Vanilla Custard

A rich and creamy classic vanilla custard made with whole milk, egg yolks, and vanilla, slowly cooked until perfectly thick and smooth. Perfect as a dessert filling or standalone treat.

6 servings
3 hr 23 min

Ingredients

  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 8 large egg yolks
  • cup sugar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 piece instant-read thermometer

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Heat milk in a 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not boiling.

    8 min

  2. 2.

    While milk heats, whisk together yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heatproof bowl until smooth.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Add 1 cup hot milk to yolk mixture in a stream, whisking, then add remaining milk, whisking constantly. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and registers 170°F on thermometer, 6 to 10 minutes (do not boil).

    10 min

  4. 4.

    Immediately force custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl and stir in butter and vanilla. Chill custard, its surface covered with wax paper, until cold and thickened, at least 3 hours.

    180 min