What's a crumble without the custard? This recipe is for a simple, silky smooth homemade vanilla custard. Served warm or cold, it's the perfect side for any pudding. Flavoured with delicious Nielsen-Massey vanilla bean paste, the little flecks of vanilla give this custard the 'wow' factor when it comes to flavour and appearance. 
 
Who can resist real homemade custard? Go on, find out how you can make your own vanilla custard below... it's well worth it.

We understand it can be challenging as a vegetarian baker sometimes, but lack of vegetarian baking recipes or inspiration needn’t be a reason to bake less. 
 
We love to celebrate all the fresh fruit and veggies in season, crafting baking triumphs to showcase them. From squidgy, <a href="/recipes/gluten-free-carrot-courgette-cake">gluten free carrot courgette cake</a> to vibrant, <a href="/recipes/vegetarian-pasties">Hairy Biker Vegetarian Pasties</a>, you're in the right place. So live life on the veg. Your day is about to get a whole lot tastier.

Find classic baking recipes & ideas or be inspired to try something new.  Sign up for the chance to become baker of the month!  Bake something delicious!

Vegetarian Recipes

Satisfying vegetarian comfort food

Vegetarian

Easy

Double cream

Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste

Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar

Egg yolk

Cornflour

In just a few easy steps you can have a thick and delicious homemade vanilla custard.

Easy Homemade Vanilla Custard | Baking Mad

Heat the cream in a saucepan over a medium heat until it reaches boiling point.

In a separate bowl, beat together the caster sugar, vanilla bean paste, egg yolks and cornflour until light and fluffy. &nbsp;

Carefully pour half of the warmed cream in with the egg mixture and blend together.

Add the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining cream and heat gently for 1-2 minutes, continuously stirring until the custard begins to thicken.

Once thickened, serve the custard immediately or allow to cool and chill in the fridge,&nbsp; if serving the custard cold.

From breadsticks to brioche, sourdough to pizza dough - we have a medley of bread and dough recipes to see you through from breakfast to dinner.&nbsp; 
 
Love a 'pop in the breadmaker' bake? Or perhaps more of a 'get stuck in and sticky' <a href="/recipes/bacon-and-cheese-loaf">hand baked loaf</a>? Whatever type of baker you are, bread baking apprentice to artisan extraordinaire we have the best bread recipes.

Allinsons-Naan-Bread-1-1-Baking-Mad-3.jpg

Making your own bread from scratch is incredibly satisfying. We also have pizza dough recipes, doughnuts and so much more. Try them out today.

Bread Recipes | Easy & Delicious Bread & Dough Recipes

Fill your house with the aroma of freshly baked bread

Bread & Dough

There are lots of ways to make a cake; dress it up with decorations or celebrate its full naked glory. A ‘drop of vanilla’ birthday cake, "one more slice" banana bread or decadent chocolate cake recipes. Rolled. Stacked. Filled. You bake the rules. 
 
For beginners, the classic <a href="/recipes/lemon-drizzle-cake">Lemon Drizzle cake</a> is the perfect crowd-pleaser. Or for more experimental bakers, stack the tiers high and fill the cakes with hidden surprises. When cake is life, not just for birthdays, we say let’s get baking.

Cookie, Oreo & Brownie Layered Cake with a slice cut out of it. 

Baking a cake is a fine art, but one that can be mastered by many. Browse through our cake recipes and find the perfect one for you.

Cake Recipes | Easy Cake Ideas

Traditional bakes and classic cake recipes

Cake recipes

Easy C<a href="/recipes/chocolate-truffles">hocolate Truffles</a>, quick<a href="/recipes/vanilla-fudge"> Vanilla Fudge</a>, fluffy <a href="/recipes/snowy-marshmallows">Marshmallows </a>and even pink sugar mice! Take a trip down memory lane and get lost in our simple and delicious confectionary baking recipes. 
 
From old school nostalgic sweets, <a href="/recipes/white-chocolate-snowies">Snowies</a> and <a href="/recipes/chocolate-nutella-mice">Chocolate Mice</a> to <a href="/recipes/turkish-delight">Turkish Delight</a> and <a href="/recipes/peppermint-creams">Peppermint Creams</a>, why not mix and match our recipes to bake and create your very own 'Pick n Mix' just the way you like it! Confectionary is our favourite thing to whisk up and experiement with flavours and shapes to create a Willy Wonka World of your own! With our<a href="/recipes/creme-egg-scotch-egg"> Creme Egg Scotch Eggs</a> &amp; <a href="/recipes/chilli-chocolates">Chilli Chocolates</a>, you can surprise and delight your taste buds!
Our easy <a href="/recipes/collections/homemade-gifts">edible gift recipes</a> are also the best baking present to make for loved ones for any celebration, especially Christmas &amp; Easter. Our pretty <a href="/recipes/rose-water-meringue-kisses">Meringue Kisses</a> and <a href="/recipes/melting-moments">Melting Moments</a> are perfect to batch bake and bag up to gift to teachers, friends &amp; family over Christmas, or make things extra magical this Christmas with our &nbsp;<a href="/recipes/muscovado-christmas-tree-meringues">Christmas Tree Meringues </a>or <a href="/recipes/white-chocolate-and-pecan-christmas-fudge">White Chocolate &amp; Pecan Fudge</a> - perfect recipes for confectionary beginners.

Top view of Rainbow Meringues in a bowl, with Rainbow Meringues scattered around next to a bag of silver spoon caster sugar

The most exciting confectionery and sweets recipes including Turkish delight & chocolate fondant are on Baking Mad. Pick your favourites and make them today

Confectionery Recipes | How to Make Homemade Candy Sweets & Chocolates

Confectionary baking recipes, fuss-free and full of flavour.

Confectionery

Crunch, snap or dunk. However you like to eat your biscuits, we have something for everyone. Our irresistible 5* Millies <a href="/recipes/copycat-chocolate-chip-millie-s-cookies">chocolate chip cookie recipe</a> is a must for all cookie lovers. You call it eating the whole batch, we call it taste testing.&nbsp; 
 
When it comes to biscuit recipes, go simple with <a href="/recipes/shortbread-fingers">shortbread</a> or spice up your life with <a href="/recipes/gingerbread-dough">gingerbread</a>. There's even a <a href="/recipes/dog-biscuits">dog biscuit recipe</a> for your pampered pooches.

Side on view of a stack of vegan and gluten free chocolate chip cookies

Cookies and biscuits can often be confused, but either way, they are delicious and easy to make. We have loads of recipes for you to try out. Happy baking

Cookies And Biscuit Recipes | How to Make Easy Biscuit & Cookies at Home

Fill up your biscuit tin!

Cookies & Biscuits

Mini or mighty, one in a jar, for the best cupcake recipe you needn't look that far.&nbsp;Vanilla, Oreo, Biscoff? Chocoholics, all hail the 5* <a href="/recipes/mary-berry-chocolate-cupcakes">Mary Berry chocolate cupcake recipe</a>.&nbsp;Keep kids busy with <a href="/recipes/chocolate-cake-pops">cake pops</a> and <a href="/recipes/simple-fairy-cakes">fairy cakes</a>. We even have <a href="/recipes/feta-cheese-and-herb-cupcakes">savoury cupcakes</a> to jazz up lunchtime. 
 
Mad about muffins? From blueberry to banana muffin recipes; the tastiest way to sneak in your 5 a day. <a href="/recipes/gluten-free-chocolate-and-cherry-muffins">Gluten free muffins</a>, <a href="/recipes/vegan-blueberry-muffins">vegan muffins</a>, you will be spoilt for choice.

Nutella Cupcakes with glass bottle of milk in the background

Cupcakes and muffins both have a place in our hearts and they’re similar in looks and how they’re baked. Here are our favourite cupcake and muffin recipes.

Cupcakes & Muffin Recipes | Easy Recipes & Best Bakes

Bake a batch & share with friends!

Cupcakes & Muffins

All about the heavenly desserts? Whatever the season or occasion we have dessert ideas from summery meringues, pavlovas to panna cottas. In winter snuggle down with warming and comforting puds, whether it be&nbsp;a humble crumble or creamy rice pudding. 
 
If cheesecake is your kryptonite we suggest you look away now - from <a href="/recipes/new-york-baked-cheesecake">New York Vanilla</a> to <a href="/recipes/toblerone-cheesecake">Toblerone</a>, our selection is guaranteed to leave you weak at the knees.

2 glass jars of eton mess, raspberries, edible flowers and vanilla extract

Desserts come in many shapes and sizes. Baking Mad has a full collection of dessert recipes that you simply have to try. Get them here.

Dessert Recipes | Easy Desserts for Every Occasion

Browse dessert recipes for every occasion

Desserts

Ice cream recipes have never been simpler, no ice cream maker needed! Maple fudge, strawberry ripple, mint choc chip and rum – no need to be so vanilla (although this is also yummy). Serve in an <a href="/recipes/arctic-roll">arctic roll</a>, <a href="/recipes/fruity-knickerbocker-glory">knickerbocker glory</a>, <a href="/recipes/ice-cream-cookie-sandwich">cookie sandwich</a> or an indulgent ice cream cake, guaranteed smiles all round.
It’s not just ice cream recipes; granitas, sorbets, frozen yoghurts and ice lolly recipes. Lots of icy delights, so free up your freezer.

Bowl of ice cream, apple and slices, brown sugar packet

Discover the perfect homemade ice cream & ice lolly recipes with the latest tips, and learn how to make anything from vanilla ice cream to an ice lolly.

Ice Cream & Lollies | Easy Frozen Homemade Treats

There's nothing better than homemade ice cream...

Ice Cream & Lollies

Fluffy <a href="/recipes/buttercream-icing">basic buttercream </a>(or frosting) really is the icing on any cake. Simple to whip up, satisfying to gobble up. Master a buttercream recipe and experiment with flavours, or add cocoa for the best <a href="/recipes/salted-chocolate-buttercream">chocolate buttercream</a>. 
 
From rainbow buttercream, roses or ruffles, we have the piping tips and techniques to grow your decorating skills. More of an icing traditionalist?

Try one of our many icing & buttercream recipes and make something delicious today Learn how to make the perfect icing or buttercream filling for your cake.

Icing & Buttercream Recipes | Simple & Easy Sweet Toppings

From royal icing to fondant icing and flooding, we have it all

Icing & Buttercream

You can’t beat homemade, bursting with fruit and veg. <a href="/recipes/lemon-curd">Lemon curd</a>, <a href="/recipes/orange-and-whisky-marmalade">Orange and Whiskey marmalade</a>, <a href="/recipes/glitter-strawberry-jam-with-champagne">glitter Strawberry jam</a> - your toast has never tasted so good. 
 
Revolutionise your tarts and pies with chutneys, curds, jams and jellies that will have your friends begging for the recipe. It couldn't be simpler with our friendly tutorials, you'll know how to make jam in no time.

Discover jams, marmalade, chutneys & other preserve recipes on Baking Mad. Jams & preserves are a key part of many traditional cuisines all over the world.

Jams & Spreads | Easy Homemade Preserves

Are spreads and preserves your jam?

Jams & Spreads

Traditionally <a href="/recipes/basic-pancakes">thin crepes</a> or thick and fluffy <a href="/recipes/american-pancakes">American Pancakes</a>? Stack with berries, maple and bacon, or fill with spinach and ricotta. 
 
Keto, Vegan or Gluten Free, the humble pancake is flipping fabulous whatever the occasion. For the ultimate batter indulgence, a mountain of waffles drizzled with syrup or a plate of cinnamon Churros dipped in chocolate. Heavenly.&nbsp;

Stack of American pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and topped with fresh berries

Pancakes aren't just for Shrove Tuesday. From crepe to American style, discover the variety of exciting pancake and pancake batter recipes on Baking Mad.

Pancakes, Crepes & Waffles

Pancakes are for life, not just for Pancake Day

Whether you need a simple shortcrust pastry recipe, fabulous filo or puff perfection, we have something for everyone. Even Vegan potato pastry. 
 
Learn <a href="/baking-tips/how-to-blind-bake-pastry">how to blind bake pastry</a> and once you have mastered the basics, tart it up to your hearts delight. Travel the world from Danish pastries to French Pastries, Austrian Strudels to Greek Spanakopita. Sweet or savoury. Steak pie or apple pie. We have more swirls, rolls and turnovers than a gymnast.

Looking for a easy, tasty pastry recipe? You've come to the right place From Yorkshire puddings to apple pies, discover the many recipes on Baking Mad.

Pastries, Pies & Tart Recipes | Easy Ideas for Best Savoury Bakes

Grab your rolling pins and let’s get baking.

Pastries, Pies & Tarts

How to make scones has never been easier with our foolproof tips and tricks on how to rub together butter and flour. Whether you’re “jam then cream” or vice versa there's something for everyone. 
 
Sweet or savoury. Cheese scones galore. Marmite lovers will go crazy for our <a href="/recipes/cheese-and-marmite-scones">Cheese and Marmite scones</a> - the ultimate taste sensation. Bring your ‘A’ game to afternoon tea with these easy scone recipes. The yummiest fruit scones, calorie conscious, buttermilk and <a href="/recipes/gluten-free-afternoon-scones">gluten free scones</a>.

scone with strawberries and cream on a plate 

Discover our easy scone & shortcake recipes from Baking Mad & find your favourite scone recipe. Learn the secrets of this traditional English treat

Scones & Shortcake Recipes | Baking Mad

Once they’re scone, they’re scone

Scones & Shortcakes

We have the perfect accompaniment to any pud - velvety <a href="/recipes/vanilla-custard">vanilla custard</a>. Or for a touch of nostalgia, a spoonful of feel-good <a href="/recipes/pink-custard">pink custard</a>. 
 
For ultimate indulgence, our <a href="/recipes/salted-caramel-sauce-three-ways">salted caramel sauce</a> is pure heaven. Drizzle on ice cream, or hide inside melt-in-the-middle puds; it’s also tasty eaten secretly by the spoonful. Gift these sweet sauces to your loved ones and you will be guaranteed friends for life.

Find the most delicious sweet sauces recipes on Baking Mad. Whether you're looking to make bread, caramel or cranberry sauce, you can try one here today

Sauces & Condiments | Simple Homemade Sauce Recipes

Feeling Saucy?

Sweet Sauces

Can we tempt you with a traybake? Breath-taking brownies, blissful blondies, fabulous flapjacks. Maybe our millionaires shortbread recipe? Crunchy biscuit base, velvety caramel and sweet chocolate to finish. 
 
Is your mouth watering yet? Traybakes are a cinch with kids - like our ‘anything goes’ <a href="/recipes/biscoff-rocky-road">Rocky Road recipes</a>, simple to make and scrumptious to snuffle. You're in the right place for the yummiest traybake recipes.

Salted Caramel Cookie Traybake pieces stacked on top of each other with a hand reaching for the top piece. A bottle of milk in the background and jar of caramel sauce in the foreground

Traybakes are a delicious collection of baked cakes, slices and squares that are baked in a tray and then sliced up into portions. Find your traybake match here.

Traybake Recipes | Easy Flapjacks & Best Brownies

Deliciously simple traybake recipes

Traybakes

Biscoff Cookies

Stack of cookies on a white plate with a box of sugar open next to it

A little effort

Brown Butter and Salted Chocolate Cookies

Cookie pulled apart with chocolate chips around it

Copycat Chocolate Chip Millie's Cookies

Recipes

Tips & Tricks

Allinson's

Make time baking, time well spent with Allinson’s. Allinson’s bread flour makes magic with your everyday loaf and brings mealtimes to life with the best pizza dough. A few minutes spent kneading, then leave the Allinson’s yeast to get to work and rise to the occasion.&nbsp;

Time well spent.

Our top Allinson's bakes

Enter your email address below to subscribe to our Allinson’s email mailing list for monthly bread related recipes, tips and competitions.&nbsp;

Fancy an extra serving of dough?

"Best cinnamon rolls I've ever made!"

For a homemade dough you knead to know about.

Deliciously rewarding with Allinson's 

Know your dough with Allinson's

Billington’s

A top down view of chocolate brownies next to a packet of Billington's Dark Muscovado Sugar

Crafted from unrefined natural sugar cane and carefully produced to lock in all the natural molasses, make Billington’s your sugar of choice for the tastiest of bakes. With unique richness, depth of flavour and natural golden colour, Billington’s sugars will enrich your everyday bakes.

For the gooiest brownies & richest chocolate cakes.

Our top Billington's bakes

"Out of this World!"

For gooey, rich bakes every time. Use #bakingmad to feature here!

Better baking begins with Billington's

Discover the World of Billington's Sugars...

What does Billington's bring to my bake?

Nielsen-Massey

Nielsen Massey Vanilla Extract being added to Vanilla Extract Cupcakes mixture

Nielsen-Massey extracts and vanilla bean paste are the perfect choice for quality flavour and convenience when home baking. A drop or drizzle of Great Taste award winning Nielsen-Massey will add the best vanillary depth and flavour, bringing to life not only your next bake, but delivering deliciousness time and time again.&nbsp;

Your bake deserves only the finest flavouring.

Our top Nielsen-Massey bakes

"Makes the World of difference!"

For the best natural vanilla flavour every time. Use #bakingmad to feature here!

A dash of the World's finest vanilla...

Elevating your bakes since 1907.

Silver Spoon

Silver Spoon is inspiring Britain to create more moments of baking joy. From a dollop of icing on your fairy cakes, lighter-than-air golden sponges and the fluffiest buttercream to top your celebration showstopper - this is your perfect baking partnership. So grab your whisk, crank up the oven and get your bake on with Silver Spoon.&nbsp;

For your "I made this!" moments.

Our top Silver Spoon bakes

"My buttercream is so smooth and sweet..."

Share your baking moments with #bakingmad.

Discover baking joy and sprinkle in some Silver Spoon.

To drizzle or to dollop?

Our Brands

Calling all who are nuts about baking but not about baking with nuts. Struggle to find nut free recipes? We have over 200 reasons (and recipes) why this will soon be a thing of the past. 
 
From <a href="/recipes/light-fruit-cake">nut free Christmas cake</a> to delicious <a href="/recipes/copycat-chocolate-chip-millie-s-cookies">nut free cookies</a>, we’ve got it covered. You can tweak and reuse these recipes time and time again. Always remember before tucking into all this deliciousness to check the ingredients on the packaging before using.

Check out our nut-free range that makes baking friendly for those with allergies. Get baking today, with over 60 delicious recipes to choose from

Nut Free Recipes

Healthy & delicious nut-free recipes

Nut Free

Nielsen-Massey-Vanilla,-Raspberry-White-Chocolate-Victoria-Sponge.jpg

Vanilla, Raspberry & White Chocolate Layered Sponge Cake

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Vanilla Sugar Cookies

Side on view of a sliced vanilla swiss roll

Vanilla Swiss Roll

We are bringing flavour back to wheat free diets. We are here with a slice of advice on <a href="/baking-tips/how-to-knead-dough">how to knead dough</a> and <a href="/baking-tips/how-to-shape-dough-into-an-oval">how to shape dough</a>, and even <a href="/baking-tips/how-to-use-a-bread-machine">how to use a bread machine</a> to craft gluten free bread of dreams. 
 
Love your lopsided loaves and create wheat free masterpieces. 5* chocolate cake, scones, cupcakes and banana bread recipes galore. Let’s celebrate the glorious world of gluten free baking and bake it your way.

These recipes are all tailored to meet the requirements of a gluten-free diet. Take your pick from a choice of waffles, cake, scones, brownies and more

Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten free doesn’t mean free-from fun

Gluten Free

We have a collection of happiness-inducing, low-sugar bakes just for you. All containing less than 10g of sugar per serving, these recipes are low in sugar but high in flavour. None of the guilt. All the yum. 
 
Try and walk past a plate of our <a href="/recipes/low-sugar-chocolate-chip-cookies">low sugar chocolate chip cookies</a> or a slice of our <a href="/recipes/low-sugar-victoria-sponge">low sugar Victoria Sponge cake</a> and not be tempted to sneak a bite. With so many sugar alternatives; honey, maple or stevia to name a few, let us arm you with the knowledge to make these swaps and inspire you to find the right fit for you. 
 
For more reduced sugar baking inspiration head to our <a href="/low-sugar-baking-hub">low sugar baking hub</a>.

Explore our wide range of recipes with low sugar content. We use alternatives such as truvia sugar, and you wouldn't believe how good it tastes

Low Sugar Recipes

Tasty low sugar treats

Low Sugar

Vanilla-Protein-Cookies-with-Chocolate-Salted-Caramel_Header.jpg

Vanilla Protein Cookies with Chocolate Salted Caramel

Delicious and very easy. I’m absolutely going to be making custard from now on.

Made this custard for my Christmas trifle. Oh my!! What a treat and so easy to make.

I made double because I love custard. We had it both hot and cold and both were as good as each other! Homemade is best.

Vanilla Custard

About the bake

Method

Ingredients

Utensils

Nutritional Information

We'd love a slice of advice.

Recipe Reviews