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

Published: · Modified: by Elizabeth Marek · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

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Coconut custard makes a great filling for coconut cake or pairing with fresh berries

This is a rich and creamy coconut custard that is made from scratch using real coconut milk! A delicious filling for my coconut cake, cupcakes, a filling for pies or for serving with fresh fruits and berries on top of your breakfast pancakes.

Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (1)

The base of coconut custard is pastry cream which is just cream thickened with egg yolks like you would a lemon curd. I don't love the taste of pastry cream all on its own so I usually cut it with some whipped cream. This gives you Chantilly Cream or Diplomat which is what I use for my cream tart recipe.

How to make coconut custard

Making coconut custard is pretty easy if you follow these simple steps

  1. Heat your coconut milk in a sauce pan until simmering. Whisk constantly to prevent burning
  2. Whisk together your eggs, sugar, milk and cornstarch in a large heat proof bowl and set aside.
  3. Pour ⅓ of your hot milk into the egg mixture and whisk to combine.
  4. Slowly pour in the rest of your hot milk and whisk to combine. Add in your extracts.
  5. Return mixture to the saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until mixture thickens.
  6. Pour into a heat-proof container and cover with plastic wrap (make sure plastic is touching the surface of the custard) and place in the fridge to cool overnight before using.

Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (2)

Easy coconut custard recipe

If you aren't interested in making your custard from scratch, I have an easy recipe for you. You can buy a box of coconut instant pudding mix and it's basically the same thing. Whip up ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream with a few tablespoons of powdered sugar (to your taste) and throw in a teaspoon of vanilla. Fold the heavy whipping cream into the completely cooled vanilla pudding and you have yourself an easy version of this recipe.

Recipe

Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (3)

Coconut Custard Recipe

Coconut custard is a great filling to use in your cakes, cupcakes, pie fillings or simply paired with some fresh fruits and berries

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 16 oz

Calories: 597kcal

Author: Elizabeth Marek

Ingredients

  • 13.5 oz unsweetened coconut milk Ours comes in a can
  • 2 oz Whole milk or water for dairy free option
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 5 large egg yolks room temperature
  • 3 oz sugar
  • 3 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Pour coconut milk into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, whisking constantly so it doesn't burn.

  • Whisk together the yolks, sugar, milk and cornstarch in a large bowl and set aside.

  • Add ⅓ of your hot milk to the egg mixture and whisk to combine. Don't add all the milk or you could curdle the eggs.

    Slowly whisk the rest of the warm milk into the egg mixture then return the mixture to the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened.

  • Scrape the mixture into a bowl and whisk in coconut and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.

  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.

  • Optional: Fold in ¼ cup stabilized whipped cream for a lighter texture once mixture is cooled.

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz | Calories: 597kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 377mg | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 2.4mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 2.3mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (4)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maria says

    Looks yummy! I’ll have to give this a try, for sure! Question: can I substitute coconut emulsion for the extract? That’s what I have on hand.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Vivika H. says

    Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (9)
    amazing if you enjoy coconut, a little bit bland, but you could easily put ginger or blackberry in it <3

    Reply

  3. Spicyshadycakes says

    Would love to try this out

    Reply

  4. Hélène says

    Tapioca starch works the same works the same as cornstarch, right? Sometimes known as arrowroot. (Corn allergy)

    Reply

    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      Yes! You can totally use tapioca starch too

      Reply

  5. Sharon says

    Can this be frozen? I am looking to use it as part of a trifle and if it can be frozen I can make this element well in advance.

    Reply

    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      Corn starch becomes a bit grainy after it is frozen so it's best to refrigerate if you make it ahead

      Reply

  6. Thomas says

    Potato starch is a good option too 🙂

    Reply

  7. Ariel says

    Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (10)
    It's delicious- I was looking for a dairy free substitute for custard filled moon cakes and this is perfect. I omitted the 2 oz water/milk so it would get extra thick as a filling.

    Reply

  8. Roya A. says

    Coconut Custard Recipe (from scratch) | Sugar Geek Show (11)
    This was fantastic; Thank you

    Reply

  9. Thearla Kozy says

    How to store leftovers...and how long will it keep?

    Reply

    • Elizabeth Marek says

      Store the leftovers in the fridge, it will keep for a few days

      Reply

  10. Robin Schick says

    Why wouldn't you just use Coconut Milk instead of Whole Milk?

    Reply

    • Sugar Geek Show says

      you can if you want, I just like the flavor with whole milk better.

      Reply

  11. Donmonique Slaughter says

    This looks good! can I use homemade coconut milk instead of can? Will it still come out creamy?

    Reply

    • Elizabeth Marek says

      I don't see why it wouldn't work just as well

      Reply

Leave a Reply

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

FAQs

What temperature does custard thicken? ›

We take crème anglaise off the heat when the mixture registers 175 to 180, but when making the base for ice cream we push the temperature to 180 to 185 for maximum thickness. Baked custards, such as flan and crème brûlée, should jiggle (but not slosh) when gently shaken. This will occur between 170 to 175 degrees.

How does custard work? ›

Custard is a culinary preparation made by blending eggs with milk or cream. Custard is thickened by the coagulation of the egg proteins, which is achieved by gently heating the custard in some way.

How do you know when custard is done cooking? ›

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.

What is the texture of custard? ›

Custard is a decadent dessert made with eggs, milk, and sugar. Eggs are responsible for custard's thick and velvety texture, but some recipes (such as this one) call for thickeners such as cornstarch or arrowroot for extra richess.

Can you whip custard to make it thicker? ›

Stir as recommended by your original recipe, but if your custard is still runny, try more vigorous stirring. Make sure to use the appropriate tool, such as an immersion blender or a hand whisk.

What can I add to custard to make it thicker? ›

For a thick, hot custard you need to add cornflour (cornstarch) as a thickener. The custard needs to come up to boiling point to thicken and to loose the taste of the uncooked starch, but the cornflour stabilizes the egg yolks so that they can tolerate higher temperatures without scrambling.

What are common mistakes making custard? ›

Experts Reveal 12 Big Custard Mistakes You're Probably Making
  1. Not Knowing The Difference Between Starch-Thickened And Egg-Thickened Custards. ...
  2. Not Knowing The Difference Between Stovetop And Baked Custards. ...
  3. Adding The Eggs To Your Custard Too Quickly. ...
  4. Overcooking Custard. ...
  5. Cooking Custard At Too High A Temperature.
May 5, 2024

How is custard made from scratch? ›

🔪 How to make Custard

In a jug, mix the egg yolks, cornflour, sugar and vanilla extract. Pour the hot cream/ milk over the egg mixture, slowly, whilst stirring constantly, then pour back into the pan and heat gently while stirring with the whist, until thick and creamy.

Is custard healthier than ice cream? ›

Brands vary, but vanilla ice-cream typically has about 10 per cent more calories than custard, as well as twice the saturated fat, less protein and half the calcium and potassium. However, ice-cream usually has less sugar and salt, too.

What is the secret to good custard? ›

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.

Can you overcook custard? ›

However, if they are overheated, too many bonds form and the proteins clump. To find a fix for lumps, we overcooked a simple custard to 205 degrees (the recommended temperature is 175 to 180 degrees), at which point it was full of large lumps. Rescuing the custard turned out to be a cinch with an immersion blender.

Why do you have to bake custard in a pan of water? ›

The custard must be cooked in a bain-marie or water bath. You place the dish of custard in a shallow baking dish. Fill this second dish with enough boiling water to come about halfway up the sides of the custard dish. The water bath stops the custard from splitting and keeps the texture perfectly silky and smooth.

What are the three types of custard? ›

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.

What is Culver's custard made of? ›

Vanilla Frozen Custard [Milk, Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Egg Yolk, Guar Gum, Mono & Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Vanilla Flavor], Pecan Pieces [Vegetable Oil (Peanut, Cottonseed, Soybean and/or Sunflower Seed), Sea Salt], Salted Caramel [Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed ...

What do Americans call custard? ›

Custard is a thing in the U.S. but we usually associate the word custard with a thick pudding rather than custard sauce.

Why isn't my custard thickening up? ›

Keep an eye on the heat when cooking the custard - too low and it won't thicken, too high and you'll have scrambled eggs.

At what temperature will a custard coagulate? ›

For example, the coagulation and thickening of an egg, milk, and sugar mixture, as in custard, will take place between 80°C and 85°C (176°F and 185°F) and will start to curdle at 88°C to 90°C (190°F and 194°F).

Does bird custard thicken as it cools? ›

It is slightly thicker after being refrigerated overnight, but the texture is not good... not lovely and smooth (as in the photo at Bird's web site), but soupy with clumps.

What temperature should custard be kept at? ›

Temperatures. Fully cooked custard should not exceed 80 °C and it begins setting at 70 °C.

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