Vanilla Custard Bars are a delightful treat that combines a buttery crust with a smooth, creamy vanilla custard filling. Here’s a recipe to make these delicious bars:
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Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
For the Custard Filling:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Make the Crust:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Add the cold cubed butter.
- Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, blend the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs and starts to hold together.
- Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Bake the Crust:
- Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until it is lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Prepare the Custard Filling:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar and cornstarch.
- Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a gentle boil (about 5-7 minutes).
- Temper the Egg Yolks:
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth.
- Gradually whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks to temper them, whisking constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs.
- Combine and Cook:
- Gradually pour the tempered egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for another 2-3 minutes until the custard thickens further and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Assemble and Bake:
- Pour the hot custard filling over the baked crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake the Bars:
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the custard is set and slightly jiggly in the center.
- Cool and Chill:
- Remove from the oven and let the vanilla custard bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, refrigerate the bars for at least 2 hours (or overnight) until fully chilled and set.
- Serve:
- Lift the chilled bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into squares or bars.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
These Vanilla Custard Bars are creamy, smooth, and have a deliciously buttery crust. They make a perfect dessert for any occasion, and can be enjoyed chilled straight from the fridge. Enjoy these delightful bars with a cup of coffee or tea!
