Delicious Cherry Custard (Printer-friendly)

Luscious creamy custard with juicy cherries, ready in 50 minutes. Perfect for light desserts or afternoon treats.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 2 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries

→ Custard Base

02 - 1 ½ cups whole milk
03 - ½ cup heavy cream
04 - 4 large eggs
05 - ½ cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
07 - ¼ tsp almond extract
08 - Pinch of salt

→ For Baking

09 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing
10 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar, for dusting

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 9-inch round baking dish or gratin dish, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar to coat the bottom and sides evenly.
02 - Spread the pitted cherries evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes pale and slightly thickened.
04 - Add the milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, almond extract, and pinch of salt to the egg mixture. Whisk until fully combined and smooth.
05 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the cherries in the baking dish.
06 - Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until the custard is set but still slightly wobbly in the center and lightly golden on top.
07 - Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The custard sets into this impossibly creamy texture that feels luxurious but comes together with minimal fuss
  • Fresh cherries get all jammy and tender while baking, creating little pockets of sweetness throughout
  • It serves beautifully warm from the oven but also tastes even better the next day for breakfast
02 -
  • The custard continues setting as it cools, so pulling it out while the center still jiggles is exactly right and not underdone
  • Frozen cherries release more liquid which can make the custard take a few extra minutes to set properly
  • That slightly wobbly center transforms into the creamiest portion, so do not make the mistake of overbaking until its completely firm
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the custard from separating and help it bake more evenly
  • Position your oven rack in the middle so the top browns without burning before the center sets

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