Amma's Custard Biscuits
Custard biscuits were one of Amma’s most famous recipes – especially for Diwali and essential when we were expecting visitors from Durban. For variety Amma sometimes shaped custard biscuits flat and decorated them with a dot of mixed fruit jam.
When I first published this recipe in 2013, I used wholewheat flour instead, this accounts for the rough texture and brown colour in some of the photos in this recipe. Using cake flour will result in lighter , perfectly smooth custard biscuits, pictured below (made in 2020).
Another substitute in this recipe is vanilla pudding instead of custard powder, it works just as well. If you're not in a 'common wealth' country/ former colony chances are you won't find any custard powder in stores. I recommend unsweetened vanilla pudding powder or cornstarch (maizena).
How to Make Perfect Custard Biscuits

Add flour little at a time to avoid lumps forming.

Mix until the dough resembles the image below.

How to Shape Custard Biscuits
Custard Biscuits are usually shaped into balls then flattened with a fork.
Alternatively decorate with dots of jam, or dip in milk and coconut like date rolls.

Bake at moderate heat and cool before serving with a cup of tea,

Custard Biscuit Recipe
Yield: 30 medium sized custard biscuits

Custard Biscuit Recipe
Prep time: 5 MCook time: 15 MTotal time: 20 M
Custard biscuits are melt in the mouth biscuits, comparable to melting moments and Danish butter cookies.
Ingredients:
- 125g butter (at room temperature)
- 125g cake flour or whole wheat flour
- 62g custard powder or vanilla pudding powder or cornstarch
- 40g icing sugar
- pinch of salt
Instructions:
- 1. Cream the butter, sugar and custard powder to form a smooth mixture.
- 2. Add the salt. Add the flour little at a time. Pictured below is a recipe using whole wheat flour.
- 3. Mix to form a soft dough. When pressed the dough should resemble the image below. Pinch out small portions then roll into balls. Place on a lined baking tray.
- 4. Use a fork to press the custard biscuits into shape.
- 5. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 15- 20 minutes.Cool before serving.