custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkə-stərd 

plural custards

: a cooked mixture made of eggs and milk or cream and usually having a thick, creamy consistency

By the eighteenth century it had become the dessert we know today: a layered treat of sponge cake, custard, fruit, jam, whipped cream and spirits.

—Bon Appétit

We toss a laurel wreath to the chefs for their … pastitsio and moussaka, both of which sported a savory custard topping.

—Greg Morago et al.

Smooth and creamy, custard lends itself to a range of both sweet and savory dishes.

—Gabrielle Shaughness

custardy

ˈkə-stər-dē 

adjective

Examples of custard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The soft custard filling complements the firm peach slices for a delightful texture and the perfect make-ahead dessert. —Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

Many imitation almond extracts or essences rely on synthetic benzaldehyde for flavor, which can create saccharine notes that overpower delicate desserts like custards, sponges, or pastry creams. —Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026

Atsuyaki tamago is a light, fluffy custard-like omelet that is found across Japan’s high-end sushi and omakase restaurants, according to one of Hikari’s chefs. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026

The town’s specialty is a cream cake called kremna rezina, with layers of cream and vanilla custard artfully sandwiched between sheets of delicate, crispy crust. —Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, a kind of pie, alteration of crustarde, crustade, probably from Anglo-French *crustade, from cruste crust, from Latin crusta — more at crust

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing custard

• custard apple

Rhymes for custard

• blustered
• bustard
• clustered
• flustered
• mustard
• mustered

Kids Definition

custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkəs-tərd 

: a sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked, boiled, or frozen