Southern Style Soft Custard Recipes

SOUTHERN-STYLE SOFT CUSTARD

Steps:

• Beat together eggs, sugar and salt. Scald milk (heat to 180°) and pour slowly over egg mixture. Return mixture to top of double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water, and constantly whisk the egg yolks, water and lemon juice until mixture reaches 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon., Mixture will not have the consistency of a firm baked custard. Cool over ice water, stirring occasionally. Add vanilla. If mixture separates, beat with egg beater until smooth. Serve chilled over slice pound cake; top with berries.

SOFT CUSTARD

Steps:

• Put 1 3/4 cup milk in saucepan, cover and bring to a boiling point.
• Reduce heat.
• Combine eggs, sugar, salt, and remaining milk.
• Add to scalded milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook stirring constantly, until a coating forms on a spoon.
• Remove and cool, add vanilla.
• Serve in tall glasses with whipped cream and coconut or use as a pudding sauce.

CUSTARD-STYLE VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the heavy cream, milk, vanilla bean and seeds, and vanilla extract in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the mixture almost reaches a gentle simmer, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Meanwhile, set a fine-mesh sieve in a medium bowl (preferably metal), then set the bowl in a large bowl of ice water; set aside.
• Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and salt in a separate medium bowl. Ladle one-quarter of the hot cream mixture into the egg mixture and whisk well. Whisk in another one-quarter of the cream mixture, then pour the cream-egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining hot cream.
• Return the saucepan to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon in a figure-eight, until slightly thickened (a thermometer should register 180˚ F), 6 to 8 minutes. If at any point the mixture starts to simmer, remove from the heat, continue stirring, reduce the heat to medium low, then return to the heat (you do not want the custard to thicken too quickly or the eggs to scramble).
• Immediately strain the custard through the sieve into the bowl set over the ice water. Return the vanilla bean to the custard and let the custard cool, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Remove the vanilla bean, then transfer the custard to an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's directions until the consistency of soft serve. Transfer to a freezer-safe container, cover and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours.

SIMPLE SOFT BAKED CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat egg. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla and salt; stir well. Pour into 2 ungreased 6-oz. custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg., Place cups in a baking pan. Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1 in. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

SOFT CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat split vanilla bean, cream, and milk in the top of a double boiler over gently simmering water, until almost boiling.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar. Scrape vanilla seeds into milk, and discard pod. Pour a little of the hot milk into the eggs, whisking constantly. Pour the remaining hot milk into eggs, still whisking constantly. Transfer the egg mixture back to the double boiler, and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Be sure not to let the mixture boil, because it will curdle.
• Remove the pan from the heat, and pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl set in a bowl of ice water. Stir the mixture as it cools to stop the cooking. When cool, transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Will keep 2 days in refrigerator.

SOUTHERN BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Into the lower pot of a double boiler, add water. In the upper pot, add milk. Heat through over medium heat.
• Beat eggs together until light. Add sugar and mix well. Pour a small portion of hot milk into the eggs and sugar to warm and thin this portion. Pour slowly into hot milk.
• Cook, stirring constantly until it will coat a spoon. Do not over cook. Add vanilla extract. Chill in refrigerator before serving.

OLD FASHION SOUTHERN BOILED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Rinse top of double boiler with hot water to keep milk from scorching. Scald whole milk (approx. 180°). Blend eggs and sugar in blender. Slowly add to scalded milk in top of double boiler stirring constantly. Cook until mixture thickens and coats spoon well (appox. 180º). Remove from heat. Add pure vanilla. Let cool a little then strain into containers. The straining is important to make sure there are no lumps in the custard.