Natillas
Soft Spanish custard dusted with cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 600 ml Milk
- 4 Egg yolk
- 100 g Sugar
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 Cinnamon stick
Method
- Drop the cinnamon stick into the milk in a saucepan and warm over low heat until it just steams and smells fragrant; do not let it boil.
- Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl, then slowly pour in a little of the warm milk while whisking to temper the eggs gently without scrambling them.
- Pour the tempered mixture back into the pan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a spatula, until it thickens to a soft pourable custard that coats the back of a spoon.
- Pour into serving dishes and chill in the fridge until set and cold.
- Dust with cinnamon and serve cold.
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About Natillas
Natillas is a soft, pourable Spanish custard, a homey dessert found across Spain and traditionally dusted with cinnamon and sometimes served with a plain biscuit tucked on top. Unlike a firm baked custard, natillas is stovetop-cooked and stays loose and spoonable, its texture somewhere between a thick crème anglaise and a set pudding. Its flavor is gentle and comforting: milk infused with a cinnamon stick until fragrant, enriched with egg yolks, sweetened lightly, and thickened with a little cornstarch for a reliable, silky body.
The technique that matters most is tempering, slowly whisking a little of the warm milk into the yolks before returning everything to the pan, which raises their temperature gradually so they thicken the custard smoothly instead of scrambling. Cooking it low and stirring constantly until it coats the back of a spoon is what gives natillas its signature soft, glossy consistency. It's chilled until cold and set, then dusted with cinnamon just before serving, making it an easy make-ahead dessert that needs only about twenty minutes of active work. Simple and nostalgic, it's the kind of everyday sweet that turns pantry staples into something quietly satisfying.
Natillas: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Natillas?
A serving has about 260 calories — 7.8g protein, 35.8g carbs, 9.8g fat, 0.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Natillas gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Natillas has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Natillas dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Milk. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How many servings does Natillas make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.