Low-Carb Sugar-Free Custard Sauce Recipe (2024)

This low-carb sugar-free custard sauce recipe is the traditional way to use up the egg yolks left while making snow pudding and make a sauce for it at the same time. Egg yolks have historically gotten a bad rap for causing high cholesterol, but current research indicates they can actually help increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol.

This sauce is very similar to French crème anglaise, which is a classic dessert sauce that can be used onfruit or even cake. It's not difficult to make, but follow the directions carefully, or you may end up with scrambled eggs.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (good quality)
• 1 tbsp granulated stevia
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 large egg yolks (at room-temperature)

1. In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the milk until scalding. If it's steaming, it's probably there. Remove from heat. You can also do this in the microwave.

2. Add the vanilla, stevia, and salt to the milk. Stir well.

3. In a small, heatproof or stainless-steel bowl, beat the egg yolks. Add a little of the hot milk and mix well (this is called "tempering" the eggs so they don't cook).

4. Repeat, adding a little more milk so you gradually bring the eggs up to temperature.

5. Put a small amount of water in the bottom of a double boiler or a pot on which you can put the bowl containing the tempered eggs. Heat the water. The water should not be able to touch the bottom of the bowl.

6. Place the bowl with the tempered eggs over the pot with simmering water and stir or whisk until mixture begins to thicken, then remove from heat and stir until it coats a spoon. Refrigerate.

Variations and Substitutions

If you don't have whole milk, you can substitute an alternative. For instance, you might use 3/4 cup half and half and 1/4 cup water or 1/2 cup cream and 1/2 cup water. Non-dairy milk alternatives don't have the same fat content as dairy milk, so if you use a product like oat milk or soy milk, you may not get the desired consistency.

If you don't have stevia or prefer not to use it, consider using a natural alternative such as monk fruit sweetener. This product is 100 to 250 times sweeter than sugar whereas stevia can be up to 350 times sweeter than sugar, so you may need to use a bit more. If you have liquid stevia, you'll use about 1 teaspoon rather than 1 tablespoon.

Cooking and Serving Tips

• Serve this low-sugar custard sauce over fresh berries or poached pears for a decadent low-carb dessert.
• You can also drizzle it over your favorite type of cake—whether you prefer traditional pound cake or almond cake to keep the carb count down is entirely up to you.

By Laura Dolson
Laura Dolson is a health and food writer who develops low-carb and gluten-free recipes for home cooks.