This is a simple satisfying recipe I used to make regularly when we had a cow. I had so much milk coming in and I needed ways to use it. Besides yogurt, butter and a limited number of cheeses I could successfully turn out, this was my kids’ most requested dessert. It was also a good way to use the influx of spring eggs our chickens were laying. Regardless, it’s a simple curd or custard you could make and use to fill pavlova or pastry tarts, or just make your own healthy simple pudding, add seasonal fresh fruits or eat it on its own.
A simple dessert I enjoy making with this recipe is pavlova. Pavlova uses all egg whites and curd uses all egg yolks, making them a perfect pair.
Vanilla Pudding/Custard or Curd
12 egg yolks
6 cups milk
2 tbsp vanilla
2 tbsp tapioca starch or 4 tbsp of corn starch
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
Pinch of salt if your butter doesn’t have salt
Method
In a stock pot bring your milk to a simmer.
Once the milk begins to simmer, thats when you mix your other ingredients. You don’t want to do this step too soon otherwise the mixture becomes too hard and difficukt to stir.
In a separate bowl add the egg yolks, vanilla, sugar, and tapioca starch. Whisk until well incorporated.
Cube the 1/2 cup butter and set aside as the final ingredient.
Now it’s time to temper the mixture. Ladle some hot milk into the egg mixture and whisk well. Do this a few times to heat the mixture without curdling the eggs.
Once the egg mixture has been tempered, add it to the simmering milk. Whisk well and cook. Keep stirring so the eggs don’t curdle. The mixture will thicken fairly quickly.
Once the custard has thickened, turn off the heat and add the butter cubes whisking until it’s completely melted and incorporated.
At this point you can pour into clean quart jars or strain the mixture for a smoother texture. I was making this to fill pavlova cakes for my daughter’s birthday so I took the extra step to strain it.
Once cooled, place lids on each jar and store in the refrigerator. That’s it!
If you don’t want such a large batch this recipe easily divides in half.
Enjoy 🏡❤️
