A custard powder substitute could come in handy when you least expect it, especially if you like to bake as much as I do! Not everyone wants to make custard from scratch, and that's okay because you don't have to! Keep reading for 7 easy alternatives for custard powder that you can use in a pinch!
Best Custard Powder Substitutes
If you love custard, you're not alone. The rich creaminess of custard is essential to many classic desserts and is often the best part of the recipe! But what do you do when you're whipping up something sweet and realize you're out of custard powder?
Not to worry, you have options to recreate its signature flavor and texture. In fact, you might not even need to take a trip to the store! Check your pantry to see if you have any of these easy custard powder alternatives at home!
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What Is Custard Powder
Custard is a rich and creamy dessert/sauce/filling that is typically used in baked goods like cakes or tarts, but can even be enjoyed on its own!
Technically, custard can be made from scratch with milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla, though the process can be finicky and is sometimes difficult for beginners. That's where custard powder comes in.
In short, custard powder is a powdered blend of thickener (mostly cornstarch), coloring (typically a small amount of yellow food dye), and flavoring (vanilla being the most common). When this powder is combined with milk it creates 'instant custard'.
🌎 Origin
Alfred Bird of Birmingham, England created custard powder in 1837 for his wife who had a serious egg allergy. Traditional custard is thickened with egg yolks, which gives it that signature yellow color.
By 1844 Bird began marketing his custard powder across the UK where it boomed in popularity. In 1947, General Foods purchased Birds' custard powder recipe for mass distribution. It has since changed hands twice, first to Kraft in 1988 before being bought by Premier Foods in 2004.
1. DIY Custard Powder
If you are whipping up a classic custard-based dessert that wouldn't be the same with anything other than custard, making custard powder from scratch is your best bet. Luckily, it's surprisingly simple and you will only need a few common ingredients.
DIY Custard Powder Ingredients
- Sugar - 1 cup of granulated sugar.
- Vanilla Extract - 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.
- Powdered Milk - ½ a cup of powdered milk.
- Corn Flour - ½ a cup of corn flour.
- Yellow Food Coloring (optional) - ¼ teaspoon of yellow food coloring.
How To Make Custard Powder At Home
Making custard powder is pretty easy, but you will need a few tools. Get out a food processor, a fine mesh sieve, and a whisk or fork.
- Blitz. Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and blitz it in your food processor until it turns into a fine powder.
- Sift. Pour the vanilla sugar into a fine mesh sieve and shake it side to side to sift the mixture into a mixing bowl. Then, pour in ½ cup powdered milk, ½ cup corn flour, and ¼ teaspoon yellow food coloring, if using.
- Get rid of lumps. You can either return the mixture to your food processor and blitz it once more, or you can sift the mixture back through the sieve into another bowl to get rid of any clumps.
- Whisk. Lastly use a fork or whisk to make sure all the ingredients are thoroughly combined. You can then use your DIY custard powder right away, or store it in an airtight container to use later!
You can use this custard powder just as you would use store bought custard powder in any recipe. Check out my page dedicated to how to make custard powder for more useful tips and tricks!
2. Instant Pudding Mix
If you are looking for a sweet creamy dessert to enjoy on its own or to use in your favorite baked goods, check your pantry for some instant pudding mix.
The consistency of pudding is almost identical to custard, perhaps ever-so-slightly less creamy. It can also be quite high in sugar, so that's a good thing to keep an eye on if you are watching your sugar intake (though sugar-free instant vanilla pudding is available at most grocery stores).
Another great thing about instant pudding is all of the flavor choices! If you are open to dabbling with different flavor combinations you can certainly try chocolate, pistachio, or butterscotch instant pudding. It's all personal preference!
Instant pudding of any flavor can be used as a 1:1 substitute for custard powder.
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3. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a pantry staple that can be used in place of custard powder to thicken recipes, or it may be combined with vanilla, milk, and sugar to make a similar sauce. After all, custard powder is mostly cornstarch so it's not too far off.
Custard powder is best used to thicken puddings and sauces or to make filling for cakes or other desserts.
To achieve the closest flavor to custard, mix equal parts of cornstarch and sugar. Add a splash of vanilla extract and enough milk to make a thick paste. This paste can be used as a 1:1 substitute for custard powder in most recipes.
4. Tapioca Powder
The next time your craving a creamy custard, reach for the tapioca powder! The key ingredient in tapioca powder is cassava root, which has a very similar consistency to cornstarch.
Tapioca powder is not to be confused with tapioca pearls, which would not make a great substitute. The pearls need to be soaked before use and would affect the consistency of your custard.
An equal amount of tapioca powder can be used in place of custard powder, but you will want to add a splash of vanilla extract to boost the flavor.
5. Water Chestnut Flour
Water chestnut flour is made from ground water chestnuts, which are naturally gluten-free. The texture is fluffy and light with a subtly sweet taste. It is an excellent binding agent, so it makes delicious cakes, cookies, and pastries, but can also be used to thicken sauces like custard!
Water chestnut flour is a suitable substitute, but not my first choice because to use it you will first have to make a batter. This is done by combining water chestnut flour with water and castor sugar. Once you have combined the ingredients, you will need to boil the batter for a few minutes.
After boiling, you will be left with a soft and creamy batter that is a perfect addition to cakes, cookies, and ice cream.
6. Corn Flour + Cornstarch
Corn flour is a great thickener and cornstarch will help to prevent any clumps. On its own it lacks flavor, so you will have to do some tweaking to get your custard just right.
Use a 50/50 blend of corn flour and cornstarch in place of custard powder in any recipe. Mix it with milk, sugar, and a splash of vanilla to reach your desired flavor and consistency.
7. Pastry Cream
It's not often I have pastry cream on hand, but if you do, it would be a near-perfect substitute for custard. Pastry cream is the end product so it can't be used to thicken other sauces, though it can certainly be used in place of them!
You can use pastry cream to fill baked goods, top cakes or pastries, or in any dessert recipe that could use a little something extra.
Use pastry cream as a 1:1 substitute for prepared custard (not the powder).
Choosing The Best Substitute
In the end, the best custard powder substitute comes down to the recipe you are making with it! If you only need a thickener, cornstarch is a great choice. If you're looking for a sweet and creamy treat, try instant pudding. For the real thing, whip up a quick batch of custard powder from scratch!
I hope this list helped you find the best custard powder substitute for whatever recipe you're making! Be sure to come back and comment below to let me know how everything turned out!
📋 Recipe
Best Custard Powder Substitute: DIY Custard Powder (+More Easy Alternatives!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered milk
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon yellow food coloring
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and blitz it in your food processor until it turns into a fine powder.1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the vanilla sugar into a fine mesh sieve and shake it side to side to sift the mixture into a mixing bowl. Then, add in ½ cup powdered milk, ½ cup corn flour, and ¼ teaspoon yellow food coloring, if using.½ cup powdered milk, ½ cup cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon yellow food coloring
- You can either return the mixture to your food processor and blitz it once more, or you can sift the mixture back through the sieve into another bowl to get rid of any clumps.
- Lastly use a fork or whisk to make sure all the ingredients are thoroughly combined. You can then use your DIY custard powder right away, or store it in an airtight container to use later!
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- For vegan custard powder, omit the powdered milk and use rice milk when making the custard powder into a sauce.
- Food coloring is only necessary if you desire the signature yellow color of custard, but does nothing to the flavor so it is completely optional.
- Though I typically use gel food coloring when baking, liquid food coloring is best for this recipe.
- Homemade custard powder can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months but works best when used within 1 month.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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