Custard desserts are some of the most popular, crowd-favorite treats in the world, perfect for any occasion. These custard dessert recipes with step by step instructions and troubleshooting tips are tried and true classics that are well-loved by my readers.
From baked custards to cooked custards and custard-type desserts, learn how to make foolproof, failproof, delicious custards, perfect for dinner parties, potlucks, holiday gatherings, special occasions etc.
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What is a custard?
- Custard is usually a mixture of some type of dairy and eggs, and can be sweet or savory.
- Custards can often have different consistencies as well. They can be thick and spoonable or pipeable, or they can have a pourable, thin consistency as well.
- The eggs add richness and flavor, but also thickens the dairy. The dairy can be milk, cream, ricotta, mascarpone, or cream cheese, or combinations of these.
- You can also cook custards on the stove top or bake in the oven.
My comprehensive article on types of custard goes into detail about the different types with examples, and how they are classified.
It’s actually pretty amazing how the simple combo of dairy and eggs can be easily transformed into so many different custard desserts.
From baked or cooked, to thin or thick, or pourable or set, or vanilla or chocolate or any other flavor you fancy, custard desserts are a luscious, creamy world of possibilities!
And I can’t think of any other type of dessert that’s better suited for entertaining than custard desserts. I learned how to make creme caramel, pastry cream etc. as a wee grade schooler, watching my mom make it for guests.
Delicious when served on their own, and perhaps even better when served as a filling or as a base for other rich, creamy desserts, these recipes are versatile and guaranteed crowd-favorites.
I share step by step instructions with process photos and lots of troubleshooting tips and even recipe videos, so that you too can make picture-perfect custards with minimal fuss with these recipes.
My best tips to make perfect custard
- Follow the recipe! That is my first piece of advice, especially if you’re following my recipes.
- If you’re making a cooked custard, you can mix all the ingredients cold, and heat it over the stove without having to temper the egg yolks with heated milk. BUT, this means you will need to whisk it for longer. So, if you want to shorten the cook time, you can heat the milk first and temper the eggs after.
- Take your time. Don’t rush the process. It’s so easy to make, but can go wrong if you don’t pay attention.
- Don’t stop whisking the custard once it starts to warm up. The bottom of the pot is always going to be hotter than the rest of the custard, and can easily curdle the eggs.
- Bake custards in a water bath for an even, creamy texture. The water bath tempers the oven temperature and ensures the custard is baked slowly and evenly.
- Follow the recipe before making any drastic changes. Sometimes even the smallest substitutions and additions can make a big difference in the final consistency. Make the recipe as is first to understand how it’s meant to work.
- If you do need to make dietary substitutions, you absolutely can. Especially, if you know how those substitutions will change the custard. OR, look for a recipe that’s tested and made with those substitutions.
- For a light and airy custard texture, add stabilized whipped cream to chilled custard to make diplomat cream. This is my FAVORITE filling, because it tastes like ice cream, but not frozen!
Baked custards
Baked custard desserts are either cooked or finished cooking in the oven. Typically, you heat the milk and then temper it with eggs (or egg yolks) to make a runny custard, which is then baked in the oven until set.
1. Crème brûlée
Classic crème brûlée
Creme brulee translates to “burnt cream”. The cream itself isn’t really “burnt” though. Instead, a silky, creamy custard is topped with a thin, crackly layer of burnt caramel!Such a simple, elegant, versatile custard dessert, perfect for entertaining.
Crème brûlée recipe
2. Sous vide crème brûlée
Sous vide crème brûlée
Not quite baked, but if you own a sous vide, it's PERFECT for making foolproof creme brulee with ease. Never overcook or scramble your custard, just perfect custard consistency, every single time.I also share two ways of making the caramel layer on top.
Sous vide crème brûlée recipe
3. Crème caramel
French crème caramel
Perfectly sweet, milky, creamy custard with a silky smooth, velvety texture, and a lovely caramel flavor with just a hint of caramel bitterness. Such a simple dessert to make with impressive results. Perfect for potlucks, dinner parties, and entertaining.
Crème caramel recipe
4. Cinnamon crème caramel
Cinnamon crème caramel with poached apple
Silky-soft custard infused with cinnamon and topped with apple flavored caramel sauce and poached apple slices! A deliciously spiced twist on the classic, this is perfect for holiday entertaining.
Cinnamon crème caramel recipe
5. Coffee crème caramel
Coffee flan
I LOVE making coffee flavor variations of classic custard desserts. This coffee flan is no different. Perfectly cooked, delicate, super creamy custard with an irresistible coffee flavor throughout! You can make it with instant coffee or freshly ground coffee beans.
Coffee crème caramel recipe
6. New York cheesecake
Classic New York cheesecake
Cheesecakes are always a crowd-favorite baked custard. This classic New York cheesecake is delightfully creamy and decadent.And I show you how to make absolutely perfect, gorgeous cheesecake with no cracks, every single time. WITH or WITHOUT a water bath.
New York cheesecake recipe
7. Banana cream pie
Caramel banana cream pie
This is a one-of-a-kind banana cream pie! A layer of caramel, topped with the creamiest banana flavored custard pudding, layered with fresh bananas and nilla wafers, and topped with more whipped cream. All baked in a uniquely delicious buttery, flaky graham flour pie crust. Truly, the ultimate banana cream pie!
Caramel banana cream pie recipe
8. Strawberry tart
Strawberry tart with pastry cream
An easy strawberry tart with a buttery crust, a creamy pastry cream filling, and a sweet strawberry topping. Feel free to replace the strawberries with any fresh berries or fruits to make a beautiful, delicious fruit tart with a creamy custard filling.
Strawberry tart recipe
9. Strawberry custard brioche tart
Strawberry custard tarts
Cardamom spiced strawberries, roasted with a creamy vanilla pastry cream, all atop a buttery, rich, and slightly sweet brioche bun.You can make these tarts individual serving sized or even as one big tart. And feel free to substitute the vanilla custard filling with different flavor variations too.
Strawberry custard brioche tarts recipe
10. Sri Lankan watalappan
Cardamom spiced coconut custard
A creamy, baked cardamom spiced coconut custard, sweetened with unrefined jaggery or sugar. This Sri Lankan classic is a uniquely delicious custard dessert and a twist on classic creme caramel.
Sri Lankan watalappan recipe
11. Pumpkin pie pudding
Crustless pumpkin pie
Refined sugar free and naturally gluten free crustless pumpkin pie pudding that is creamy and silky smooth, all made in one bowl! A super easy, well tested and well loved, versatile recipe that guarantees perfect results!
Crustless pumpkin pie pudding recipe
12. Croissant bread pudding
Raspberry croissant bread pudding
Bread pudding is another versatile, cozy, comforting custard-based dessert. This croissant bread pudding pairs flaky, crispy, buttery croissants with fruity swirls of raspberry jam and a creamy, delicious custard base.
Croissant bread pudding recipe
13. Hot cross bun bread and butter pudding
Hot cross bun bread and butter pudding
A rich, cozy, delicious, custardy dessert made from leftover hot cross buns! Perfect for Easter baking and holiday gatherings, but you can adapt this versatile recipe to use other types of bread and buns, and use different add-ins and mix-ins too.
Hot cross bun bread and butter pudding recipe
Cooked custards
Sometimes referred to as stirred custards as well, these are custards that are typically cooked on the stove, and can be thick or thin in terms of consistency.
Thin custards (such as creme anglaise) can have a rich, silky, luscious mouthfeel and they have a pourable consistency and cannot be used as a filling.
Thick custards (such as pastry cream) on the other hand are thickened with a thickening agent (such as cornstarch) and can be used as a filling.
14. Vanilla pastry cream
Crème pâtissière
Rich, creamy vanilla pastry cream is delicious on its own, and perfect as the base for a variety of custard filled desserts such as cream puffs, profiteroles, eclairs etc. This popular, reader-favorite recipe is gluten free and dairy-free friendly.
Pastry cream recipe
15. Chocolate pastry cream
Chocolate crème pâtissière
I use cocoa powder as well as bittersweet chocolate to give this rich, creamy custard a deep chocolate flavor. An extensively tested recipe for perfect flavor, richness, consistency, and stability. Pairs perfectly with pastries, pies, tarts, and other custard filled desserts.
Chocolate pastry cream recipe
16. Caramelized white chocolate pastry cream
Caramelized white chocolate pastry cream
Caramelizing white chocolate turns it into an incredible caramel-colored sauce with a delightful caramel-fudge flavor. Then make caramelized white chocolate pastry cream with it to use as a delicious custard filling for a variety of desserts!
Caramelized white chocolate pastry cream recipe
17. Diplomat cream
Vanilla diplomat cream
This classic diplomat cream is a mix of vanilla pastry cream and stabilized whipped cream. Lighter than pastry cream and richer than whipped cream. Perfect as pastry, tart, cake fillings, as a light topping, in trifles, and even as a delicious custard dessert on its own.
Diplomat cream recipe
18. Salted caramel diplomat cream
Salted caramel diplomat cream
This choux au craquelin recipe features a melt-in-your-mouth light, creamy, airy salted caramel diplomat cream filling that takes these French pastries to a whole new level! Caramelized sugar (dry caramel) mixed with milk, eggs, cornstarch, vanilla, and a little sea salt for a luscious, creamy filling that's lightened with whipped cream.
Salted caramel diplomat cream recipe
19. Earl grey diplomat cream
Earl grey diplomat cream
This recipe features earl grey eclairs with a light, creamy earl grey diplomat cream made with earl grey infused milk. I LOVE choux pastry and I love tea, so this was a natural combo. And the earl grey custard makes for an elegant and delicious treat!
Earl grey diplomat cream recipe
20. Mousseline cream
Classic creme mousseline
A rich custard made with thick pastry cream and lightened with whipped butter. It's the classic filling for paris-brest pastry. Although often referred to as German buttercream as well, mousseline cream is slightly different in that it uses less butter, and is creamier and a little more dense.
Mousseline cream recipe
21. Praline mousseline cream
Praline crème mousseline
Rich, creamy, nutty praline mousseline cream made by mixing mousseline cream with a homemade praline paste. A decadent filling that I love using for a variety of French pastries and desserts.
Praline mousseline cream recipe
22. Chiboust cream
Crème chiboust
A light, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth custard dessert that reminds me of a sabayon. It's a delicious pastry cream variation where thick pastry cream is mixed with Italian meringue.Also called St. Honoré Cream since it’s used to make the classic dessert St Honore gateau.
Chiboust cream recipe
23. Bavarian cream
Crème bavarois
Originating from South Germany (Bavaria), this is a super simple yet delightful stirred custard dessert made with creme anglaise and whipped cream, and then set in molds.If you like ice cream, you'll love this creamy, silky smooth, melt-in-your-mouth delicious custard!
Bavarian cream recipe
24. Chocolate cremeux
Cremeux
Rich, silky smooth, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth consistency with a big chocolate flavor explosion. What's not to love?? So easy to make, perfect as a luscious filling, or as a custard base for other desserts.
Chocolate cremeux recipe
25. Crème anglaise
Vanilla crème anglaise
A simple yet luxurious custard sauce that is delicious on its own or paired with cakes, pies, tarts, bread pudding, jello, fresh fruits etc. Classic crème anglaise is a thin pouring custard, but you can use cornstarch for a slightly thicker consistency.
Crème anglaise recipe
26. Red velvet crème anglaise
Red velvet pouring custard
Thick, creamy, luscious pouring custard with a lovely bittersweet chocolate and vanilla flavor. A vibrant custard sauce to pair with other desserts. Works just as well as a “bloody sauce” for Halloween-worthy treats! 😄
Red velvet crème anglaise recipe
27. Vanilla pudding
Homemade vanilla pudding
Simple ingredients, simple recipe, perfect texture and flavor, best homemade vanilla pudding ever!So much better than store-bought mixes, you can make it as thick or thin as you like, so creamy with perfect sweetness, and great to serve with fresh fruits, whipped cream, cake, nuts etc.
Vanilla pudding recipe
28. Chocolate pudding
Homemade chocolate pudding
A chocolate pudding made from scratch, that's super creamy and chocolatey! I use both cocoa powder and a combination of bittersweet and semisweet chocolate for the perfect balance of deep chocolate flavor and sweetness. It's a crowd-favorite, not too indulgent, quick dessert that your whole family will love!
Chocolate pudding recipe
29. Banana pudding
Homemade banana pudding
Even better than the legendary Magnolia Bakery banana pudding, because this is made with a banana infused light, airy banana diplomat cream from scratch, instead of an instant vanilla pudding mix! Which means this is not strictly a custard since the custard is mixed with chantilly cream or stabilized whipped cream to make a diplomat cream. Either way, it's SO creamy, delicious, and packed with banana flavor throughout.
Banana pudding recipe
30. Butterscotch mousse
Brown butter butterscotch mousse
A luscious brown butter butterscotch mousse that is light, creamy, and not too sweet, with the perfect balance in terms of flavor, sweetness, and consistency.Similar to the banana pudding, this is also made with a custard base that is mixed with homemade whipped cream or stabilized whipped cream to make a diplomat cream.
Butterscotch mousse recipe
31. No bake lemon cheesecake bars
No bake lemon cheesecake bars
Super creamy and tangy no bake lemon cheesecake with a buttery graham cracker crust and swirled lemon curd topping! The texture here is very creamy and dense, much like a regular baked cheesecake. And the bright citrus flavor throughout makes these one of my absolute favorite no bake desserts ever!
No bake lemon cheesecake bars recipe
32. French vanilla ice cream
Vanilla ice cream
This is an old-fashioned French vanilla ice cream recipe made with egg yolks for an unparalleled rich and creamy texture and vanilla flavor! I show you how to make it with or without an ice cream machine, and ideas for different flavor variations, toppings, and mix-ins. This recipe is an instant classic!
French vanilla ice cream recipe
33. Chocolate ice cream
Homemade chocolate ice cream
A homemade chocolate ice cream with rich, deep chocolate flavor and creamy, fudgy texture, and the perfect amount of sweetness. This recipe uses cocoa powder AND melted chocolate for the ultimate chocolate payoff. I also show you how to make it with or without an ice cream machine.
Chocolate ice cream recipe
34. Butterscotch ice cream
Butterscotch ice cream with pecan & brown butter
Brown butter, ice cream base infused with pecan flavor throughout, and crunchy caramelized toasted butter pecans in every scoop of ice cream!This is an unforgettably delicious butterscotch ice cream that is rich, creamy, and irresistible.
Butterscotch ice cream recipe
35. Mint chocolate chip ice cream
Mint chocolate chip ice cream
A creamy and minty ice cream base mixed with extra minty, buttery, bittersweet peppermint chocolate pieces dispersed throughout the ice cream Stracciatella-style! This ice cream is chock-full of buttery, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips and minty freshness.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe
36. Cereal milk ice cream
Cereal milk ice cream
Silky smooth, creamy, milky, and tastes like the cornflakes-soaked milk at the bottom of your cereal bowl! Unlike the original Milk Bar cereal milk ice cream which has a soft serve consistency with probably very little (if any) eggs in the recipe, this ice cream has a much richer, thicker custard base made with egg yolks.
Cereal milk ice cream recipe
Custard-type desserts
This category includes mainly panna cotta and fruit curds. These are cooked similar to custards with a custard-like texture but are not true custards in the traditional sense.
In the case of panna cotta there are no eggs in the recipe, while fruit curds use fruit juice (instead of dairy) that’s cooked with eggs (and sugar).
37. Classic panna cotta
Classic vanilla panna cotta
Panna cotta is a dairy based, creamy Italian dessert that is set with gelatin, and flavored with vanilla. It's not quite a custard because it doesn't use eggs. But it's so delicately set and has the creamy, silky smooth texture of a baked custard.
Panna cotta recipe
38. Buttermilk panna cotta
Buttermilk panna cotta
The contrast of the sweet, tangy flavor with the gently set, melt-in-your-mouth creamy, soft texture of panna cotta is what makes this dessert one-of-a-kind! Light, creamy, refreshing, so easy to make.
Buttermilk panna cotta recipe
39. Coffee panna cotta
Espresso panna cotta
A sinfully creamy, melt in your mouth, jiggly, perfectly set custard dessert with a deep, robust coffee flavor. You can make this recipe with instant coffee, ground coffee, OR espresso shots. You can also use powdered gelatin or leaf gelatin to set this panna cotta too.
Coffee panna cotta recipe
40. Coconut panna cotta
Coconut panna cotta
Made with no refined sugars, and it's paleo, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly. And I also share THREE serving options for this delightfully creamy coconut panna cotta!
Coconut panna cotta recipe
41. Bubble tea panna cotta
Bubble milk tea panna cotta
A luscious, creamy panna cotta, infused with tea, and topped with brown sugar tapioca pearls. It's as refreshingly delicious as it sounds, and if you like bubble tea, you'll LOVE this simple, elegant dessert.
Bubble tea panna cotta recipe
42. Matcha panna cotta
Green tea panna cotta
A silky smooth and creamy matcha panna cotta with sweet, fruity, tart passion fruit mango compote. This light, refreshing dessert is an absolute dream to make and eat!
Matcha panna cotta recipe
43. Passion fruit curd
Passion fruit curd
This is basically a passion fruit custard that’s packed with tropical citrus flavor, and it's delightfully creamy, and buttery!It's a fantastic way to preserve the wonderful tropical flavor of passion fruit for longer, and it goes well as a filling or topping for a variety of desserts!
Passion fruit curd recipe
44. Lemon curd
Lemon butter
Lemon, sugar, eggs and butter are all you need to make this tangy, creamy, sweet homemade lemon curd! While this lemon curd is more like a custard, as it’s a mixture of lemon juice thickened with eggs, it's also spreadable like butter and is buttery in taste.
Lemon curd recipe
45. Pineapple curd
Pineapple curd
Sweet, creamy, tangy, and looks and tastes like a spoonful of glorious summer! Perfect to enjoy on its own, or as a spread or filling on anything, from breakfast to dessert.
Pineapple curd recipe
46. Lime curd
Homemade lime curd
Perfectly sweet, deliciously tart and buttery, this lime curd is thickened with butter and eggs for a rich, smooth, spreadable consistency. But I show you how to cook it a little further, so you can use it as a filling on its own too!
Lime curd recipe
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