You only need 4 ingredients to make this incredibly creamy and delicious sugar free custard recipe! My secret ingredient is coconut cream, which makes this easy egg custard dairy-free.
I have loved custard since I was little. It was and still is my ultimate comfort food - so simple and so delicious. If there was a second portion, I'd be the first in the queue!
One of my greatest pleasures is to take a trusted old family recipe and make it keto-friendly. Then, I serve it to my own family and see if they notice that it is sugar-free.
Nobody could tell the difference with this keto egg custard! Everyone loved it, and both of my children remarked on how creamy it tasted.
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🌟 Why This Recipe Works
- Family-friendly - If my critical kids love this dessert, I am certain that yours will enjoy it, too. Sugar-free custard tastes like the real deal but without the carb load. Adults will enjoy the fact that this sugar-free custard contains only 4.1g net carbs per portion.
- Great for Meal Prep - Custard is great for making ahead. Simply store it in the fridge and you have dessert ready for the whole week.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need:
- Cream - I used coconut cream. You can also use heavy cream if dairy is not an issue.
- Egg yolks - large
- Powdered sweetener - When I first posted this recipe, I made it with powdered erythritol. Now I use powdered allulose, because the taste is better and it melts just like sugar. Stevia drops or monk fruit sweetener are another option.
- Vanilla - Use a vanilla bean pod for a luxury version or 2 teaspoon vanilla extract. An alternative could be vanilla bean powder.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Ingredient Tips
I used cartons of coconut cream. But you can also use cans of coconut milk and refrigerate them so the liquid and the firm parts separate. 2 cans should yield enough coconut cream.
If you can, use fresh vanilla bean pods. The flavour they lend is out of this world and you get those lovely little brown vanilla specks inside your custard.
Instructions
This section contains step by step instructions and photos that show how to make the recipe.
Step 1:
Cut open the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds. The spoon in the picture above shows how many seeds my bean yielded.
Step 2:
Heat the coconut cream and the scraped vanilla bean pod in a saucepan over a medium heat. Wait until the coconut cream simmers and the first bubbles form. Do not boil!
Step 3:
Take off the heat and let cool for about 15 minutes. This allows the coconut cream to cool and infuses it with more vanilla flavour.
Note: If you are using vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean, add it after you take the saucepan off the heat.
Step 4:
Add the vanilla seeds to a mixing bowl, together with your egg yolks and powdered erythritol.
Step 5:
Blend with an electric mixer until the yolks are pale in colour, frothy and there's so much air whisked into the mix that it has doubled in size.
Step 6:
Slowly add the (lukewarm) coconut cream to the egg yolk mixture. Whisk continuously.
Step 7:
Fill the custard mixture into ramekins which you have placed into a large baking dish. Depending on the size of the ramekins, you'll end up with 4-6 portions.
Step 8:
Boil water and fill the casserole dish with hot water that reaches half way up the sides of the casserole dish. The water bath helps the keto custard to bake more evenly.
Tip: If your dish is very large, put a paper towel at the bottom to prevent the ramekins from sliding around when you carry it.
Step 9:
Bake in the oven until the tops are lightly browned, the top is set, but the inside remains jiggly.
Cool them on the counter to room temperature, then place them in the fridge until serving.
Serving Suggestion
The custards taste lovely with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg. I imagine cinnamon would also work well here.
Option to top with berries such as strawberries, blueberries or raspberries. Or, decorate with sugar free whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Want to turn this custard recipe into a keto crème brûlée?
First of all, cool it in the fridge for at least 2 hours so it's nice and cold. Then add granulated erythritol (a brown sugar alternative would be delicious here) over the tops and use a kitchen torch to caramelise it.
It you don't have a culinary torch, place the ramekins under the grill / broiler. Place them quite close to the top and watch them closely to ensure the custard does not go liquid.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can use 4 large eggs, yolks and whites. A keto egg custard like this will set more and be firmer.
Yes. You can replace up to ½ of the cream with almond milk for a lighter custard. Use 4 whole eggs so the mixture sets firm.
Make egg white wraps or an egg white omelette.
To make a sugar-free custard on the stovetop in a saucepan, use the custard recipe in my keto coconut cream pie.
Storage
Sugar-free custard keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cover the ramekins well or store in an airtight container.
Custard is not suitable for freezing.
More Creamy Sugar Free Desserts
Below are more sugar free pudding recipes and mousses:
- Low Carb Keto Banana Pudding15 Minutes
- Keto Rice Pudding (Cauliflower, Low Carb)30 Minutes
- Keto Peanut Butter Mousse5 Minutes
- Fluffy Keto Pumpkin Mousse5 Minutes
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Sugar Free Keto Custard (Dairy Free)
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 2 cups coconut cream 500ml
- 5 egg yolks large
- ⅓ cup powdered sweetener 40g
- 1 vanilla bean pods or 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape out the seeds. Place the seeds in a mixing bowl and set aside.
- Heat the coconut cream and the vanilla bean pod in a saucepan over a medium heat. Wait until the coconut cream simmers and the first bubbles begin to form on the top. Do not boil! Take off the heat and let cool for about 15 minutes. (If you are using vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean, add it now.)
- Add the egg yolks and the powdered erythritol to the mixing bowl with the vanilla bean seeds. Blend with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until the eggs are pale, frothy and double the size.
- Slowly add the (lukewarm) coconut cream to the egg yolk mix, stirring continuously.
- Heat the oven to 160 Celsius / 325 Fahrenheit.
- Pour the custard mix into ramekins and place the ramekins into a casserole dish. Fill the casserole with boiled water that should reach half-way up the ramekins. This helps the custard to bake evenly and prevents splitting.
- Bake for about 40 minutes until the tops are set and very lightly browned, but the centres are still jiggly.
- Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature, then chill in the fridge until serving.
Amy
These look delicious! Erythritol doesn't agree with my tummy. 🙁 Could I use powdered or liquid stevia?
Katrin Nürnberger
Yes, of course! Both would work. You have to check that the stevia powder you use is a 1:1 sugar replacement. Some are twice as sweet as sugar.
Judy M
Thank you so much for asking this!!! I am in the same boat.
It’s really hard making a lot of recipes because StevieaI doesn’t have the book.
Luisa
HI, would it be possible to substitute coconut cream with normal cream and if so how much of it?
Katrin Nürnberger
Hi Luisa, I would use the same amount of dairy cream. The two are interchangeable.
Ciara Leinaala
Phenomenal recipe! I added some orange blossom water for a little twist but otherwise followed the instructions. The custard texture is stunning!!! Thank you!!!
Alan Murphy
May I ask what coconut cream you use in the Uk. Your link shows an unavailable one. Cheers
Katrin Nürnberger
I normally buy the Sainsbury's coconut cream, or I use the Waitrose Cook's Ingredients coconut cream.
Sinead
Are the calorie and carb count for all 5 servings or one single serving?
Katrin Nürnberger
It's for 1 serving
Jenni
This recipe set well andhad the perfect texture and taste
Toni
If someone used vanilla powder or extract instead of the vanilla bean, how much would be needed?
Katrin Nürnberger
I think 1/2 tsp would be a good amount. Then taste and see what you think!
Jackie Clifton
Made these with the addition of shredded coconut for my husband, who desperately misses coconut custard pie since his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. He completely loves them! They set perfectly and were sweet, smooth, and satisfying. No crust necessary.
Katrin Nürnberger
That sounds delicious! Glad you both liked it!
Odette Layton
Love the recipes. Keep going
Katrin
Thanks Odette!
Priya Dogra
I can have custard at any time of a day. Your recipe looks interesting to me, as I have always made it fruitier. But I really like the idea of giving the custard a flavor of ground nutmegs or cinnamon. I would love to try it.
Katrin
Hope you'll give it a go! I think the warm flavours of those spices work very well with the coconut.
Toni
I'm wondering if you're not going with keto for the fat, if it would work to use all of the canned coconut milk instead of just the cream.
Katrin
Maybe! I'm wondering if it would make sense to add 1 egg white, just so that you're sure to get it firm enough.