Fruit Custard Recipe (Homemade & Easy) -Dassana’s Veg Recipes

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Fresh fruit and a creamy vanilla custard sauce combine forces in this simple Fruit Custard recipe. If you are looking for a healthy, easy dessert that doesn’t require you to turn on the oven, you’ve come to the right place! See how to make this yummy fruit salad with custard sauce by following along with my step-by-step photos and video below.

About Fruit Custard

Fruit custard is one of those desserts that reminds me of childhood. Growing up, we would eat Carrot Halwa, Rice Kheer, Besan Ladoo or a fruit custard like this one for our sweet treat.

Sometimes the fruit custard was served plain, and sometimes my Mom embellished it with fruit jelly.

two black and white bowls filled with fruit custard and garnished with pomegranate arils

I can still see the labels from the Brown & Polson or the Crown brand custard powders and jars of Rex brand jelly in my mind’s eye! Isn’t it funny how food can take you back in time?

NOTE: While I opted to use boxed custard powder in this recipe for convenience, I also have an eggless recipe for Vanilla Custard on the site.

A fruit custard is basically made by mixing fruits with custard sauce, which is why this delicious dessert is also known as fruit salad with custard.

Depending on how you make fruit salad in your house, you can also feel free to add in things like toasted nuts, dried fruits or even vegetarian mini marshmallows.

If you’re in the US, this might also remind you of a version of ambrosia salad known as a 24-Hour Salad.

While we eat this yummy fruit salad with custard as a sweet dessert, you can certainly feel free to serve it with your holiday spread – it has fruit in it, after all!

Tips & Tricks

Fruit custard can be made with dairy milk or plant-based milk. I make it both ways, though if I am going the vegan route I prefer to use almond milk. In the stepwise photos, I have shown the method of making it with dairy milk. The method of making custard with almond milk is explained in the recipe card notes below.
To improvise on the sugar content in this fruit salad with custard, you can substitute jaggery when making with almond milk. However with dairy milk, you have to be careful while adding jaggery as the milk can curdle. If you do plan to add jaggery, then add once the custard is warm.
Feel free to add your favorite seasonal fruits, but avoid citrus fruits and melons. Both citrus fruits and melons are incompatible with milk and can give you indigestion. You can add your favorite dry fruits and nuts to the fruit custard.
How to make fruit custard without custard powder? Replace 3 tablespoons of cornstarch or arrowroot flour or tapioca starch with custard powder and mix it with 3 tablespoons of warm milk as directed in the recipe. Also add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon vanilla essence to this mix when you make the paste or slurry.

How to Make Fruit Custard

Make Custard

1. Take 2.5 cups milk in a thick bottomed pan or saucepan and keep it on the stove top. Bring the milk to a gentle simmer.

2. While the milk is warming up, take 3 tablespoons warm or room temperature milk in a small bowl. Add 3 tablespoons custard powder.

You can take the 3 tablespoons warm milk from the milk which is getting heated up or warm 3 tablespoons milk separately in a microwave oven or on the stove top.

Out of custard powder? No problem! Check out my recipe for making Vanilla Custard and you’ll be in business.

Or swap custard powder with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Don’t forget to add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon of vanilla essence to this mix.

making a slurry out of milk and custard powder

3. With a whisk, stir very well to make a smooth paste or slurry without any lumps.

completed slurry paste for fruit custard recipe

4. When the milk has come to a gentle heat, add 5 tablespoons sugar or as required. Stir very well so that the sugar dissolves.

5. Keep the flame on a low and then add the custard paste or slurry in parts.

slurry being added to milk mixture by the tablespoon

6. As soon as you add the custard mixture, stir quickly so that lumps are not formed. Repeat with the remaining custard paste, working in batches or drizzling it in a slow stream as you whisk constantly.

stirring vigorously to prevent lumps in custard

7. Keep on stirring often while the custard is cooking, so that lumps are not formed. Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on a low heat.

scraping the bottom of the pan with a spoon while making custard

8. The mixture will thicken slowly and the raw taste of the cornstarch from the custard powder also goes away.

Pour the custard in a bowl and cover the bowl with a kitchen towel. Let it cool at room temperature. If you plan to serve fruit custard cold, place the bowl covered with a lid in the refrigerator.

For a thicker custard, cook for a few more minutes. Keep in mind that as the custard cools, it will thicken more. You can also keep the custard in fridge to chill it before adding the fruits.

stirring custard that is visibly thick and creamy

Make Fruit Custard

9. Chop the fruits. I always suggest to use seasonal fruits to make fruit custard. Just be sure to avoid citrus fruits, pineapple and melons. The fruits I used are: apples, papaya, banana, strawberries and pomegranate.

fruits for fruit custard recipe in a bowl

10. Once the custard has cooled (at room temperature or in the fridge), add the mixed fruits.

making fruit custard recipe, adding custard to fruits in bowl

11. Mix well.

12. Serve fruit custard garnished with some more fruits and pomegranate arils. Enjoy!
You could also add some nuts and dry fruits like raisins, cashews, pine nuts, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, pecans.

NOTE: If you store the fruit custard in the fridge, the fruits will release some of their juices and the consistency of the custard can become thin. So add fruits only when you plan to serve this dessert. It is best enjoyed when served straightaway after assembling and mixing.

More Tips for Best Fruit Custard

Fruits: I suggest to use seasonal fruits that are ripe and sweet. Do not use tangy citrus fruits, melons and pineapple. Adding pineapple can make the fruit custard taste bitter. You can also enjoy custard as is without adding any fruits.
Milk: You can make the custard with both whole milk and almond milk. I have detailed below the method for making a vegan fruit custard in the notes section of recipe card below.
Custard consistency: To make a for a smooth lump-free consistency, ensure that when you add the custard powder slurry to the milk it should not be very hot or boiling. This can create lumps in the custard. On the other hand, to make the slurry or paste, always use warm milk or room temperature milk. A paste made with cold milk will also create lumps in the custard.
Variations: You can make apple custard by adding apple puree or apple sauce to the custard sauce and later mix with the rest of the fruits. Another interesting variation is mango custard, where you have to mix mango puree with the custard sauce once it cools. Some more options are to add banana puree or strawberry puree. Keep in mind to add less sugar when you mix fruit purees with the custard.
Scale: Feeding a crowd? Scale this recipe to make a large batch of fruit custard for kids parties or potlucks.

FAQs

Why is my custard runny?

Ooops! It sounds like you either:
1. Didn’t cook the custard long enough, or
2. Added a tad too much milk.
To remedy a thin custard, you can either continue cooking on the stovetop, or create another custard powder slurry to add into the mix. Please note that these remedies will only work if you haven’t yet added fruit to the mix.
Also, it is important to note that warm custard will necessarily have a slightly medium flowing consistency. As the mixture cools, it will continue to set up.

What if I don’t have any custard powder?

If you don’t have any custard powder, I recommend you check out my recipe for Homemade Custard Sauce.

If you don’t have any *leftover* custard powder and are trying to remedy a thin version of the recipe below, opt for a cornstarch or arrowroot slurry.

What are the best fruits to add in a fruit salad with custard?

I recommend reaching for any in season fruits, as they are bound to be less expensive and more delicious. Just be sure to avoid citrus (like oranges and tangerines) and melons, as these don’t play nicely with dairy in the digestive tract.

Step by Step Photo Guide Above