Vanilla Custard Bars Recipe

Introduction

Vanilla Custard Bars are a delightful treat made from a buttery, crisp crust topped with a smooth, creamy vanilla custard filling. The combination of flavors and textures makes these bars an irresistible dessert. The recipe is simple yet impressive, making it ideal for a quick dessert that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. Perfect for holiday gatherings, picnics, or a relaxing weekend treat, these bars are sure to become a favorite.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

• 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Custard Filling:

• 2 cups (480ml) whole milk
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, cubed

Optional for garnish:

• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars.

2. Make the Crust:

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

Bake the crust in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until it turns golden brown. Set it aside to cool slightly while preparing the custard.

3. Make the Custard Filling:

In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, flour, and salt. Whisk them together until smooth.

Cook the mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly to avoid scorching. Once it begins to simmer, continue to cook for about 4-5 minutes or until it thickens to a custard-like consistency.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Gradually add a small amount of the hot milk mixture to the eggs to temper them, then slowly pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture.

Stir the mixture constantly and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the custard thickens further.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and