Citrus-Infused Custard Sauce

A silky smooth custard sauce delicately flavored with orange and lemon zest. This versatile sauce combines whole milk and heavy cream with eggs and sugar for a rich, citrusy accompaniment to desserts.

6 servings
15 min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 strips orange zest
  • 4 strips lemon zest
  • 2 large eggs
  • cup sugar
  • 1 pinch salt

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Bring milk and cream to a simmer with citrus zests in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium-low heat.

    8 min

  2. 2.

    Whisk together eggs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl, then whisk in hot cream mixture.

    3 min

  3. 3.

    Return mixture to pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until custard is thick enough to coat back of spoon (160° to 165°F on an instant read thermometer), about 2 minutes.

    2 min

  4. 4.

    Immediately remove pan from heat and strain custard through a fine sieve into a bowl, discarding zests.

    2 min

  5. 5.

    Serve warm, or at room temperature, or chill to thicken.

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