Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Using a thickener
• Tips
• Warnings

Custard is a sweet cream dessert based on egg yolk, which you can eat as it is or use as an ingredient in other desserts (such as in crème brûlée). If you've ever tried making your own custard, you know that it sometimes takes a few tries to make a dessert that tastes good. Before hanging your whisk in frustration, try adding a thickener to your ingredients, or changing your original recipe by varying your cooking time or method of preparation.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Using a thickener

1. Let the pan cook longer on the stove. If you've tried a few recipes and your custard is still runny, thicken your custard by increasing the cooking time (instead of adding a thickener). Follow the recipe's cooking time until the custard starts to bubble. Once the custard starts to bubble, add 1-2 minutes of cooking time, stirring constantly!
2. Reduce the cooking temperature. While custard may need to sit on the stove for longer to thicken (so that the ingredients can bond better), there are certain types of custard that are cooked at a lower oven temperature than the recipe calls for. Check to see if the original recipe recommends a particular oven temperature - if you're abroad, this can vary depending on how high you are cooking or the season you are cooking it in.
   • Reduce the heat and cook the custard until the center is a bit wobbly when you push it.
3. Stir more vigorously before cooking the custard further. While this sounds logical, you may not be stirring enough in your custard to break the yolks and bind with the other ingredients (stirring is essential to get the light creamy texture). Stir as recommended in the original recipe, but if the custard is still runny, try stirring more vigorously.
   • Make sure to use the correct tools, such as an immersion blender or whisk.

Tips

• Check with a cooking thermometer whether the custard is cooking evenly.
• Reread your original custard recipe and see if the recipe author has tips on how to thicken the custard. Some online recipes have tips or helpful comments at the bottom of the page.

Warnings

• Check that any additional ingredients are in line with your diet and lifestyle (vegan, keto, dairy-free, etc.)