Is there lactose in custard?
Moderate — it's essentially sweetened milk.
Traditional custard is built on milk (and often eggs), so a bowl carries a moderate amount of lactose. A small pour over dessert is manageable for many; a big serve can add up.
Custard is, at heart, sweetened milk thickened with eggs or cornflour — so its lactose comes straight from the milk it’s made with. A splash over a crumble is modest; a full bowl of custard, or a trifle built on it, is where it climbs. Happily, the fix is easy: it’s the milk you control.
The real culprit: custard powder isn’t the problem — it’s mostly cornflour. It’s the milk you mix it with. Make it with lactose-free milk and you’ve solved it without changing the taste.
How much lactose is in custard?
Milk-based custard contains roughly 3–5 g of lactose per 100 g — about 3–5 g in a 100 g serve (this is an estimate from its milk content; exact figures vary by recipe and brand).
| Food | Lactose per 100 g | Per typical serve |
|---|---|---|
| Custard (dairy) | ~3–5 g | ~3–5 g (100 g) |
| Regular milk | 4.8 g | ~12 g (250 mL) |
| Custard made with lactose-free milk | <0.1 g | ~0 g |
Custard has limited lactose-specific data; the figure is estimated from its milk content — see the full lactose chart & sources.
When you can still enjoy it
Homemade or shop-bought lactose-free custard tastes the same, and coconut or oat custards are dairy-free. For a normal serve of the real thing, a lactase tablet can help — see what helps.
If custard isn't handy, reach for…
Common questions
Can lactose-intolerant people eat custard?
Is there a lactose-free custard?
Does custard powder have lactose?
Want the full picture? Grab our free Living Lactose-Free in Australia cheat sheet — it sorts 60+ foods like this one so you never have to guess at the supermarket again.