Creamy Breakfast Maizena (Natilla)

Natilla (Maizena) with cinnamon is on a black plate with a blue background

Creamy Breakfast Maizena (Natilla)

Creamy, silky, and comforting, this Cuban and Puerto Rican Natilla (Maizena) is a simple custard made with milk, egg yolks, cornstarch, and vanilla. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, it comes together in minutes for a warm or chilled treat everyone will love.

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Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Cuban, Latin, Puerto Rican

Keyword: breakfast custard, creamy maizena, maizena, natilla

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Servings: servings

Calories: 317kcal

Author: Neyssa

Cost: $2

Equipment

1 stove

Ingredients

2 cups milk
¼ cup cornstarch
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon butter
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tbs sugar or as desired
½ teaspoon salt
1 cinnamon stick optional
1 inch lime peel optional
ground cinnamon garnish

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Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except the ground cinnamon, cinnamon stick, and lime peel. Whisk until the mixture is completely smooth and lump-free.
Pour the whisked milk mixture into a medium-sized pot. Add the cinnamon stick and lime peel.
Turn the heat to medium-low and cook for about 8–10 minutes, stirring constantly—you can switch from a whisk to a wooden spoon once the mixture is smooth and warming. Keep stirring to prevent any cornstarch from clumping or sticking to the bottom.
Continue cooking until the natilla thickens into a smooth, pudding-like consistency.
Remove from heat. Keep in mind it will thicken a bit more as it cools.
Serve warm or chilled, sprinkled with ground cinnamon.

Notes

Helpful Hints:

When adjusting serving sizes, use these basic ratios:
- 1 cup of milk = 4–5 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 egg yolk for every 2 cups of milk
For a thicker natilla, add 1 extra teaspoon of cornstarch.
If adding more cornstarch while cooking, first whisk equal parts cornstarch and milk in a small cup to dissolve any lumps before stirring it into the pot.
Keep in mind: natilla will thicken as it cools, and you can continue to cook it gently to reach your preferred thickness.

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