Making Custard In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance, and for good reason—they're versatile, convenient, and can cook a wide variety of dishes. But can you make custard in an air fryer? The answer is yes! From crème brûlée to custard toast, there are several custard recipes that can be made in an air fryer, resulting in a delicious, creamy treat with a crispy exterior.

Can you make custard in an air fryer?

Air fryer custard toast with fruit or chocolate toppings

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of white bread (soft, such as brioche or a crusty French loaf)
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• Berries of your choice (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
• Powdered sugar (optional)
• Shredded chocolate (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 360°F or 182°C.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the egg, Greek yogurt, honey or maple syrup, and nutmeg. Whisk until you get a thin consistency without any clumps.
• Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to push down into the bread and create a large indent.
• Place the prepared bread into the preheated air fryer basket.
• Carefully spoon the custard mixture into the indent in the bread, leaving a little space around the edges.
• Choose your toppings: either sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries. You can also leave the fruit off and use sweeter toppings like shredded chocolate flakes or a dusting of cinnamon and sugar.
• Place the air fryer basket back into the air fryer and set the timer for 8 minutes at 360°F or 182°C.
• When the timer goes off, carefully remove the toast from the air fryer and serve hot. You can add some drizzled honey or a sprinkle of powdered sugar if desired.

Tips:

• This recipe can also be cooked in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F, then bake the toast on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes.
• If you want to make this ahead of time, cook the night before and store it in the fridge. Enjoy it chilled the next morning.

Air fryer egg custard recipe

Ingredients:

• 750ml (3 cups) milk
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 140g (2/3 cup) caster sugar
• 105g (3/4 cup) cornflour
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 180g block Caramilk chocolate, chopped
• 75g (1/2 cup) plain flour
• Icing sugar, to dust
• Ground cinnamon, to sprinkle

Method:

• Grease and line an 18cm x 28cm lamington pan with baking paper.
• Place the milk and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Whisk eggs, egg yolks, caster sugar, cornflour and vanilla bean paste in a large bowl until well combined.
• Strain the milk mixture over the egg mixture and whisk until combined. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Return the milk mixture to a clean medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until the mixture bubbles and thickens.
• Add the Caramilk chocolate and stir until smooth.
• Pour the custard into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Cool for 30 minutes, then place in the fridge for 3 hours or until firm.
• Turn the custard out onto a chopping board and cut into 3cm x 5cm pieces. Coat each piece in plain flour, shaking off any excess.
• Spray the basket of an air fryer with oil. Place a few custard pieces in the basket and spray with oil.
• Cook at 200C for 10 minutes or until golden. Cool for 5 minutes, then repeat with the remaining custard pieces.
• Dust the custard with icing sugar and cinnamon before serving.

Tips:

• If the mixture starts to form lumps, use a whisk to make it smooth.
• For a traditional crème brûlée, serve the custard cold. Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before serving—any longer than this and the thin sugar crust may begin to soften.
• To freeze any leftovers, place the custard in its original ramekins, cover with foil or cling wrap, and store in an airtight container. It will keep in the freezer for a few weeks.

Air fryer custard with normal milk, not condensed milk

Air Fryer Custard with Normal Milk

Air fryers are a great way to make custard, and you can use normal milk instead of condensed milk. Here is a detailed guide on how to make it.

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

• Milk (semi-skimmed, whole, lactose-free, skimmed, or a vegetable drink)
• 4 eggs
• Liquid caramel (store-bought or homemade)
• Vanilla essence
• Sugar (or a sweetener of your choice)

Preparation

The preparation time for this recipe is approximately 5 minutes.

Start by beating the eggs with the milk, vanilla essence, and sugar in a large bowl. You can use manual rods, but a rod mixer will result in a faster and more integrated mixture.

Cooking

The cooking time for this recipe is 10 minutes at 160°C in the air fryer.

First, put liquid caramel at the base of each mold for the flan. You can use aluminum molds, muffin tins, or muffin cups. Move the molds slightly so that the caramel spreads on the sides.

Next, pour the egg and milk mixture into the molds, filling them to about 3/4 full. Do not fill the molds completely, as the custard will expand while cooking.

Place all the molds in the air fryer basket with the air fryer protector on and cook at 160°C for 10 minutes.

To check if the custard is cooked, prick it with a toothpick or fork. If it comes out stained, cook for an additional 5 minutes.

And that's it! You now have a delicious, creamy custard made in your air fryer with normal milk instead of condensed milk.

Tips

• If you have time, making your own liquid caramel at home is the best option.
• Do not fill the molds to the top; 75% full is enough.
• Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the custard in batches.
• You can substitute field eggs for regular eggs, which will make the custard look much better.
• You can also experiment with different types of milk, such as whole milk or lactose-free milk.

Air fryer crème brûlée

Ingredients

• Milk
• Eggs
• Egg yolks
• Light cream
• Sugar (granulated)
• Vanilla extract

Method

• Add milk, egg yolks, light cream, and vanilla extract to a bowl and whip uniformly.
• Heat the mixture to a simmer in a pan on low heat, stirring in some of the sugar to dissolve.
• Once the sugar has dissolved, pour the mixture into ramekins.
• Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
• Cook for 25-30 minutes. Using an oven mitt, test that the crème brûlée is set by gently shaking it.
• Bring to air temperature.
• Sprinkle the remaining sugar evenly over the top.
• Caramelize the layer of sugar using a small culinary torch.

Tips

• Use good-quality dairy ingredients and pure vanilla.
• Use a whisk to whip the egg yolks with the sugar to dissolve the sugar and create a silky texture.
• Remove any air bubbles after whisking or heating by slowly stirring with a spoon.
• Put the same amount of uncooked custard into each ramekin to ensure even cooking.
• Cool the crème brûlée to room temperature before adding the sugar topping and caramelizing.
• Don't burn the sugar when caramelizing. Keep the torch moving constantly and quickly to achieve a golden colour.

Storage

• Crème brûlée is best served fresh, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days without risking changes in texture and flavour.
• The custard base can be frozen for a few weeks but not over a month. Cover the ramekins with foil or cling wrap and place them in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Caramilk custard in the air fryer

A creative way to make custard is by using an air fryer. This recipe for Caramilk custard in an air fryer will result in a crispy exterior and a soft, gooey interior.

Ingredients

• 140g (2/3 cup) caster sugar
• 105g (3/4 cup) cornflour
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 180g block Caramilk chocolate, chopped
• 75g (1/2 cup) plain flour
• Icing sugar, to dust
• Ground cinnamon, to sprinkle
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 750ml (3 cups) milk
• 1 cinnamon stick

Method

• Grease and line an 18cm x 28cm lamington pan with baking paper.
• Place the milk and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Whisk the eggs, yolks, caster sugar, cornflour, and vanilla in a large bowl until well combined.
• Strain the milk mixture over the egg mixture and whisk until combined. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Return the milk mixture to a clean medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until the mixture bubbles and thickens.
• Add the Caramilk chocolate and stir until smooth.
• Pour the custard into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm.
• Turn the custard out onto a chopping board and cut into 3cm x 5cm pieces. Coat each piece in flour, shaking off any excess.
• Spray the basket of an air fryer with oil. Place a few custard pieces in the basket and spray with oil.
• Cook at 200°C for 10 minutes or until golden. Cool for 5 minutes, then repeat with the remaining custard pieces.
• Dust the custard with icing sugar and cinnamon, and serve.

Tips

• If the mixture starts to form lumps, use a whisk to smooth it out.
• For an extra indulgent touch, drizzle a toffee or caramel sauce over the custard before serving.

Frequently asked questions