BAKED CUSTARD WITHOUT WATER BATH RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In medium bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt with wire whisk or fork. Gradually stir in milk. Pour into six 6-ounce custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
• Place cups in 13x9-inch pan on oven rack. Pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups (see box, below).
• Bake about 45 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Remove cups from water. Cool about 30 minutes. Unmold and serve warm, or refrigerate and unmold before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
• 2. Place six 4-ounce ovenproof cups (you can use ramekins, or coffee cups marked as oven-safe) in a deep baking pan just large enough to hold them.
• 3. In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• 4. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks, sugar, and vanilla.
• 5. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the simmering milk, whisking gently to combine.
• 6. Pour the mixture through a fine strainer into the cups (if the strainer clogs, use a spoon to scrape it clean), then sprinkle lightly with the nutmeg.
• 7. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cups.
• 8. Bake until the custard is just set (it can still be a little loose), 30 to 35 minutes.
• 9. Let the custard cool in the water bath for about 2 hours before serving.