In my childhood, fruit custard was always served during all celebrative events and that’s why I love this recipe. This dessert is thick and milk-like, and easy to prepare! Furthermore, when there are milk, vanilla, and fruits to the extent that they are present in the ‘Doughnut sundae’, what is not to love?
It is also preferred by people with very high expectations like my dad and my granddad, generally they appreciate this dessert. Therefore, this tasty custard came out in full battalion, besides puris and bataka vada as they celebrate their birthdays and other special occasions.
Well, therefore, I know that part of me from which derives this passion for this fruit custard. My family has been used to calling this fruit salad.
What is a Fruit Custard?
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This recipe is flavored with vanilla and cardamom and is a beautiful, thick, milk-based Indian dessert. Fruits with diverse softness are put into the prepared custard.
Often, fruits containing high levels of acid such as oranges, pineapples, and other fruits such as papaya are discouraged. I prefer to include mangoes, apples, bananas, pomegranate, chikoo, and grapes in their natural state. This is mostly different textures of fruits, so you can feel different textures in your mouth.
How to Make Custard without Custard Powder
Regarding the ingredients, you will be able to get the custard powder at the Indian grocery store. I make use of this Custard Powder to prepare this recipe. But, if you do not find custard powder, don’t be upset. Well, you can make it at home.
The only ingredients that you will require for preparing this custard powder at home are cornstarch, vanilla, and milk powder. In case you want to substitute cornstarch with a better option, it is recommended that you use arrowroot powder.
You will use three tablespoons of cornstarch and one tablespoon of milk powder and for additional sweetening, you will use half a tablespoon of sugar. Once again stir well all the ingredients and leave it aside for some time. While preparing the custard, we shall Include vanilla extract.
Choose the Right Fruits
You must use fresh fruits that are ripe and fresh for this recipe. Some of those that I prefer for this purpose include apples, chikoos, strawberries mangoes, bananas, grapes, and pomegranates.
This is why you have to ensure that you include fruits with different textures. I enjoyed the bite with the burst of pomegranates and the sweet and sour touch of the strawberries and grapes. Tart, sweet, very firm apples, soft, sweet bananas, and mangoes.
All these fruits taste great and also beautifully also coordinate with the vanilla-flavored custard.
The fruits that you should avoid are citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, and water fruits such as watermelons, cantaloupes, and pineapples among others. A few other fruits such as papaya, dragon fruit, etc as well do not suit this recipe.
Make it Vegan
It is good to add fruits to plant-based milk rather than dairy as you can make fruit custard vegan it is healthier. I make it both ways and the type of milk that I prefer to use is almond milk and coconut milk while preparing this recipe.
Variations You Might Want to Try
I know that placing fruits with milk does not go well as has been confirmed through research. As such, it is a dessert that is not very often prepared in our home and is a luxury item of sorts. But people find it incredibly tasty and it is almost impossible to tear away from such a snack. But there are a few variations you can put on the custard!
Include nuts particularly; almonds, pistachios, cashew nuts, and ravishing dried fruits such as raisins.
It will be good if you can try to use dates and Roasted Makhanas (Foxnuts) in it.
Some of the recipes you can prepare with mango custard include using mango puree in it as well as chopped mango pieces with almonds and pistachios.
Expert Tips, Serving Suggestions and Storage
Heat the milk, and let it boil. Then reduce the flame, and add the prepared custard puree into it as you continue to stir it. If you don’t, the custard will start becoming lumpy and that is not ideal for a delicious cheesecake making.
The custard powder available in the market does not contain egg in it generally but make sure before have a plan to use it if you are a vegetarian.
Wash and peel the fruits, then slice them just before you intend to incorporate them to the custard.
Slice the fruits into thin pieces and this way you have a bite of different fruits in a bite.
Serve the custard chilled. It is so delicious when consumed during the hot weather of summer mornings or afternoons.
Mix the fruits just before serving time so that it does not spoil the custard as it will react with the milk.
When making it dairy and wanting it to be refined sugar-free then use maple syrup. In case you are using plant-based milk for making this recipe then you can add jaggery correspondingly.
Regard the fruits and custard milk as two different dishes and put them in the refrigerator. The custard is best enjoyed within about 3 days because the refrigerator can cause the custard to thicken again.
Ingredients to Make the Recipe
You only require a few items to make this recipe which are very easy to find. The list of ingredients has substitutions mentioned too This way, people with allergies or those who wish to make changes in the type of flour they want to use for their bread making can easily make changes on the kind of flour they want to use.
Milk – low-heat non homogenized, full-fat whole milk must be used for this recipe. If you wish to make it Vegan, you can use almond milk or coconut milk, both are equally suitable for the purpose.
Custard Powder– I prefer using a vanilla custard powder that can be bought at the supermarket, but if you intend to prepare your own, a quick recipe is stated in the blog above.
Half and Half – A small amount of half and half to pour into the thick custard to make it smooth and to pouring texture. It’s not a must but I prefer to put it hoping that my mum would also put it when cooking.
Sugar – I used castor sugar to prepare the recipe. To make it refined sugar-free you can add maple syrup. In case you are using plant-based milk you may also add jaggery powder.
Fruits– About the fruits, I prefer using red colorful apples like Honeycrisp apples, frozen small chicks which I have to chop, bananas, grapes, strawberries, and pomegranates.
Flavorings – Finally add cardamom powder and a tiny amount of vanilla to give the custard milk flavor. This is something that gives the true extra depth of flavor!
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What if my custard is runny?
If your custard is very runny, you can cook it for a little longer on a medium-low flame to thicken it. If it doesn’t work, you can make a custard powder slurry using 1 tablespoon of custard powder and 3 tablespoons of milk. Add it to the milk, and cook it until the custard thickens.
Can you make fruit custard for toddlers and kids?
I would say if you wish to offer fruit custard to toddlers and kids, make it using plant-based milk like almond milk or coconut milk. It is easier to digest and you can add jaggery instead of sugar to make it healthier.
How to Make Custard Powder at Home?
Use 4 tablespoons of cornstarch, along with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk powder. Mix it well. To further flavor your custard, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the prepared custard milk.
What to do if my custard becomes very thick?
You can add milk and adjust the consistency as per your liking if your custard becomes very thick
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