Make a creamy, silky, old-fashioned egg custard dessert that is simple and guaranteed to succeed. This classic recipe uses basic ingredients for a comforting homemade treat.
Author:charliehayes
Prep Time:15 min
Cook Time:50 min
Total Time:1 hour 5 minutes
Yield:6 servings 1x
Category:Dessert
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
6 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus extra for topping
3 cups whole milk
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a 1.5-quart baking dish inside a larger roasting pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg until just combined. Do not over-whisk; you want to avoid creating too many air bubbles for a silky texture.
Slowly whisk in the whole milk until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the custard mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or pitcher to remove any chalazae or unmixed bits.
Carefully pour the strained custard mixture into the baking dish sitting in the roasting pan.
Pour hot water into the roasting pan until the water reaches halfway up the sides of the custard dish. This water bath prevents cracking and promotes even cooking.
Carefully transfer the roasting pan to the preheated oven.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes. The custard is done when the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly when gently nudged.
Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Carefully lift the custard dish out of the water bath.
Let the custard cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes.
Sprinkle the top lightly with extra ground nutmeg.
Chill the egg custard in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or until completely cold and set, before serving.
Notes
For an extra smooth texture, you can strain the mixture twice through the sieve.
If you prefer an egg custard pie, pour the mixture into a pre-baked 9-inch pie shell instead of a baking dish, then bake as directed.
You can prepare this creamy custard dessert ahead of time; it keeps well in the refrigerator for up to three days.