Boiled custard is one of my great childhood Christmas memories. We spent a lot of Christmases at my grandparents house in Columbia, Tennessee and my grandmother always served boiled custard in Santa Claus mugs and caramel cake for dessert at Christmas lunch. Boiled Custard was something you bought. I never really thought of it as something people make. I assumed it was some mystery product that only the professional dairies could ever produce. Over time, our Christmas traditions changed and some of our gathering don’t have that nostalgic love of boiled custard, but my mom always buys a little carton, even if only a few of us drink it. But I have over the years gotten more and more interested in making things from scratch, and low and behold, I discovered that lots of Southern cookbooks have recipes for boiled custard. I am now pretty sure there are some people who think bought boiled custard is an absolute sacrilege. So, feeling nostalgic, I set out to create a fresh family recipe for an old-time favorite. And it is delicious.
After my Grandmother died, my cousin claimed the old Santa mugs. They were so chipped and cracked no one thought they could possibly be useful and every offer to buy her a new set was refused. I totally understand that. Those mugs filled with boiled custard are a part of Christmas. But I bought my own Santa mug, similar to the old ones, just for me, just for boiled custard.
Southern Boiled Custard
This is a rich drink so small servings will do. If you want to make more, I recommend making it in several batches. It is very difficult to create a larger double boiler and more liquid takes longer to cook and is likely to produce lumps.
1 quart whole milk
½ of a vanilla bean
5 eggs
1 cup sugar
½ cup heavy cream (If needed)
Set up a double boiler and bring the water in the bottom pot just to a low boil. If you do not have a double boiler, place a metal or glass bowl over a saucepan. The bowl should not touch the bottom of the pan or the water in it and must fit securely so steam does not escape.
Pour the milk into the top of the double boiler, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add to the milk. Heat the milk until it is hot to the touch and just bubbling. Do not boil.
Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer until thoroughly combined. Add the sugar and beat until light and the sugar has dissolved. Slowly add ½ cup of the hot milk into the eggs and beat thoroughly. Repeat with another ½ cup milk. Pour the egg mixture into the milk in the pan and whisk to combine. Continue whisking as the milk cooks. Cook until the custard lightly coats the back of a metal spoon, and when you run your finger through the custard on the spoon it leaves a gap.
While the custard is cooking, wash and dry the bowl and place a wire mesh sieve over it. When the custard is ready, pour it immediately through the sieve. Leave it to cool for a few minutes, then place a piece of plastic wrap directly over the surface of the custard. This will present a skin from forming. Refrigerate the custard until cold, then pour into a pitcher. If the custard is too thick, whisk in about ½ cup heavy cream.
Serves 6 small glasses
Hi PC,
I, too, remember drinking Boiled Custard out of Santa mugs at Teeta’s house (btw, PC and I are 2nd cousins – I called her grandmother, my great-aunt, Teeta). I just had to make this for my New Jersey family. Well, it tasted great, but I think I let the eggs curdle a bit. The texture was a little grainy. Next time I’ll be more careful not to cook it too much, or to add more of the hot milk to the eggs before adding the eggs to the milk. I served the somewhat curdled Boiled Custard in Santa mugs, which I purchased years ago in memory of your grandmother!
I remember my grandmother in Tennessee making boiled custard every Christmas. We poured it over a slice of her homemade chocolate cake. It was the best dessert I have ever had. I haven’t had any since she passed away a long time ago. I still miss her and her boiled custard.
My granny would put this in a punch bowl and pour it into the cups for us (this was the only time we got to drink out of the glass cups). The adults would pour this over homemade pound cake and I am sure some of it was “spiked” from the moonshine our neighbor only made for Christmas, at least that was what the children was told. Oh the memories….
I too remember my grandmothers boiled custard, she lived in Mt Pleasant tn
I spent several Christmases in Columbia, TN drinking boiled custard at my grandmother’s house!
I can usually find it at Kroger, but not this year, so I’m searching for the perfect recipe. My own grandchildren expect a Santa Claus cup filled with. Boiled custard on Christmas morning.
My father in law made boiled custard every year. The recipe died with him and we have never been able to replicate it. I miss those special times.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. Taste just like my Granny’s and my Mama’s. and my Aunts. They made it every year for Christmas. Loved it poured over homemade cakes. This was my first time to make it and my family loved it. It turned out perfect. Just wish my Mama had been here to taste it. Thanks again.
Brought back lots of great memories. ❤