Spanish Natillas | History, Variations, and Expert Tips
Natillas are a creamy and sweet custard made with basic ingredients like milk, sugar, and eggs. Natillas has a rich cultural history and is often associated with religious holidays and other special occasions in Spain.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Whole Milk
- 1 cup Sugar
- 4 Egg yolk
- ΒΌ cup Cornstarch
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 1 Lemon peel
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Once the milk mixture has boiled, remove it from heat and discard the cinnamon stick and lemon peel.
- Slowly pour the milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from cooking.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the mixture from heat and pour it into individual serving dishes.
- Allow the natillas to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Before serving, you can sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on top of each dish for added flavor.