, with fresh berries or a sprinkle of ground nutmeg on top, if desired. Or use it in trifles, as a cake filling, or in banana pudding. Enjoy!

Notes

• Have everything ready. Measure the ingredients and have the sieve and bowl prepared for when the custard is done.
• Stir/whisk constantly. Keep the milk moving to prevent scalding. Then, whisk the eggs and custard constantly to avoid scrambled eggs and lumps.
• Vanilla paste. With the brand I use, 1 vanilla bean is equal to 1 tablespoon of vanilla paste. If you’re unsure of how much to use, check the package for instructions. Start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste.