Delicious Cherry Custard (Print)

Rich vanilla custard baked with sweet cherries for an elegant yet simple dessert.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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
10 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar

# How-To Steps:

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 completely.
02 - Spread the pitted cherries evenly in the prepared baking dish, ensuring they form a single layer for even cooking.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until pale and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
04 - Add milk, cream, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt to the egg mixture. Whisk until fully combined and smooth.
05 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the cherries in the dish, ensuring the fruit is well distributed.
06 - Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the custard is set but still slightly wobbly in the center and lightly golden on top.
07 - Remove from oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The custard sets into this impossibly creamy texture that manages to feel light and rich at the same time
  • You can throw it together in under twenty minutes and let the oven do the rest of the work
  • Fresh cherries turn jammy and sweet as they bake, creating little pockets of fruit in every bite
02 -
  • The custard will continue to set as it cools, so removing it from the oven while the center still jiggles slightly is actually correct
  • Buttering and sugaring the dish might feel excessive but it creates this incredible caramelized crust that forms around the edges
03 -
  • Let your eggs come to room temperature before whisking them into the warm milk mixture to prevent any curdling
  • The almond extract is subtle but it truly enhances the natural cherry flavor in a way that vanilla alone cannot achieve

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