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Vanilla Custard (Crème Anglaise)

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This classic English vanilla custard recipe, Creme Anglaise, is very simple and quick to make and the result is absolutely delicious served with dessert!  Irresistibly creamy and smooth and infused with vanilla!

vanilla custard recipe creme anglaise traditional easy best

Custard serves two basic culinary purposes:  Either as a thick pastry cream (crème pâtissière) or a thin dessert sauce for pouring (crème anglaise, French for “English cream” because of its popularity in English desserts).  The difference between the two is its thickness and that varies depending on much cornstarch or flour is used.  A very thin custard sauce, for example, won’t use either, it simply relies on the egg yolks to provide body.

The egg in custard is sensitive and curdles very easily if the temperature rises even by a few degrees, and for that reason it’s often cooked using a double boiler.  However, we’re going to use a regular saucepan on a stove and it works perfectly as long as you’re mindful of the temperature, i.e., do not let it exceed 176 degrees F (80 degrees C).  The custard begins setting at 158 degrees F (70 degrees C.  The easiest thing to do is use an instant read thermometer but the more you make it you’ll get used to the look and feel of it and instinctively know when to remove it from the heat.

Today we’re going to make a custard dessert sauce, so a thinner consistency that you can use for pouring.  A classic example is Spotted Dick, a traditional English steamed pudding served with this vanilla custard sauce.

spotted dick vanilla custard sauce

Extremely versatile and very quick and easy to make, everyone needs to know how to make a vanilla custard sauce!

Vanilla Custard Recipe

Let’s get started!

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth.

beating eggs

Heat the milk, cream and vanilla in a small saucepan just until bubbles form along the edges of the pan.

A traditional custard calls for a vanilla bean that’s been slit open lengthwise so the vanilla flecks and flavor can infuse the sauce. An excellent substitute, and what I use most of the time, is a quality vanilla bean paste.  Don’t use vanilla extract, it doesn’t begin to compare with paste for this custard sauce.

heating milk

Remove 1/2 cup of the hot cream and whisk it into the egg mixture, whisking constantly.

beating eggs

Gradually pour the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the cream mixture, whisking constantly to prevent clumping.  Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture leaves a path on the back of spoon when you draw your finger across it. DO NOT BOIL.

heating mixture

Thickness will vary depending on how much cornstarch you use (or if you use none at all for a very thin sauce).

vanilla custard recipe creme anglaise traditional easy best

Cover and chill.

This custard can be made a day in advance and refrigerated.

vanilla custard recipe creme anglaise traditional easy best

For another delicious variation try our Eggnog Custard!

Vanilla Custard (Crème Anglaise)

A classic English vanilla custard, you'll love this creamy vanilla-infused sauce drizzled over your desserts!
4.50 from 12 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course condiment, Dessert
Cuisine dessert, english
Calories 1535 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon quality vanilla bean paste not extract or one vanilla bean, slit open lengthwise)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions
 

  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth.
  • Heat the milk, cream and vanilla in a small saucepan just until bubbles form along the edges of the pan.
  • Remove 1/2 cup of the hot cream and whisk it into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Gradually pour the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the cream mixture, whisking constantly to prevent clumping. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture leaves a path on the back of spoon when you draw your finger across it. DO NOT BOIL.
  • Cover and chill. Can be made a day in advance.

Notes

Adjust the thickness of the sauce to serve your purpose by adding more or less cornstarch.

Nutrition

Serving: 2.5cupsCalories: 1535kcalCarbohydrates: 100gProtein: 24gFat: 115gSaturated Fat: 66gCholesterol: 1131mgSodium: 230mgPotassium: 579mgSugar: 88gVitamin A: 4930IUVitamin C: 1.4mgCalcium: 523mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!

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Recipe Rating




4.50 from 12 votes (7 ratings without comment)

30 Comments

  1. So delicious. Made this in California to go with the Spotted Dick. Tasted like springtime on a plate :)

  2. I don’t know where you got this recipe from but it is wrong. Creme Anglaise was invented because the chef’s wife was allergic to eggs. So does not include any eggs. I think you may have a recipe for what we English call egg custard. And the rest of Europe simply calls “custard”

    1. That is not correct, Paul. Crème Anglaise and English custard are one and the same. Crème Anglaise is simply the fancier French name for it (translates as “English cream”).

  3. The custard is wonderful. I could happily eat it all up with a big spoon. Sadly, I have to watch my calories and cholesterol, so I have to take my sweets in small servings. How can I keep the custard and pudding fresh long enough for me to consume it before it goes bad. Freeze it?

  4. I have yet to find another recipe that calls for corn flour in this sauce. It obviously reduces the need for another egg yolk or two and also reduces the rich taste you get without corn flour.

  5. This is a fantastic recipe and it was perfection. I love your photos and appreciate the links for the pan and vanilla paste. Please keep doing this and carry on this wonderful way of sharing your experience and delicious recipes. I found it very helpful and we LOVED it. I couldn’t find currants so I used dried wild blueberries instead. Now a family favorite. Thank you so much for posting and sharing your stories!

  6. Worked well and reminded me of custards when I was a child in England. I live in Australia and 70 yrs old live on my own so buy the little pots of single serve ready made but I tried this and have been eating it for 3 days now and there’s still lots left x♥

  7. My husband found this and made it several times now. All our friends absolutely love it! He follows the recipe exactly with no problems :-) He even says how easy this is! He loves to cook and bake so of course I enjoy his work in the kitchen too!

  8. Sounds good. I will be making this when it cools off like in November, because shipping from Amazon now is just too hot for shredded suet here in the desert.

  9. Try making the custard in your microwave . I have been making it this way for years . It is delicious . Yes I also use cornstarch .

  10. Could this be frozen, then dipped in a batter and fried? Thinking the frying would result in a warm creamy filling.

    1. Hi Frankie, I haven’t that so I’m not sure how it would turn out. If you try it be sure to let us know!

  11. Recipe looks great. But the price of the vanilla bean paste surprised me. I know the instructions said to not use vanilla extract. Was wondering if the only thing compromised was the thickness? I am serving spotted dick as a joke. Was not keen on spending too many $$ for a joke. Can I use extract, or should I find a different custard recipe? Thanks

    1. I can understand not wanting to pay a premium price for something that’s just meant for laughs – yes, you can use vanilla extract. I recommend vanilla bean paste because it has a more concentrated, potent flavor (and the bean flecks look nice visually). I doubt using a little extract will significantly impact the thickness and if it does you can always add in a tiny bit more cornstarch (I doubt you’ll have to though).

  12. I followed the directions very carefully but it never thickened up. I was using it on fruit but it was about the consistency of half and half.

    1. Hi Ruth, this is the standard ratio of liquids to egg yolks and cornstarch. Did you use large egg yolks? Perhaps it just needed to cook a tad longer.

  13. I have never heard of using cornstarch in custard! Usually we use egg yolks, sugar and milk and sometimes add vanilla.

    1. Really, Toffeeapple? It’s pretty standard as a thickener, even in very old British custard recipes. It’s especially necessary if you want a very thick custard. In the UK it’s called cornflour.

      1. I’ve never used flour or cornstarch in my custard either. It should thicken naturally as it cools. If you have to use a thickener then you have used too much liquid.