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Marissa

Crème Anglaise

A silky French custard sauce made with egg yolks, milk, and cream. Perfect poured over fresh strawberries, cakes, or cookies — and a beautiful way to use extra egg yolks from baking macarons.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • pinch of salt

Method
 

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine milk, cream, and vanilla bean paste. Warm over medium heat until steaming and small bubbles form around the edges (about 170°F / 77°C). Do not boil.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt until pale and slightly thickened.
  3. Slowly pour a small amount of the hot milk mixture into the yolks while whisking, then pour the tempered yolks back into the saucepan.
  4. Return to low heat and stir constantly until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (170–175°F / 77–80°C). Do not let it boil.
  5. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Serve warm or chilled.

Notes

Serving Suggestions:
Pour over fresh strawberries, cakes, cookies, or bread pudding. Chill and churn for a luxurious vanilla gelato base.
Storage:
Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently before serving if desired.
Notes:
  • To test doneness, dip a spoon into the sauce and swipe your finger down the back — if the line stays, it’s ready.
  • If your sauce accidentally curdles, blend it immediately to smooth it out.