Learn how to make custard powder in just 2 minutes and using only 3 ingredients (milk powder, cornflour/corn starch and vanilla sugar).
You won't believe how quick and easy it is to prepare custard powder and then use it to make creamy homemade vanilla custard!
Perfect for pouring over your favourite desserts, puddings, pies, cakes, crumbles and more!
Once you've made your own custard powder (and realised how incredibly easy it is!), you'll never buy store-bought custard powder again!
Plus, it's so easy to turn your homemade custard powder into creamy vanilla custard... simply by adding milk and sugar and stirring on the stove-top.
The serving options for vanilla custard are endless... pour it over your favourite dessert (think apple pie, chocolate pudding, blueberry crumble, pecan pie and more!) or use it in homemade trifle or custard tarts.
Table Of Contents
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
There's so much to love about making your own custard powder from scratch:
- Budget-friendly - making your own is SO much cheaper than buying pre-made custard powder.
- Most popular dessert - warm custard is so delicious served on it's own... or take it to the next level by serving it with your favourite dessert, fruit or jelly.
- Versatile - custard can be used in everything from trifles to tarts, poured onto sweet pies, puddings, crumbles, cakes and more!
What You Need
It couldn't be easier (or cheaper) to make homemade custard powder from scratch!
Here's what you need:
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method
- Milk powder - milk powder can be bought from any supermarket or grocer. You can use either skim or full cream milk powder, however, for the creamiest custard I recommend using full cream milk powder. Milk powder is a budget-friendly ingredient - a large 1 kg bag will cost around $8.
- Cornflour - also referred to as cornstarch. This acts as the thickening agent in the custard.
- Vanilla sugar - also known as vanillin sugar. You can use store-bought vanilla sugar (such as Hoyts or MasterFoods brand). This can usually be found in the spices section of the supermarket. Alternatively, you can make your own homemade vanilla sugar using sugar and vanilla beans.
- Yellow food colour powder (optional) - if you would like your custard powder to have a traditional yellow look to it, then you can add a pinch of yellow food colour powder. Food colour powder can be quite difficult to find in supermarkets and doesn't alter the flavour, so it's completely fine to omit it entirely.
Equipment Required
Preparing custard powder requires very little equipment.
You will need:
- A food processor or Thermomix or sieve - the ingredients are mixed together using either a food processor or Thermomix. If you don't have a food processor or a Thermomix, you can simple sift the ingredients using a sieve. Ensure you sift 3-4 times to completely combine the ingredients.
- An airtight container - for storing the custard powder.
Step By Step Instructions
It takes just 2 minutes to make your own custard powder at home!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method
Step 1 - Combine The Ingredients
Place the milk powder, cornflour, vanilla sugar and food colour powder (optional) into a food processor or Thermomix.
Mix on high speed to combine.
TIP: If you don't have a food processor or a Thermomix machine, you can simply sift the ingredients 3-4 times using a sieve and a large mixing bowl.
Step 2 - Store
Transfer the powder into an airtight container and store at room temperature in a cool, dry place (such as the pantry).
Serving Suggestions
Homemade custard or vanilla sauce is the perfect accompaniment to your favourite desserts.
Here's some popular custard serving suggestions:
- Use homemade custard for the custard layer in a classic strawberry trifle (or adults-only Baileys chocolate trifle)
- Pour it over your favourite dessert pudding - like chocolate, butterscotch, sticky date or apple sponge pudding
- Serve it with fresh or tinned fruit
- Serve with jelly or ice-cream
- Add it as the filling to sweet custard tarts
- Pour it over your favourite fruit streusel, crumble or cake.
Expert Tips
- I recommend using full cream milk powder for the creamiest custard (not skim or light milk powder).
- Food colour powder can be difficult to source - it's completely fine to omit it as it is only used to alter the colour of the custard powder, not the flavour.
- If you don't have a food processor or a Thermomix, you can sift the ingredients together 3-4 times using a sieve.
- Store the homemade custard powder in an airtight container in a cool, dry place (such as the pantry) at room temperature.
- Homemade custard powder can be stored for as long as the expiry date on the milk powder packet. I recommend writing the expiry date onto your container of homemade custard.
FAQ's
It is possible to make homemade custard without custard powder. You can find my recipe for 'custard without custard powder' here.
Yes. Milk powder, also called powdered milk, dried milk, or dry milk is made from dehydrated, pasteurised milk. The main purpose of drying milk is to preserve it as milk powder has a far longer shelf life than liquid milk. It also does not need to be refrigerated, due to its low moisture content.
It depends. In Australia, cornstarch and cornflour are the same product and therefore can be used interchangeably in recipes, whereas in other parts of the world, like the US and UK, they are different products. In the US, maize is used to make cornflour but in Australia, it is made from wheat which is why it often reads “wheaten cornflour”. In the US, corn flour is finely ground cornmeal.
How To Make Custard Using Custard Powder
Now that you've got your homemade custard powder... let's turn it into custard!
Simply place ½ cup of your homemade custard powder into a medium saucepan. Add 2 and ½ cups of milk (full cream is best) and 2 tablespoons of caster sugar.
Whisk to combine.
Heat the custard over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 days with a layer of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard (to avoid it from developing a 'skin' on top.
Related Recipes
Pour your creamy, homemade custard over one of these delicious desserts!
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How To Make Custard Powder
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk powder
- ½ cup cornflour cornstarch
- 6 tsp vanilla sugar see notes
- pinch of yellow food colour powder optional - see notes
Instructions
To Make Custard Powder
- Place the milk powder, cornflour (corn starch), vanilla sugar and yellow food colour powder (optional) into a food processor or Thermomix. Mix for 10 seconds on high speed to combine (Speed 8 if using a Thermomix). If you don't have a food processor or Thermomix, simply sift the ingredients 3-4 times together into a bowl.
- Transfer the custard powder to an airtight container and store at room temperature.
To Make Custard Using Custard Powder
- Place ½ cup of homemade custard powder into a saucepan, along with 2 ½ cups of milk and 2 tablespoons of caster sugar. Whisk to combine and then stir constantly over low heat until the custard has thickened.
- Pour over your favourite desserts and serve immediately.
Notes
- I recommend using full cream milk powder for the creamiest custard (not skim or light milk powder).
- Vanilla sugar - you can use store-bought vanilla sugar (such as Hoyts or MasterFoods brand). This can be found in the spices section of the supermarket. Alternatively, you can make your own homemade vanilla sugar using sugar and vanilla beans.
- Food colour powder can be difficult to source - so it's completely fine to omit it as it is only used to alter the colour of the custard powder, not the flavour.
- If you don't have a food processor or a Thermomix, you can sift the ingredients together 3-4 times using a sieve.
- Store the homemade custard powder in an airtight container in a cool, dry place (such as the pantry) at room temperature.
- Homemade custard powder can be stored for as long as the expiry date on the milk powder packet. I recommend writing the expiry date onto your container of homemade custard.
Christine Judd
Love this site, well done.