Custard

Custard has been a popular dessert for centuries and its recipes have evolved over time. The earliest custards were made with milk, eggs and sweeteners such as honey or sugar. They were often flavoured with spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.

Custard recipes began to appear in cookbooks in the 16th century. The first known recipe was published in England in 1558. It was made with milk, eggs, cream, sugar and spices.

In the 18th century, custard recipes became more elaborate. They often included cream, fruit and nuts. Custard pies were also popular at this time.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Rhubarb Custard Cake

  • SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
  • springform
  • all purpose flour
  • egg yolk
  • sugar
  • salt
  • rhubarb
  • sour cream
  • dark rum
  • lemon zest
  • egg
  • baking powder
  • butter
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Easy No-Crust Custard Pie

  • evaporated milk
  • whipping cream
  • vanilla extract
  • butter
  • egg
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • confectioners sugar
  • nutmeg
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Yellow Summer Squash Custard Pie

  • egg yolk
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • butter
  • heavy cream
  • shortening
  • salt
  • egg
  • all purpose flour
  • vanilla extract
  • sugar
  • ice water
  • butter
  • summer squash
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Berry Custard Pie

  • milk
  • blueberry
  • raspberry
  • sugar
  • salt
  • graham cracker crust
  • vanilla extract
  • egg
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Choc-Nanner-Nut Custards

  • lemon zest
  • banana
  • heavy cream
  • vanilla extract
  • salt
  • brown sugar
  • chocolate chip
  • peanut
  • sugar
  • egg yolk
  • vanilla wafer
  • butter
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Easy Coconut Custard Pie

  • sweetened coconut flake
  • salt
  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • coconut flake
  • milk
  • whipped cream
  • sugar
  • egg
  • butter
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Egg Custard Pie

  • vanilla
  • egg white
  • dairy pie crust
  • salt
  • almond milk
  • egg
  • sugar
  • nutmeg
  /public/spend-with-pennies-logo.svg

Vanilla Custard

  • vanilla extract
  • sugar
  • cornstarch
  • butter
  • milk
  • light cream
  • egg yolk
  /public/food52-logo.svg

Parisian Custard Tart

  • All-Purpose Tart Dough
  • egg
  • sugar
  • ice water
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • butter
  • Custard Tart
  • puff pastry
  • vanilla extract
  • sugar
  • water
  • cornstarch
  • brown sugar
  • dark rum
  • milk
  • egg
  /public/spend-with-pennies-logo.svg

Lemon Custard

  • vanilla extract
  • butter
  • milk
  • lemon
  • sugar
  • cornstarch
  • light cream
  • egg yolk
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Portuguese Egg Custard Tarts

  • candy thermometer
  • all purpose flour
  • vanilla extract
  • cinnamon
  • lemon
  • milk
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • sugar
  • egg yolk
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Apple and Fig Custard

  • salt
  • vanilla bean
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • apple
  • apple brandy
  • demerara sugar
  • lemon zest
  • milk
  • egg
  • crème fraîche
  • butter
  • mission fig
  /public/the-food-charlatan.svg

Cranberry Custard Pie

  • sugar
  • all purpose flour
  • shortening
  • salt
  • egg
  • cornstarch
  • water
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • butter
  • cranberry
  • egg
  • butter
  • sugar
  • sugared cranberry
  • water
  /public/food52-logo.svg

Frozen Custard

  • sparkling sugar
  • heavy cream
  • vanilla extract
  • salt
  • milk
  • sugar
  • light corn syrup
  • egg yolk
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Apple Cranberry Streusel Custard Pie

  • cinnamon
  • cranberry
  • eagle brand® sweetened condensed milk
  • nut
  • brown sugar
  • water
  • pillsbury ® all purpose flour
  • butter
  • unbaked pie crust
  • egg
  • all purpose apple
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Toasted-Coconut Custard Tart

  • Filling
  • white pepper
  • kiwi
  • vanilla bean
  • light brown sugar
  • milk
  • egg yolk
  • coconut
  • all purpose flour
  • Tart Shell
  • salt
  • butter
  • ice water
  • all purpose flour
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Raspberry-Brown Butter Custard Pie

  • Custard
  • whipped cream
  • sugar
  • vanilla bean
  • nutmeg
  • lemon zest
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • raspberry
  • butter
  • egg yolk
  • egg
  • Piecrust
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • sugar
  • ice water
  • butter
  • cornmeal
  /public/the-food-charlatan.svg

Peach Custard Pie

  • vanilla
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • pie crust
  • egg yolk
  • butter
  • peach
  • sour cream
  /public/the-food-charlatan.svg

Rhubarb Custard Pie

  • sugar
  • sugar
  • egg
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • water
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • tapioca
  • egg
  • butter shortening
  • rhubarb
  • nutmeg
  /public/la-cucina-italiana-logo.svg

Almond Custard

  • isabella grape
  • heavy cream
  • amaretto liqueur
  • sugar
  • almond milk
  • cornstarch
  • almond
  • gelatin sheet
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Cardamom-Coffee Custard

  • butter
  • vanilla bean
  • cornstarch
  • salt
  • milk
  • dark roast coffee bean
  • sugar
  • cardamom
  • coffee bean
  • egg yolk
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Raspberry Custard Tart

  • SAUCE
  • sugar
  • butter
  • raspberry
  • water
  • salt
  • PASTRY
  • lemon zest
  • egg yolk
  • butter
  • lemon juice
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • salt
  • heavy cream
  • FILLING
  • raspberry
  • vanilla bean
  • heavy cream
  • sugar
  • egg yolk
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Blue Potato Custard with White Cake

  • strawberry sauce
  • evaporated milk
  • strawberry
  • salt
  • vanilla
  • lime
  • ricotta cheese
  • blue potato
  • cocoa powder
  • condensed milk
  • confectioners sugar
  • coconut
  • sugar
  • water
  • butter
  • heavy cream
  • by white cake
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Brandied Peach Custard Pie

  • mint
  • whipped cream pastry
  • pie crust
  • shaker
  • solid vegetable shortening
  • unbaked pie crust
  • sugar
  • brown sugar
  • ice water
  • cinnamon
  • brandy
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • heavy cream
  • butter
  • egg
  • peach

Ingredient Breakdown

 
sugar
salt
egg
butter
milk
egg yolk
all purpose flour
heavy cream
vanilla extract
water
vanilla bean
nutmeg
cinnamon
cornstarch
lemon zest
whipped cream
lemon juice
lemon
ice water
ginger
honey
brown sugar
raspberry
vanilla
clove
strawberry
dark brown sugar
rhubarb
sour cream
peach
coconut
almond
black pepper
crème fraîche
mint
light cream
evaporated milk
cocoa powder
coconut milk
banana
pie crust
gelatin
light brown sugar
onion
ground
dark rum
baking powder
condensed milk
semolina
confectioners sugar
shortening
coconut flake
thyme
blueberry
baking soda
nut
pecan
powdered sugar
almond milk
apple
lime
cranberry
light corn syrup
unbaked pie crust
rum
orange zest
gelatin sheet
garlic
cardamom
darjeeling tea
chicken stock
light
all butter puff pastry
springform
lemon rind
orange rind
phyllo pastry
whipping cream
summer squash
walnut
tofu
date
coconut cream
maple syrup
half
berry
ritz cracker
sweet
black coffee
mango
basil
graham cracker crust
panela
rice
toasted white sesame seed
chocolate chip
peanut
vanilla wafer
sweetened coconut flake
molasses
bourbon
semi sweet chocolate
cake flour
egg white
dairy pie crust
dark cherry
puff pastry
gluten vanilla extract
light coconut milk
sweetened coconut
sweet rice flour
tapioca starch
dairy butter substitute
pumpkin pie spice
lychee
lime juice
candy thermometer
coconut flavoring
oil
star anise pod
sweet potato chip
corn
​ egg yolk
of​ cayenne
apple brandy
demerara sugar
mission fig
sugared cranberry
sparkling sugar
eagle brand® sweetened condensed milk
pillsbury ® all purpose flour
all purpose apple
white pepper
kiwi
cornmeal
almond flour
red grape
italian flour
puff pastry dough
qt milk
dark chocolate
stone fruit
tapioca
butter shortening
blackberry
isabella grape
amaretto liqueur
marsala wine
vanilla pod
pine nut
candied citron
kumquat
citron
raisin
rice milk
dairyfree whipping cream
rice flour
nori sheet
green onion
4x4 kombu
shiitake mushroom
corn syrup
dark roast coffee bean
coffee bean
dutch cocoa powder
soba cha
white wine vinegar
sheep milk ricotta
bosc pear
cream cheese
cream
green cardamon
chocolate
strawberry sauce
ricotta cheese
blue potato
by white cake
icing sugar
sauteed shiitake mushroom
edamame
spinach
canola oil
white truffle oil
chicken liver
chive
whipped cream pastry
shaker
solid vegetable shortening
brandy
black peppercorn
green cardamom
semisweet chocolate
parmesan cheese
zucchini
jaggery
cashew
olive oil
maldon salt
parsley
radish
chicken skin
pepper
lard

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • sugar 29%
  • salt 23%

Common Ingredients

  • milk 19%
  • egg yolk 17%
  • heavy cream 16%

Usual Ingredients

  • vanilla extract 14%
  • egg 13%
  • butter 11%
  • vanilla bean 8%

Rarey Ingredients

  • all purpose flour 6%
  • cornstarch 6%