
This make-ahead custard is a great dessert recipe for company:
When having people over, anything I can make-ahead of time is ideal to avoid last-minute stressful cooking. These can be in the fridge waiting for you to just add whipped cream before serving.
The other great part about this recipe that everyone commented on was that it had a nice creamy texture with just the right amount of sweetness, not too sweet or heavy tasting. Even better, with all the nutrient-dense ingredients and only unrefined sugar from the maple syrup, it's actually good for you! It’s very close to crème brûlée only without the crispy sugared top.
Here's where I found the original recipe and I made a few changes.
Make-Ahead Custard Dessert
A very easy make-ahead recipe for company or anytime. I dare say it's even good for you!
Servings: 6 6-ounce ramekins
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole/whipping cream--raw cream is best if you have access to it, but at least make sure that it’s not ULTRAPASTEURIZED cream!
- 12 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- Sprinkle ground nutmeg
- Berries of choice for the top
- Whipped cream (homemade or sometimes I’ll cheat and use Tru-whip with a not TOO bad ingredient label or the spray whipped cream if it’s not ultra-pasteurized.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300*.
- Place ramekins (like these ones) in a rimmed baking dish or casserole dish big enough for all of them to fit--2-9x13's works perfectly.
- Warm the cream on the stove over medium heat until hot in a medium saucepan; do not boil. While the cream is warming mix egg yolks, maple syrup, and salt together in a medium heatproof bowl--no plastic.
- When the cream is hot add 1/2 cup of it to the egg mixture and whisk while pouring. Add another 1/2 cup and do the same. Add the rest of the cream to the bowl slowly and mix well. (You're "tempering" the mixture by not adding it all at once, this keeps it a good consistency and prevents the eggs from cooking.)
- Mix in the vanilla and butter.
- Using a ladle, pour the mixture into ramekins. It'll fill the 6 bowls almost to the top. Top with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
- Carefully pour enough hot water into the rimmed baking dish to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins (don't get water inside them). A teapot is the easiest way to do this.
- Bake until the edges are set but the center jiggles slightly, 45-50 minutes. Shut the oven off and let cool a few minutes. Carefully remove the ramekins from the water bath onto a dish towel and cool to room temperature.
- You can either eat at room temperature or cover and refrigerate until chilled; however I think cold is best because it's still kind of runny just out of the oven, but sets up nicely when chilled.
- I like to make this ahead of time for easy serving later. Add the berries & whipped cream just before serving.



How to use up your extra egg whites:
- They freeze well to use later, FYI.
- Use them in these no-coconut macaroons
- Or make an angel food cake!
More you might like:
- Here are all my favorite kitchen gadgets to make cooking easier!
- Do you have my books yet?
- Have you tried this Maple Flan? So good!!
- Homemade creme brulee is similar to this custard recipe, only with the yummy crunchy top:
- Or try my friend David's white chocolate creme brulee!







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