A quick and easy custard slice made with SAO cookies.
This super simple recipe for custard slices uses SAO biscuits as the “pastry” layers – shhhh, don’t tell anyone!
The recipe for a slice of SAO custard
This is a recipe our nannies have been up to for some time.
My dad remembers his mom making it a lot when he was younger.
Although I don’t have a clear memory of this slice, when I started eating it I felt like I had eaten it before. Maybe our taste buds have a memory of their own!
As I already mentioned, it’s super simple to make – There are the two SAO layers, a custard layer between them and a light vanilla frosting on top.
The ingredients for a slice of custard
All ingredient amounts are listed on the recipe card at the end of this post.
However, I will go over the ingredients to give you an idea of what you should add to your shopping list:
- SAOs
- milk
- Custard powder
- Sugar
- butter
- Vanilla extract
- sugar powder.
What is SAO?
It’s a cracker biscuit Created by Arnott’s in 1906.
The Australian Food Timeline explains the thinking behind the name: “While some accounts say they are named after a boat, it is widely believed that SAO stands for Salvation Army officer. It was in honor of William Arnott’s son Arthur, who joined the Salvation Army.”
SAOs are regularly covered with cheese and tomato or plant for a snack or light lunch.
But here we are making a slice of custard!
How to make a slice of custard
You will need a A cake or square baking pan measuring 23 x 23 cm.
Grease a pan and line it with baking paper, leaving excess on the sides to lift the piece after it has set.
Start by laying out SAOs on the bottom of the tray to create a complete layer (cut SAOs to fit if needed).
Then, place all the milk (except 1/2 cup) in a pot and heat until almost boiling.
Mix the custard powder, the sugar and the rest of the milk and add to the milk in the pot just before the milk boils. Beat on fire for a few minutes or until the cream thickens.
Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
Allow the custard mixture to cool for a few minutes before pouring it over the SAO cookies.
Above another layer of SAO biscuits. Again, trim SAOs to fit if necessary.
Put in the fridge to set.
After cooling, mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract for a vanilla coating and top the slice with the coating – spread the coating with the back of the spoon to encourage an even layer of coating.
Put back in the fridge and let it set for at least a few hours, preferably overnight.
Dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.
Your slice of custard should last a few days in the fridge, but it’s best to eat within 12-24 hours.
A slice of Christmas custard
This is a great Christmas recipe. So simple, but you can make it look festive with some sprinkles and some holly.
Other recipes you will like
If you like this recipe, you might also like my recipes for Easy Vanilla Slice, Triple, Bread and Butter Pudding, Chester Cake, Chinese Chews and White Bix Marshmallow Slice.
- 18 SAO cookies (about 2/3 packs of SAOs) (or any large, square, flaky, salty cracker)
- 4 cups milk (1 liter)
- 6 spoons Custard powder
- 3 spoons Sugar
- 20 gram butter (cut into small cubes)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Vanilla glaze
- 1 1/2 cups sugar powder
- 2-3 spoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- A little extra powdered sugar (for dust cleaning)
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Grease a pan and line it with baking paper, leaving excess on the sides to lift the piece after it has set.
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Place SAOs on the bottom of the tray to form a complete layer (cut SAOs to fit if necessary, however 9 SAOS should fit snugly in a 23 x 23 cm tin).
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Place all but 1/2 cup of milk in a saucepan and heat until almost boiling.
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Mix custard powder, sugar and the rest of the milk and add to the milk in a pot just before the milk boils, then whisk over heat for a few minutes or until the cream thickens.
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Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
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Allow to cool for a few minutes before pouring the custard over SAO biscuits and then top with another layer of SAO biscuits.
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Put in the refrigerator to set and after it has cooled, mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract for a vanilla coating and top the slice with the coating – spread the coating with the back of a spoon to encourage an even layer of coating.
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Put back in the fridge and let it set for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. Dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.
Calories: 244KKL | Carbohydrates: 42G | protein: 5G | Fat: 7G | Saturated fat: 4G | Polyunsaturated fat: 1G | Unsaturated fat: 2G | trans fat: 0.1G | Cholesterol: 44mg | sodium: 141mg | potassium: 232mg | fiber: 0.2G | Sugar: 29G | vitamin: 258IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | calcium: 162mg | iron: 1mg
