Baked egg custard recipe

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This easy baked egg custard recipe is a classic dessert with a smooth texture. It's a delicious mood-booster that the entire family will love!

Baked egg custard recipe
(Image credit: Food And Drink/REX/Shutterstock)
  • healthy
Serves2
SkillEasy
Preparation Time10 mins
Cooking Time1 hours
Total Time1 hours 10 mins
Cost RangeCheap
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories256 Kcal13%
Sugar31 g34%
Fat8 g11%
Salt0.6 gRow 3 - Cell 2
Protein14 g28%
Carbohydrates32 g12%
Salt0.6 gRow 6 - Cell 2

This easy baked egg custard recipe is a classic dessert with minimal prep.

With a smooth texture, this baked egg custard is an indulgent and delicious treat. But the best part? It uses only five ingredients, which you're likely to already have in the house. With just 10 minutes of preparation, it's a good easy dessert for when you're craving something sweet. Then just pop it in the oven and wait for it to bake. You can reduce fat by using semi-skimmed milk.

Ingredients

  • 450ml (3/4 pint) milk
  • Few drops vanilla essence
  • 40g (1 ½ oz) caster sugar
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • A little grated nutmeg

WEIGHT CONVERTER

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Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas mark 4.
  2. Heat the milk, vanilla essence and sugar in a small pan until nearly boiling, then pour the mixture over the beaten egg, stirring continuously.
  3. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a 600ml (1 pint) ovenproof dish.
  4. Sprinkle over a little nutmeg, then bake for 50-60 mins until set.
  5. Serve with stewed or tinned fruit.

Why is my baked egg custard watery?

Undercooking your custard will cause it to be watery but equally overcooking it will cause it to curdle, a bit like scrambled egg. Check your baked egg custard while cooking. You can tell if it's ready by giving the dish a little shake. A set custard should wobble like jelly. The centre will be the last part to cook, so watch for a soupy middle.

Top tips for making baked egg custard

This baked egg custard recipe is ideally made and eaten on the same day for the best flavour and texture. You could leave any leftovers in the fridge overnight if you really don't want it to go to waste, but we wouldn't recommend any longer.

Use this recipe as a filling for the popular Portuguese Pastel de Natas or enjoy hot or cold on it’s own. Serve with slow-roasted rhubarb, typically in season around Spring, for that classic rhubarb and custard flavour combination.

Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies