9 Easy Homemade Recipes To Make Custard For Babies

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Custard is a creamy dessert usually made of cream or milk, egg yolk (thickening agent), flavors, and sugar. Its smooth, semi-thick texture makes custard for babies an easy-to-consume option that they can have in moderation. Further, one can make different types of custard with different ingredients or by tweaking the preparation method (1).

Different varieties of ready-mix custards are available over the counter. However, be informed of their ingredients as most commercially available custard mixes are high in refined sugar and sodium. Besides, they usually contain synthetic flavors and preservatives. Though custard mixes may not cause immediate health concerns, preparing it at home from scratch is safer. Homemade custard mixes allow you to experiment with ingredients and make the custard healthier for the baby. Choose ingredients rich in essential nutrients like calcium, protein, and vitamins to support your baby’s growth and development.

Read on for some interesting, delectable, and wholesome custard recipes that you can prepare without using ready-made custard mixes or powders.

When Can Babies Start Consuming Custard?

Although you should avoid feeding cow milk as the main drink to babies under 12 months, you could give small amounts of pasteurizedⁱProducts that are made bacteria and pathogens-free by heating at controlled temperatures for a specific duration milk as a part of solid foods, such as custard, from six months of age (2) (3).

Milk and egg in custard can provide your baby with nourishment, as it contains several nutrients, such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D. Yet, overconsumption can cause an excess calorie intake and reduce their intake of breast milk or formula milk and other solid foods, which are crucial for infant nutrition. Thus, it is advisable to provide infants and toddlers with small portions of this soft food occasionally to avoid excess sugar intake.

Easy Custard Recipes For Babies And Toddlers

Here are some easy-to-prepare and interesting custard recipes that you can try to add variety to your baby or toddler’s diet and provide them with essential nutrients.

1. Eggless vanilla custard (6 months+)

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup rice flour
• 4tbsp brown sugar
• 2tbsp banana puree
• 2tbsp mango puree
• 1tsp vanilla bean paste

How to make:

1. Heat milk in a saucepan over low heat and add rice flour and brown sugar. Mix well to prevent lumps from forming.
2. Add vanilla bean paste and mix well. Simmer on a low to medium flame while constantly stirring until the custard begins to thicken and becomes creamy in texture.
3. If a thick layer of the custard coats the back of the spoon, it is done.
4. Turn off the flame, cover the pan, and set it aside to cool. Refrigerate the custard for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Next, transfer some custard into a bowl, add banana and mango puree, give it a mix, and feed the baby.
6. You may also enhance the nutritional value of the custard mix by adding some seeds, whole fruit pieces, and nuts for babies who are a little older.

Quick tip

Since the custard thickens as it cools, do not overcook it.

2. Banana custard (6 months+)

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 ripe banana or banana puree
• 1tsp dry fruit powder
• A drop of vanilla paste or vanilla extract

How to make:

1. Whisk the egg yolks and milk in a mixing bowl using a fork.
2. Put a heavy-bottom pan over low heat and pour whisked egg yolks into it while continuously stirring to prevent lumps.
3. Cook the mixture for about ten minutes until the custard reaches the desired consistency. Turn off the flame.
4. Add mashed banana, dry fruit powder, and vanilla into the mixture. Mix well to prevent lumps from forming.
5. Serve immediately or refrigerate for an hour and serve cold.
6. For older babies and toddlers, add finely chopped nuts, seeds, and dry fruits to enhance the nutritional value.
7. You can also use different fruit purees for babies to make the recipe.

3. Oats custard (8 months+)

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You will need:

• 2tbsp rolled oats
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 egg yolk
• 1tbsp jaggery powder
• 1tsp dry fruit powder (coarsely ground)
• ½ tsp cinnamon powder

How to make:

1. Mix jaggery powder, egg yolk, and milk in a mixing bowl using a fork. Ensure no lumps are present in the mixture.
2. Pour the mixture into a pan and cook over medium heat for two to three minutes. Stir continuously to ensure the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
3. As the mixture begins to thicken, add oats and dry fruit powder. Mix well and cook the mixture for an additional five minutes.
4. Turn off the flame, and transfer the custard into custard bowls. Refrigerate for at least two hours.
5. Garnish with cinnamon powder and serve.

Quick tip

To prepare the custard with breastmilk or formula milk, cook the oats in water. Then add eggs and other ingredients to it. When the mixture turns creamy, switch off the heat and add milk.

4. Coconut and apple custard (10 months+)

Image: IStock

You will need:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 egg yolks
• ½ apple (peeled and mashed)
• 2tbsp dates puree
• 2tbsp desiccated coconut
• 1tbsp dry fruit powder
• 1tbsp cornflour
• ¼ tsp cinnamon powder

How to make:

1. Put a saucepan over medium heat. Add milk, desiccated coconut, dates puree, and dry fruit powder.
2. Cook the mixture for five minutes and stir well until the milk begins to boil. Remove the pan.
3. Whisk egg yolks and cornflour in a mixing bowl using a fork.
4. Pour the egg yolk and cornflour mixture into the saucepan while whisking constantly. Ensure no lumps form.
5. Cook the mixture over low heat for about eight minutes or until the custard thickens to the desired consistency.
6. Turn off the flame and transfer the custard into serving bowls.
7. Add mashed apple, garnish with cinnamon powder, and serve immediately.

5. Mango and passionfruit custard (10 months+)

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ cup thickened cream
• ½ cup mango and passion fruit pieces (finely chopped)
• 2 egg yolks
• 1tbsp dry fruit powder
• 1tsp cornflour
• ½ tsp vanilla bean paste

How to make:

1. Put a saucepan over low heat, add milk, cream, and vanilla bean paste into it, and bring the milk mixture to boil.
2. Whisk egg yolks and cornflour in a mixing bowl using a fork. Ensure no lumps are formed.
3. Slowly add the egg yolk and cornflour mixture to the milk mixture while stirring vigorously.
4. Cook on low heat until the custard thickens, and stir continuously to ensure the custard does not stick to the pan.
5. Once done, turn off the heat and transfer the custard into a bowl.
6. Add dry fruit powder and mango and passion fruit pieces. Feed immediately.

6. Baked custard (12 months+)

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• ¼ cup applesauce
• ¼ cup sweet potato
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 egg
• 1tbsp almonds, cashew, and walnuts (roasted and chopped)
• Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
• Olive oil for greasing

How to make:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (176.7°C) and grease two ramekins with olive oil.
2. Whisk all the ingredients in a mixing bowl using a fork until all the ingredients have mixed well into each other.
3. Pour the mixture into the ramekins and bake for 15 to 25 minutes until the custard’s top turns light brown and is slightly wobbly in the middle.
4. Once done, serve the custard warm. You can add freshly chopped seasonal fruits to enhance the nutritional value of the custard.

7. Eggless papaya and cinnamon custard (12 months+)

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• ½ cup whole milk
• ½ cup papaya puree
• 1tbsp potato starch
• 1tsp toasted almonds (chopped)
• 2-3 slices of strawberry for garnishing
• A pinch of cinnamon

How to make:

1. In a small bowl, mix potato starch and a tablespoon of milk.
2. Heat the remaining milk in a saucepan over low heat.
3. Once the milk simmers, slowly add the starch mixture into the milk while constantly stirring. Keep stirring until the custard thickens. Turn off the flame
4. Add papaya puree and cinnamon into the mixture and stir well to ensure no lumps are present.
5. Transfer the custard into a serving bowl, garnish with strawberry slices, and feed.

8. Fruit custard (12 months+)

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 1 cup mixed fruits (finely chopped)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 egg yolks
• 2tbsp roasted almonds and cashews (finely chopped)
• 1tsp chia seeds
• 1tsp potato starch
• ½ tsp vanilla bean paste

How to make:

1. Whisk egg yolks and potato starch in a mixing bowl using a fork. Set it aside.
2. Put a saucepan over low heat and pour milk and vanilla paste into it. Bring the milk to a boil.
3. Slowly add the egg mixture to the milk while stirring constantly.
4. Cook the mixture on low heat while continuously stirring until the custard thickens and reaches the desired consistency. Ensure no lumps are present.
5. Turn off the flame and transfer the custard into a bowl.
6. Add chopped fruits, nuts, and chia seeds to the custard and refrigerate for four to five hours before feeding.

9. Peach custard (12 months +)

Image: IStock

You will need:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2tbsp cornflour
• 1/4tsp vanilla essence
• ¾ cup oat milk
• Peach puree
• Honey as per taste

How to:

1. Take a pan and to it add cold oat milk, egg, corn flour and vanilla essence. Whisk them all well until the ingredients are well combined.
2. Place the above pan on low-medium heat and stir it continuously. Let it come to a boil, and then the mixture will thicken.
3. Take it off the heat and let it cool for some time. Add the peach puree and honey.
4. Give it a mix and serve.

Note:

Custard contains eggs, whole milk, nuts, and other ingredients that may trigger allergic reactions. Therefore, before feeding custard, ensure the ingredients’ safety for your baby.

Infographic: Nutritious Custard Recipes For Vegan Babies

Custard is an egg and milk-based dessert that babies can consume in moderation as a part of their well-balanced weaningⁱ A gradual process of a baby switching from breastfeeding to other specific sources of nutrition like solid foods diet. However, if the parents follow veganism, they look for vegan custard recipes that they could feed to their babies. Our infographic brings milk and egg-free, nutritious custard recipes, which are versatile and customizable.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Easy Homemade Recipes To Make Custard For Babies

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

Delight your little ones with these easy and delicious custard recipes! Perfect for babies, toddlers, and kids of all ages. Quick and easy to make, these recipes are sure to be a hit!

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Seeemaa BudhrajaDDHE & DNHE

Seeemaa Budhraja is a Delhi-based dietitian and nutritionist. She specializes in weight and lifestyle management. She is a healthy recipe designer, works as a health motivator and wellness coach as well. She has worked as a slimming head with one of the top organizations in India.

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