Fail-Proof Creamy Egg Custard (Classic Baked Pudding)
Make a creamy, silky-smooth classic egg custard dessert using simple ingredients. This old-fashioned recipe is designed to be fail-proof, perfect for beginners, and delicious served warm or chilled.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 50 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius). Place a water bath setup in a large baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until they are just combined. Do not over-whisk to avoid incorporating too much air.
- Whisk in the sugar and salt until dissolved.
- Gently whisk in the milk and vanilla extract until fully mixed. Skim off any foam from the surface using a spoon.
- Pour the custard mixture into four 6-ounce ramekins or small oven-safe bowls.
- Carefully place the filled ramekins into the prepared baking pan. Pour hot water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
- Sprinkle the top of each custard lightly with ground nutmeg.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still has a slight jiggle when gently shaken.
- Carefully remove the ramekins from the water bath. Let them cool on a wire rack to room temperature.
- Chill the custards in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- For a truly fail-proof result, use whole milk for the richest texture.
- If you prefer an Egg Custard Pie, pour this mixture into a pre-baked 9-inch pie shell and bake until set, adjusting time as needed.
- This recipe is a great alternative to complex meal planning; it is a quick homemade dessert.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ramekin
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 11
- Cholesterol: 160