Vanilla Custard Cups Recipes

BASIC VANILLA CUSTARD

Steps:

• Have eggs ready in a bowl, and set aside where it will be within reach.
• Using a whisk, combine milk, sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan over medium heat on stovetop. Allow milk to scald (heat to the point when tiny bubbles form around edges of pan). Whisk occasionally to prevent cornstarch from clumping on bottom edges of pan.
• Remove milk mixture from heat, preferably to a burner that's turned off.
• Mix about 2 tablespoons of scalded milk mixture into eggs using whisk, then introduce eggs into milk mixture in a slow stream, whisking milk mixture constantly.
• Immediately return pan to heat and whisk gently until custard thickens, another two or three minutes. Do not allow to boil. (If you find that you have egg white strands in custard, feel free to pass it through a fine-mesh sieve into a different bowl now.)
• Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla.

VANILLA CUSTARD CUPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the egg, milk, brown sugar, vanilla and salt if desired until blended. Pour into two ungreased 6-oz. custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg. , Place cups in a 9-in. square baking pan. Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1 in. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

VANILLA CUSTARD CUPS (BAKED)

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat (can use a hand mixer) first five ingredients until blended.
• Pour into two ungreased 6-oz. custard cups.
• Sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired.
• Place cups in a 9-in. square baking pan.
• Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1 inch.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350F for 30-35 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

CUSTARD CUPS

Steps:

• In a 1-qt. microwave-safe dish, heat the milk, uncovered, on high for 3 minutes or until hot (do not boil). With an electric mixer, beat in sugar, eggs, salt and vanilla. Pour into six ungreased 4-oz. microwave-safe custard cups. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 3-1/2-4-1/2 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

MAPLE SYRUP CUSTARD CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk eggs in a bowl until lightly beaten. Add milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract; gently beat until incorporated. Pour mixture into six 1/4-cup ramekins. Arrange ramekins in a baking dish. Pour enough water into baking dish to cover ramekins halfway up the sides.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted in the center of a custard comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove ramekins from baking dish and refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 1 hour.

VANILLA CUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, and salt until well combined.
• Pour milk into a heavy-bottomed, nonreactive saucepan. If using the vanilla bean, scrape seeds from pod halves into the milk using the tip of a knife. Add pod halves. Place over medium heat until small bubbles appear around the edges of the pan.
• Remove from heat and slowly pour milk mixture into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Pour mixture back into the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a spatula, until slightly thickened and coats the back of the spatula, about 5 minutes. Pour into a medium bowl and set bowl in ice water bath. Let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla extract, if using.
• Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into another bowl, cover, and refrigerate until serving.

BAKED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In medium bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt with wire whisk or fork. Gradually stir in milk. Pour into six 6-ounce custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
• Place cups in 13x9-inch pan on oven rack. Pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups (see box, below).
• Bake about 45 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Remove cups from water. Cool about 30 minutes. Unmold and serve warm, or refrigerate and unmold before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. In a medium saucepan, bring half-and-half and vanilla just to a boil. Remove from heat.
• Place egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat until light, then whisk in chocolate. Whisking constantly, gradually add hot half-and-half mixture. Skim any foam from surface.
• Divide mixture among four (6-ounce) custard cups, and place in a baking dish just large enough to hold them. Place in oven, and pour enough boiling water in dish to come halfway up sides of cups. Drape a sheet of aluminum foil over top of baking dish (do not seal).
• Bake custards until just set but still slightly wobbly, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove cups from dish; refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.