Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards (2024)

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Make your own creamy sweetmeats thanks to these Renaissance custard recipes. The historical recipes are over three centuries old, but the rich custards will taste rich and delicious today.

Authentic Renaissance Custard Recipes

The Queen-like Cloſet or Rich Cabinet (1672)

Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards (1)Renaissance Custard for Garnishing Cakes and Puddings
(Source: ©La_vanda/Depositphotos.com)

To make fine Cuſtards

Take two quarts of Cream and boil it well with whole Spice, then put in the yolks of twelve Eggs, and ſix Whites well beaten and ſtrained, then put in theſe Eggs over the fire, and keep them ſtirring leſt they turn, then when they are thoroughly hot, take it off and ſtir it till it be almoſt cold, then put in Roſewater and Sugar, and take out the whole Spice, then put your Cuſtard into ſeveral things to bake, and do not let them ſtand too long in the Oven; when you ſerve them in, ſtrew on ſmall French Comfits of divers colours, or elſe fine Sugar, which you pleaſe.

To make a very fine Cream

Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards (2)Renaissance Custard Making

Take a quart of Cream, and put to ſome Roſewater and Sugar, ſome large Mace, Cinamon and Cloves; boil it together for a quarter of an hour, then take the yolks of eight Eggs, beat them together with ſome of your Cream, then put them into the Cream which is boiling, keep it ſtirring leſt it curdle, take it from the fire, and keep it ſtirring till it be a little cold, then run it through a Strainer, diſh it up, and let it ſtand one night, the next day it will be as ſtiff as a Cuſtard, then ſtick it with blanched Almonds, Citron Pill and Eringo roots, and ſo ſerve it in.

To make Tuff-Taffity Cream

Take a quart of thick Cream, the whites of eight Eggs beaten to a Froth with Roſewater, then take off the Froth and put it into the Cream, and boil it, and always ſtir it, then put in the Yolks of eight Eggs well beaten, and ſtir them in off the Fire, and then on the fire a little while, then ſeaſon it with Sugar, and pour it out, and when it is cold, lay on it Jelly of Currans or Raſberries, or what you pleaſe.

To make Cream of divers things

Take a Quart of Cream and boil it a while, then put in eight yolks of Eggs and ſix Whites well beaten, put them in over the Fire, and ſtir them leſt they turn, then when it is almoſt enough, put in ſome Candied Eringo Root, Orange or Limon Pill Candied, and cut thin, preſerved Plums, without the Stones, Quince, Pippin, Cherries, or the like; if you do not like it ſo thick, put fewer Eggs into it.

The Brief History of Custards

Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards (3)Fresh Hen Eggs for Use in Renaissance Custard Recipes
(Source: ©ChiccoDodoFC/Depositphotos.com)

The Renaissance custard recipes evolved from the medieval "crustades" that were egg and cream mixtures used as binders for fillings in tarts and puddings.

They became eaten on their own as a dessert when served in non-edible pastry cases called coffins or as custard creams to top a dessert.

Custards became popular desserts during the Elizabethan Era, consisting of sweet egg custards flavored with spices and decorated with comfit candy, almonds, candied citrus peel, and sometimes preserved fruits.

These historic recipes from the Renaissance Era tend to turn out delicious and are fun to try.

Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards (4)

Gum Dragon and 23kt edible Gold Leaf are not easy to find locally, so here's where to get the historical ingredients called for in some Renaissance recipes.

Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards (5)

Curious about that strange ſ character in words? Wondering about historical ingredients and cooking methods? Go to the Glossary of Renaissance Cooking Terms for help.

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Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards (2024)

FAQs

Renaissance Custard Recipes - Enjoy Thick Rich Tasting Custards? ›

Take a quart of thick Cream, the whites of eight Eggs beaten to a Froth with Roſewater, then take off the Froth and put it into the Cream, and boil it, and always ſtir it, then put in the Yolks of eight Eggs well beaten, and ſtir them in off the Fire, and then on the fire a little while, then ſeaſon it with Sugar, and ...

How do I make my custard thicker? ›

Using a Thickening Agent

For 1 cup (240 mL) of custard, use 2 tablespoons (17 g) of flour mixed with 4 tablespoons (59 mL) of cold water. Add the mixture into your custard ingredients as they cook on the stove. Use cornstarch as an alternative to flour. Cornstarch, like flour, requires cold water as a mixing agent.

What were the desserts for the rich in the Renaissance? ›

Common desserts eaten in the renaissance time, for wealthy people included custard, small cakes, rice pudding, apple and orange tarts. Cheesecakes, strawberry tarts, gooseberry tarts, mousse, prune tarts, and trifles. Basically, tarts were the main dessert. They were eaten by the middle and "high class" people.

What are the three types of custards? ›

There are three types of custard: baked, stirred, and frozen. Baked custards include bread pudding, flan, and cheesecake, and are prepared by baking in an oven or water bath. Boiled Custards include beverages like eggnog. Puddings, creme anglaise (krem on-GLAYZ), and pastry cream are some examples of stirred custards.

What is the difference between custard and Italian custard? ›

Italian custard is thicker than a regular pouring custard, or crème anglaise. It is rich, smooth and creamy making it ideal for filling profiteroles, croissants, brioche, and fruit tarts. In fact it is so delicious you might want to eat it with a spoon!

How do you know if custard is thick? ›

the back of your spoon and draw a line through it with. your finger. If you turn the spoon left and right and it. doesn't run, then it's done!

How to make bird custard thick? ›

3. Gently whisk/stir the paste mixture into the boiling milk. 4. Bring back to the boil; stir until the custard begins to thicken.

What food was most commonly eaten during the Renaissance? ›

For most people, bread remained the food of choice. The upper classes preferred processed white bread made of flour, but lower class people ate brown bread made of wheat bran, sometimes with added rye, beans, and chestnuts. Rice was also eaten and was grown chiefly in Lombardy.

What is the dessert at medieval times? ›

Dessert in the Middle Ages corresponds to the third or fourth course before leaving the table with: -sweet dishes : pudding, tarts, crustards, patties, wafers, doughnuts, pancakes, marzipan cakes (almond cakes), compotes, creams and fruit cooked in hyppocras.

What did they eat for breakfast during the Renaissance? ›

That led to people breaking their long fast by having a small snack upon waking, usually a little bit of bread, and perhaps some butter or cheese. By the Renaissance, one generally didn't eat much in the morning, but the mid-day and evening meals could be quite elaborate in noble households.

What is a fancy custard called? ›

Crème brûlée is one of the most renowned custards out there. A classic crème brûlée typically consists of egg yolks and cream sweetened with sugar and vanilla.

What is custard called in America? ›

In North America, the word pudding commonly refers to this custard-like dessert.

Is custard healthier than ice cream? ›

Brands vary, but vanilla ice-cream typically has about 10 per cent more calories than custard, as well as twice the saturated fat, less protein and half the calcium and potassium. However, ice-cream usually has less sugar and salt, too.

What's the difference between bavarian cream and custard? ›

Bavarian creams are custards stiffened with gelatin. Savoury custards are sometimes encountered, the most notable being quiche, a French tart with a filling of custard flavoured with cheese, onions, ham or bacon, or chopped vegetables.

Is panna cotta the same as custard? ›

There's one main distinction that makes the two desserts so different, and it has to do with their makeup. Pudding and custard are thickened with egg yolks to give them their traditional appearance. Instead of egg yolks, panna cotta is hardened with gelatin, and egg yolks are not present within the recipe.

Why is my custard always watery? ›

However if the proteins are overcooked, either by using a temperature that is too high or just cooking for too long, then the proteins will come together so tightly that they will start to squeeze out water and this causes the weeping in an egg custard (or the scientific term for this is syneresis).

How do you get custard to set? ›

Pour your custard in a suitable clean container and allow to cool then refrigerate, once the custard is fully chilled in will thicken and be ready for piping, use within 2 days.

At what temperature does custard start to thicken? ›

The temperature for getting just the right texture is 180-185F (82-85C), and if all goes well – everything in its own time, and never too high a heat – a very fine mesh of egg proteins forms, resilient yet yielding to the fork.

How to fix lumpy custard? ›

If you notice lumps beginning to form in a custard, immediately pour it out of the hot pot into a bowl and pulse it with a handheld blender in five-second intervals until it is nearly smooth. This can take from 15 to 45 seconds, depending on how big the lumps are.

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