Unique Custard-Based Desserts from Around the World

Quindim is a decadent Brazilian baked custard dessert, originally hailing from Portugal, that shares many similarities with Flan. The key ingredients include white sugar, unsweetened shredded coconuts, and egg yolks that give it an intensely yellow color. To make this, start by letting your shredded coconut soak in coconut milk for around 15 minutes. Next, beat your sifted egg yolks and sugar until they’re forty before pouring in the melted butter. Finally, fold in the soaked shredded coconuts into the mixture. Butter your ramekins and sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar at the bottom before pouring in your custard. Then, bake the quindim at 350° in a water bath for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top is soft enough for a toothpick to go through. This dessert is shiny at the surface with a creamy, eggy, coconut-flavored custard that’s light and feels almost like a luxury to bite into. Serve topped with fresh fruit or some whipped cream on the side.

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Custard Manju is a light Japanese confectionary treat that is essentially a steamed dumpling filled with sweet custard. For this, you’ll need to boil together brown sugar, water, and some white bean paste. Once done, let it cool and sift in your cake flour and baking powder. Mix well and knead on a floured surface until the dough is smooth and can be rolled into a log. Cut into same-sized pieces and flatten each piece into a circle before covering it with a damp cloth. Prepare your custard by heating together egg yolks, sugar, flour, whole milk, and vanilla extract. Once the custard thickens, please remove it from the heat and cool it in the refrigerator till it’s set. Next, scoop a spoonful of the custard into each circle and pin close the edges before placing the seam side down on parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the dough and place the manjus with the parchment in a steamer to steam for 10 to 12 minutes.