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

Don’t skip the dessert—Fouquet’s is famous for its profiteroles topped with Polignac almonds and cognac ganache, as well a signature millefeuille with creamy vanilla custard between paper-thin layers of golden pastry. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Tips and FAQs for zabaglione How is zabaglione different from custard? —Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Souffle pancakes stacks are served with secret sauces like a custard. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2026

Delizia al Limone—sponge soaked in citrus custard. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 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