Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread cookies
What are custard cookies? Crisp, delicious, melt in the mouth shortbread based cookies flavored like vanilla pastry cream. Yes, that’s what these custard cookies are! This simple, easy and effortless recipe will give you cookies that taste like vanilla pastry cream. This is an eggless recipe that takes less than 15 minutes to make.
Eggless Custard Cookies or Custard Shortbread Cookies
I grew up eating these vanilla shortbread cookies flavored with custard powder and as kids, we use to call them custard cookies! These are eggless and honestly the simplest quickest cookies you will ever make. No special skills necessary and not big issues with melting dough which makes these perfect for kids activities.
As kid, I could make these from start to finish. Just a bowl and spatula to bring all the ingredients together. Then, we’d roll them into balls – place them on the cookie tray – use a fork to mark the top and voila mom would bake them for 10 mins. Of course, I’d claim that I made these cookies so for a while mom would call these Veena’s Custard Cookies. Lol i had the best mom ever!!
Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
What is Custard Powder?
Well, for those of you that do not know custard powder is actually flavored pudding powder which again is actually cornstarch/ cornflour with flavoring and a hint of yellow food color. The flavoring always reminds me of vanilla pastry cream which is originally made with egg yolks, milk, sugar, and cornstarch. So this custard powder when cooked in milk or added as an ingredient in cookies gives you just that same flavor! Makes sense?
One of the most famous brands known is this Birds Custard Powder – I read somewhere that it was created by this scientist called Birds for his wife who was allergic to eggs but he wanted her to still enjoy her desserts! How sweet is that? Lucky to have a husband who loves to so dear.. don’t you think?
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- Custard powder – As I said before custard powder is actually cornflour/ cornstarch with vanilla pastry cream flavoring. So if you can’t find custard powder you can just use cornstarch.
- All-Purpose Flour – It’s best to use all-purpose flour rather than any other pastry flour so you have a nice crisp, melt in the mouthfeell.
- Butter – I love a full flavor butter in this recipe but if you want you can use margarine or even vegetable shortening. The Veg Shortening spreads a little more but still taste good.
- Vanilla – Some custard powders do not have vanilla added. But most do so check the back label and add more or omit as necessary
Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
Recipe – Eggless Vanilla Pastry Cream aka Custard Shortbread Cookies (Save/Pin)
Tools
Look at how crisp those are? Can you see ?
Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- Butter – 170 grams (3/4 cup)
- Powder sugar – 65 grams (1/2 cup)
- Custard powder – (65 grams) 1/2 cup
- All-purpose flour – 220 grams
- Baking powder – 1/2 tsp
- Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
- Salt – 1/4 tsp
Method
- Ensure butter is room temperature
- Swift the flour with custard powder, salt, and baking powder
- Cream the butter and powder sugar for just a few seconds.
- Add Vanilla
- Followed by the flour mixture
Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
- Divide the dough into small golf size balls
- Place the balls on a parchment lined a cookie sheet
Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
- Use a fork to flatten and mark the top
Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
- If the cookie dough is too dry and cracking – Add one to two tbsp of water and try again.
- Bake cookies in a preheated oven at 180 C / 360 F for about 10 to 12 minutes
- Cool on a cookie rack completely before you transfer to a cookie jar
- These can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
Eggless Custard Cookies aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
Eggless Custard Cookies Aka Custard Shortbread Cookies
Crisp, delicious, melt in the mouth shortbread cookies flavored with vanilla pastry cream. Yup; that's what custard cookies really are! They give you the feel of vanilla pastry cream but these are simple, easy and eggless cookies that take less than 15 minutes to make.
Ingredients - Choose (Metric or US Customary) below
- 170 grams Butter
- 65 grams Powder sugar
- 65 grams Custard powder
- 220 grams All purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Instructions
-
Ensure butter is room temperature
-
Swift the flour with custard powder, salt, and baking powder
-
Cream the butter and powder sugar for just a few seconds.
-
Add Vanilla
-
Followed by the flour mixture
-
Divide the dough into small golf size balls
-
Place the balls on a parchment lined, cookie sheet
-
Use a fork to flatten and mark the top
-
If the cookie dough is too dry and cracking - Add one to two tbsp of water and try again.
-
Bake cookies in a preheated oven at 180 C / 360 F for about 10 to 12 minutes
-
Cool on a cookie rack completely before you transfer to a cookie jar
-
These can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
Love Baking Cookies?
If you like cookies, you may like to check out some of my other cookie recipes like Aquarium cookies, Chocolate Pecan Cookies, my popular Classic Vanilla or Chocolate Sugar Cookies, Linzer Cookies, Almond Linzer Cookies
Cookie collection by Veena Azmanov
Just made these with my 3 yr old granddaughter easy to make taste delicious and great for the kids to join in and learn to bake.
Thank you so much John – So happy to hear that your 3 year old grand daughter enjoyed these cookies. Cookies are definitely a great start to kids in a the kitchen. Mine love to bake cookies too! Thank you for coming back to write this feedback. Appreciate it very much.
JUST MADE THESE DELICIOUS BISCUITS WITH MY THREE YR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER SO EASY TO MAKE AND FUN FOR THE KIDS TO JOIN IN AND BAKE.
Thank you so much John – So happy to hear that your 3 year old grand daughter enjoyed these cookies. Cookies are definitely a great start to kids in a the kitchen. Mine love to bake cookies too! Thank you for coming back to write this feedback. Appreciate it very much.
Can you substitute vanilla pudding powder for the custard powder?
Yes Rochelle.. Vanilla Pudding Powder is the same as Custard powder so yes you can use that as ell.
Thank you!
I am a big fan of custard, but have never had it in a cookie form… interesting! I need to try them.
You will love it Ashley! A must try!!
I am pinning this as I want to try these yummy cookies and can imagine how perfect they would be with my cup of tea! YUM!
Thank you Abi. Yes I think you will love them. They really are so simple and easy to make.
Oh, My!! The cookies look so rich and tender. They would make a great addition to a tea party or a nice cookie tray. They are such a dainty morsel. I’d loved to have some as an afternoon treat. I’m saving this recipe.
They totally would Marisa. I Love crisp cookies that disappear in the mouth. Know what I mean? You will love these.
I’m always looking for new cookie recipes to try, and yours look so delish! Gotta give them a try ASAP!
Thank you Andrea. Happy to hear that. Let me know if you do try it. Love feedbacks.
Custard Powder cookies are new to me and the fact they are eggless makes me love them even more. Saving and trying these soon.
Thank you Deepika. They are simple and easy.. making them eggless means you can have them and share them with everyone for me.
Oh my goodness these sound and look so amazing. The buttery and vanilla goodness, perfect cookies!
Thank you Joanna. Yes they are definitely buttery and delish.
these look amazing! I mean – wow. I am going to keep the recipe on hand for my Christmas cookie exchange because I like to make different styles, and not always do the same standbys!
Thanks Kaitie. Yes absolutely you will love them at Christmas time.
I grew up in NZ – and custard powder is a familiar sight for me! I love using it to pour over apple crumbles, or using the powder to make cookies just like this! Great idea, Veena.
I know Kylee ! I love pouring it over crumble too! These are sure yum
We LOVE shortbread in this house. I really need to give these a try. I will have to see what kind of custard powder we have here in Canada….I know once these are made they will disappear in a flash.
You must Gloria.. they are super easy to make. The grand kids will have fun for sure
These cookies look scrumptious! Love the recipe)
Thank you Veronika
Your cookies would make perfect afternoon coffee time treats. I bet they would be well received at a family gathering and you made them eggless!
Absolutely Helene – I grew up with this for my afternoon chai. The family sure loves these.
I love shortbread cookies, they are perfect with a nice cup of coffee or glass of milk. Yours look terrific, I wish I could try one now!
Thank you Val – Yes these would go great with a cup of milk. I love milk and cookies too.!