Silky Amish Baked Custard

Silky Amish Baked Custard
Smooth, creamy, and lightly sweet with a hint of warm nutmeg — this old-fashioned Amish-style custard is pure comfort in every spoonful.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 6)
4 large eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups whole milk (warm, not boiling)
Ground nutmeg (for topping)
👩‍🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat Oven
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
Lightly grease 6 ramekins or a 1½-quart baking dish.
2️⃣ Warm the Milk
Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat until hot but not boiling (small bubbles around edges).
Remove from heat.
3️⃣ Mix the Custard
In a large bowl, whisk together:
Eggs
Sugar
Salt
Vanilla
Slowly pour warm milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly (this prevents scrambling).
4️⃣ Strain for Silkiness
For ultra-smooth custard, strain mixture through a fine sieve before pouring into ramekins.
5️⃣ Water Bath (Important!)
Place filled ramekins in a baking dish.
Pour hot water into the baking dish until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
This gentle water bath keeps the custard silky and prevents cracking.
6️⃣ Bake
Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until centers are just set but still slightly jiggly.
A knife inserted near the center should come out clean.
7️⃣ Cool
Remove from water bath carefully.
Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg.
Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
🍽️ Serve
Enjoy chilled or slightly cool.
Optional: top with whipped cream or fresh berries.