This Warm Vanilla Custard Drink is a comforting caffeine-free drinkable custard that’s perfect for an easy breakfast or tasty treat! Kids and adults alike will love it.
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I’ve been making this warm vanilla custard drink since my college years. It’s a great swap for coffee and hot chocolate drinks, while still being warm and cozy.
We love it as a quick breakfast (after all, it does contain eggs!), a warm-me-up drink or just to wind down with before bedtime.
The best part is that it’s quick and easy to make using just a few ingredients that you likely already have on hand. And you can enjoy it anytime because it’s not packed with caffeine. It’s hard to find warm drinks that check all of those boxes!
One more thing. If you have a stick hand blender it makes mixing up this drinking custard super easy! I just put the egg mixture into the cup that comes with the blender (you could use a wide-mouth glass jar too) and then add the milk to that. It’s much less hassle than pulling out my big blender every time.
Vanilla Custard Drink Ingredients
- Milk. We used regular milk, but any milk should work.
- Sugar. Adjust the amount based on your preferences.
- Eggs. Makes the drink extra creamy.
- Salt. This helps bring all of the flavors together.
- Vanilla. I use regular vanilla extract, but vanilla bean paste can be subbed.
- Ground Nutmeg. Adds a nice cozy flavor!
How to Make a Warm Vanilla Custard Drink
STEP 1: Heat the sugar and milk in a small pan until it simmers and comes to a boil.
STEP 2: In the meantime, blend the salt, vanilla, and eggs.
STEP 3: Once the milk begins to bubble, immediately remove it from the heat and a little to the egg mixture.
STEP 4: Pour in the rest of the milk and blend well.
STEP 5: Serve in two mugs and top with a dash of nutmeg.
Helpful Tips and Variations
- Raw Egg Concerns. Bringing the milk and sugar to a boil, then adding the eggs, allows them to “cook” enough that they are no longer raw. This process is also known as tempering eggs. Adding just a little milk cooks the eggs just enough that they do not scramble. If you do get a few little chunks of egg, just run the drink through a mesh strainer before serving.
- Maple Syrup. Can be used in place of sugar and will add a nice extra hint of flavor.
- Dairy Free. Make this dairy-free by using non-dairy milk.
Other recipes that you’ll enjoy:
Drinkable Warm Vanilla Custard
Ingredients
- 2 c. milk
- ¼ c. sugar (or more or less to taste)
- 2 eggs
- pinch of salt
- ⅛ tsp. vanilla
- ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Put milk and sugar in small pan and heat just until it starts to simmer and come to a boil. (see Notes below)
- In the meantime, blend eggs, salt and vanilla.
- Once milk starts to bubble, remove from heat and add a small amount to egg mixture. Blend immediately. (see Notes below)
- Add the rest of the milk and blend well.
- Pour into two mugs and sprinkle with nutmeg.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Heating: Bringing this just to a boil essentially “cooks” the egg enough that it isn’t considered raw any longer.
- Adding the Milk: If you add all the milk at once, sometimes the egg will cook too much and you’ll end up with little chunks of cooked egg in your custard, which obviously isn’t so great. 🙂
- Maple Syrup: If you prefer to use maple syrup instead of sugar, you may. It adds an extra hint of delicious flavor!
Lara
Another recipe that I will add on my lists! It looks very simple and easy. Is it okay if I replace nutmeg with cinnamon?
Thank you and more power!
ThriftyFrugalMom
Yes, I’m sure that cinnamon would be fine! It would just change the flavor a bit, but I think it would still be quite delicious.
Kim
This sounds delicious! I’ll definitely be giving it a try this winter season!
ThriftyFrugalMom
I’d love to know what you think when you do!
Jolene
Another winner recipe, Lydia! My kids now ask for this with their breakfast. We are an eggnog loving house and have made it several times but it is sooo time consuming. This is a cheap and easy alternative and the kids love it!
ThriftyFrugalMom
So glad you all loved it! 🙂 I’ve made this for so many people over the years and I can’t tell you how often I’ve been asked for the recipe afterward. And yes, definitely a lot easier than making eggnog!
Catherine
Oh this sounds warm and comforting! What a perfect holiday treat.
ThriftyFrugalMom
That it is, Catherine!
Emily
Oh wow, yum! I have never made this before but is sounds delicious! This time of year I am all about warming up and relaxing. This would be perfect to help me in warming up.
ThriftyFrugalMom
Definitely, Emily! It’s the perfect thing to sip on when the weather is cold like this.
The Food Hunter
I think I will be trying this soon. It sounds fabulous
ThriftyFrugalMom
Hope you enjoy it! I made it recently and all three kids have been begging me to make it again. 🙂