Traditional baked custard with half the calories, sugar-free and reduced-fat, yet all the great flavor is still there. Garnished with fresh fruit and mint it looks good, too.

Baked Vanilla Custard

1 quart 2% milk
6 large eggs
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons Equal® Spoonful*
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Sliced fresh fruit (optional)
Fresh mint (optional)

1. Heat milk just to boiling in medium saucepan. Let cool 5 minutes.
2. Beat eggs, Equal®, vanilla and salt in large bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in hot milk. Pour mixture into ten 6-ounce custard cups or 1 1/2 quart glass casserole. Place custard cups or casserole in roasting pan. Pour 1-inch of hot water into roasting pan.
3. Bake, uncovered, in preheated 325°F oven 50 to 60 minutes or until sharp knife inserted halfway between center and edge of custard comes out clean. Remove custard cups or casserole from roasting pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Serve garnished with sliced fresh fruit and mint, if desired.

Makes 10 servings.

* May substitute 27 packets Equal sweetener

Nutrition Information Per Serving: calories 90, protein 7 g, carbohydrate 5 g, fat 5 g, cholesterol 135 mg, sodium 124 mg.

Food Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 1/2 lean meat.

Recipe provided courtesy of Merisant Corporation ® and the NutraSweet Company, makers of Equal®

Click for more information on the artificial sweetner Aspartame.