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

Midwestern bakeries have embraced the tradition, giving it an American twist with additional flavors like custard, chocolate, lemon, blueberry and more. —Jelissa Burns, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026

This indulgent breakfast casserole is made with brioche bread cubes, leeks sauteed in butter, and a rich egg custard. —Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 6 Jan. 2026

Wyatt said that coffee pairs well with flavors like these, and suggested adding a little espresso powder to the custard. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026

Staff at the Hawthorne animal shelter named the pup Flan after the creamy baked custard dessert, due to his light brown coat, said a SpcaLA representative on New Year’s Eve. —Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 1 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