Help with making custard for trifle please :)

[MummyBtothree]

Im making a trifle and want nice firm custard for it. I will be using Birds custard powder to make it but last time I tried several times and it just wouldn't thicken enough. I want about a pint of custard. Anyone any ideas where im going wrong or any tips please? thanks

Are you following the recipe on the tin? If so you might want to add a bit more of the custard powder to make the pint, 1/2 a tablespoon more perhaps?

Also I find that it takes a while for the custard to thicken because it has to be on a low heat and can't really be left it needs constant stirring to avoid the lumpiness.

Why not just buy ready-made custard? Tastes just as good and no worries about whether or not it will thicken!

But yes, if you're making it with powder, use more than the tin tells you to (or use less milk). And make sure you keep cooking it, as it will keep thickening. When it cools, it will be thicker as well.

You can't use ready made custard, I tried once, and it doesn't form a skin so the cream hasn't got anything to sit on.

Use twice the amount of powder it says on the tin.

I use blancmange to make my trifle as I like a really firm layer, and also it lets me have strawberries, strawberry jelly and strawberry blancmange

Yes you can, YoungJoseph. I always use ready-made if I'm making a trifle.

... although it's possible it might vary by brand? I use Ambrosia in cartons, from the ambient shelves, rather than fresh custard.

Thanks everyone. Think my last tin of custard powder must have been a duff or sat in my cupboard too long cos ive tried with a new tin and its turned out lovely. We like our trifle custard thick so it almost slices! have tried with ready made but its too sloppy for our liking. Guess its just down to personal taste