Keto Custard

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5 from 464 votes
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Turn pantry staples into a silky smooth custard using my keto custard recipe! It’s simple yet elegant and full of vanilla flavor! 2 grams net carbs.

Looking for more creamy sugar free treats? Try my keto lemon curd, keto pudding, and keto whipped cream next.

keto custard

Growing up, my mom wasn’t one for making your ‘typical’ baked goods. Instead, she made more traditional desserts, like custard.

I made her recipe once, and while it was delicious, it used a lot of sugar (no wonder we loved it), so I swapped a few ingredients to bring the carbs down. Now, she’s asking for MY sugar-free custard recipe. Go figure!

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make keto custard
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More simple yet elegant keto desserts
  8. Easy Keto Custard Recipe (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • 4 ingredients. And I’m willing to bet you have most of them in your kitchen right now. 
  • Simple yet sophisticated. Custard is an underrated dessert that’s somehow classy and elegant, yet it’s the easiest thing to whip up. 
  • Versatile. I prefer my low-carb custard with berries on top, but you can layer it to make keto Boston cream pie, keto trifle, you name it!
  • Easy to make ahead. Prepare it up to three days in advance and simply pull it out of the fridge when you’re ready to serve. 
sugar free custard

Ingredients needed

  • Eggs. You’ll definitely want to use room temperature eggs for this recipe so the custard bakes smoothly and evenly. 
  • Heavy cream. Also known as double cream or thickened cream. Like the eggs, it’s best for this to be at room temperature. 
  • Granulated sweetener. I tested a few different types, and allulose and monk fruit yielded the best results. 
  • Salt. Just a pinch to bring out the sweetness. 
  • Vanilla extract. For a subtle vanilla flavor. 

How to make keto custard

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven and grease small ramekins. Place them in a large baking dish. 

Step 2- Mix. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the ingredients until smooth. Pour the custard mixture into the greased ramekins. 

Step 3- Water bath. Pour boiling hot water into the baking dish until the ramekins are covered by about an inch. 

Step 4- Bake. Bake for 30 minutes or until they’re mostly firm. Serve them warm or let them cool before placing them in the fridge. 

low carb custard

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Use an electric mixer. You want the custard to be VERY smooth before baking, so if needed, use a stand mixer, hand mixer, or even a blender. 
  • Add the eggs last. That way, you can taste the batter and know how sweet it is (without getting sick). Just note the sweetness will be slightly diluted once the eggs are added.
  • Skip the oven. If you want a thinner, more delicate custard, add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan and simmer until it coats the back of a spoon. Then, pour it into your desired serving dish. This yields a texture similar to my keto panna cotta

Variations

  • Chocolate custard. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. 
  • Extracts. Swap the vanilla for almond extract or orange extract for a totally different flavor. 
  • Spices. Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg for a warming, lightly spiced flavor. 
  • Garnish. Top the custard with fresh blueberries and raspberries or whatever fruit is in season. 

Storage instructions

To store: Keep the ramekins in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. 

To freeze: Place individual portions of custard in freezer-friendly containers and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge.

keto egg custard

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this dairy-free?

Yes! To make dairy-free custard, I suggest using full-fat canned coconut cream (with the liquid drained). Just note it will have a mild coconut flavor. 

What’s the difference between custard and milk pudding?

The biggest difference is that custard uses eggs to thicken, while milk pudding uses starch, like corn starch, to thicken. 

Can you eat custard on keto?

Traditional custard is not keto-friendly since it contains quite a bit of sugar, but with low-carb substitutions, it can be made suitable for a keto diet. 

More simple yet elegant keto desserts

keto egg custard

Easy Keto Custard Recipe

5 from 464 votes
Turn pantry staples into a silky smooth custard using my keto custard recipe! It’s simple yet elegant and full of vanilla flavor! 2 grams net carbs.
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 35 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease four 2 or 3 inch ovenproof ramekins and place them in a large baking dish.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all your ingredients, until smooth and combined. Transfer the mixture amongst the four ramekins.
  • Boil a kettle or bring 2-4 cups of water to the boil. Pour enough boiling water into the baking dish until the ramekins are submerged in an inch of water.
  • Place the baking dish in the oven and bake the custard for around 30 minutes, until firm on top.
  • Remove from the oven and either enjoy warm or all to cool completely. Once cooled, you can refrigerate it until chilled.

Notes

TO STORE: Keep the ramekins in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. 
TO FREEZE: Place individual portions of custard in freezer-friendly containers and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 7gFat: 32gSodium: 99mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 2gVitamin A: 1952IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 98mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 2g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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  1. 5 stars
    I’ve made this several times and it is the ultimate joyful comfort food. I confess I only have 3 ramekins and thus eat a very satisfying amount. Delicious either hot or cold. Thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    I made this recipe and it’s easy and tastes great! I do have a question though, where do the 2 grams of fiber come from in the nutrition information?