Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (2024)

FAQs

Why does my custard taste eggy? ›

This is most likely due to the cooking temperature being too high. When cooking your custard base, make sure the temperature of your custard does not go higher than 185°F (85°C). This will cook the custard enough to pasteurize your eggs, but will not result in an eggy flavor.

As the liquid heats up, the yolk proteins, previously tightly packed in small granules, start to unfurl. Left to themselves, they'll make a few bonds with each other and create a tough, grainy substance at around 150 F (65C) – essentially, a hardboiled yolk.

Heat gently, stirring with a wooden spoon until the custard is thickened. Fully cooked custard should not exceed 80 °C and it begins setting at 70 °C. If the temperature raises even 3-6 °C this can very quickly lead to overcooking and curdling (possibly the most frustrating thing to happen).

In general, egg-based puddings and custards can curdle if cooked beyond 185 degrees, unless a thickening starch is present.

Custard is a delicate mixture that requires gentle heat. Overheating the custard can cause it to curdle or separate. To prevent this, cook the custard over low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens. Do not let the custard boil.

Add the milk in 1/2-cup increments to bring the temperature of the eggs up gradually while whisking. Tip: Whisking the eggs with sugar helps, too. Now you can add the tempered eggs to the hot milk without worrying that the eggs will curdle or scramble. Keep stirring over medium heat as the custard thickens.

The most common mistake people make in baking a custard is not putting enough water in the hot-water bath. The water should come up to the level of the custard inside the cups. You must protect your custard from the heat.

The secret to cooking stirred custard is to cook it in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard thickens and coats the back of the spoon. Stirring distributes the heat so the custard doesn't become too hot, which can curdle it.

Fruits should be added just before serving

Do not add Pineapple to the custard, as it can make custard really bitter and spoil the whole dessert. If you do not have all the fruits mentioned in the recipe or if you do not like some of these, you can skip adding them.

The US equivalent of custard is custard. We also have pudding which is thicker and more set than custard usually with flour or cornstarch. We do not refer to the dessert course of a meal as pudding. Custard has no cornstarch or flour and is often served as a sauce over berries or poundcake.

What are the three types of custards? ›

There are three types of custard: baked, stirred, and frozen. Baked custards include bread pudding, flan, and cheesecake, and are prepared by baking in an oven or water bath. Boiled Custards include beverages like eggnog. Puddings, creme anglaise (krem on-GLAYZ), and pastry cream are some examples of stirred custards.

The knife test: Test for doneness with a thin-bladed knife. Insert knife about 1 inch from the center of a one-dish custard; midway between center and edge of cups. If knife is clean when pulled out, the custard is done. If any custard clings to the blade, bake a few minutes longer and test again.

The difficulty with custard is that they can be overcooked, you want the egg to thicken, but if you go too far the eggs either curdle or go rubbery. Custard should never be allowed to boil, the perfect temperature is around 80⁰C (180⁰F). If you want thicker custard, you need more eggs, not more heat.

A low temperature and constant stirring are important to prevent the custard from curdling. Nigella also suggests that you half fill the sink with cold water so that if it looks as if the custard is starting to curdle you can dip the base of the pan into the water and whisk vigorously, to cool the custard quickly.

Be careful not to overprocess or you can wind up with irreparably thin, watery custard. Don't use a blender or food processor; they incorporate too much air and will leave the mixture frothy, not creamy.

One technique is to sieve the custard after tempering to remove any solidified egg, and some are happy with this result.

Why does my egg custard pie taste like scrambled eggs? Overbaked custard can lead to an eggy flavor and rubbery consistency. Make sure to bake the custard pie until slightly jiggly in the center.

Add Acidic Ingredients: The addition of acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, or buttermilk to your batter or marinade can help balance out the eggy taste and provide a more pleasant flavor profile.