A Nostalgic Guide to Recreating Tubby Custard from the Teletubbies

With its bright yellow color and fun, drippy texture, tubby custard is one of the most iconic foods from the beloved children's show Teletubbies. This special custard was a favorite snack of the Teletubbies and a key part of their world. While we don't have a direct pipeline to the Teletubby land pantry, this recipe guide will show you how to recreate tubby custard at home for some nostalgic fun.

The History of Tubby Custard

Tubby custard first appeared in the original Teletubbies TV show that aired from 1997 to 2001 on BBC. The giggly alien-like Teletubbie characters Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po would slurp up tubby custard from the Tubbytron machine in their colorful futuristic home. With its silly, engaging nature, tubby custard instantly became a signature part of the show's appeal for little kids.

When the Teletubbies rebooted in 2015, tubby custard remained a key element. The updated HD version made the tubby custard look even more enticing! The treat retains its popularity today, as the reboot still airs in various countries.

Why Recreate Tubby Custard?

Whipping up your own tubby custard is a fun nostalgic activity for 90s kids and a novel sensory experience for their own children. As it requires some degree of parental supervision, it can be a great opportunity for parent-child bonding. Beyond just play, making your own Teletubbies inspired custard lets kids engage their imagination and creativity. It also provides learning opportunities related to following step-by-step directions and simple cooking skills.

Tubby Custard Ingredients

Authentic tubby custard consists of just a few simple pantry ingredients:

• Milk
• Vanilla pudding mix
• Food coloring

Pudding Mix

The key ingredient to get the thick, gloopy consistency of tubby custard is vanilla pudding mix, either from a box or made from scratch. Look for a rich, creamy pudding recipe without eggs to mimic the Teletubbies original.

Food Coloring

Tubby custard is defined by its bright yellow color, so liquid or gel food dye is essential. Opt for high intensity neon food coloring to achieve that vibrant sunshiny hue.

Milk

Whole milk gives tubby custard a rich, decadent texture. Non-dairy milk like almond or oat milk can also be used.

How to Make Tubby Custard

Whipping up a batch of tubby custard is simple. Just follow these steps:

Prep the Pudding Mix

1. Prepare the vanilla pudding according to package instructions. For stovetop, whisk milk and pudding mix in a saucepan and cook until thickened. For instant mix, simply whisk with cold milk until combined.

Add Color

2. Add several drops of yellow food dye and whisk until the color is uniformly vibrant and bold. Add more dye if needed.

Adjust Texture

3. For a thicker, ooey gooey texture reminiscent of the show, refrigerate the custard for 1-2 hours until chilled. Whisk again before serving to improve consistency.

Drizzle and Enjoy!

4. To serve, drizzle the tubby custard from a spoon or ladle into bowls. For extra fun, create a dipping station with items like cookie sticks, fruit, toast pieces or cake pops to dunk into the custard, Teletubbies style.

Tips for Perfect Tubby Custard

To get your tubby custard looking and tasting just right, keep these tips in mind:

• Make sure the pudding is fully set before adding color so the dye distributes evenly.
• Use an intense yellow food dye for vivid color - don't be shy with it!
• Chill to thicken, but whisk before serving so it has a smooth, drippy consistency.
• Consider adding vanilla extract for extra flavor.
• Customize with sprinkles, crushed cookies or candy on top.

Fun Ways to Serve

A few playful ideas for serving your homemade tubby custard include:

• Setting up a dipping station with fruit, cookies, cake pops for kids to dunk like the Teletubbies.
• Drizzling over waffles, pancakes or ice cream for a bright breakfast.
• Using squeezable condiment bottles to draw custard designs on plates.
• Layering custard and sliced bananas or berries in glasses for parfaits.
• Letting kids get messy and creative with custard finger painting.

Nutrition Information

Homemade tubby custard is relatively nutritious, with ingredients like milk, vanilla and coloring. Here are some of the main nutrients found in it:

• Protein - from milk to support growth and development
• Calcium - for strong bones and teeth
• Carbohydrates - pudding mix provides energy from sugar
• Vitamin A - important for immune function and eyesight
• Vitamin D - helps the body absorb calcium

Pudding and milk both contain saturated fat. So tubby custard is best enjoyed occasionally as a fun treat in moderation.

Tubby Custard Variations

While traditional tubby custard is yellow, the Teletubbies show also featured different colored custard variants. You can recreate these at home too:

• Green custard - Use blue coloring instead of yellow
• Purple custard - Use red or pink coloring
• Orange custard - Use orange gel or a red/yellow combo
• Rainbow custard - Layer colors for a fun effect

Get creative with different food dye colors and designs!

Conclusion

With just a few simple ingredients like pudding, milk and food coloring, you can transform your kitchen into the Teletubbies' Home Dome and whip up a batch of tubby custard. Follow the recipe steps to achieve that classic thick, vibrant yellow custard straight from your TV childhood. Then grab some Teletubbies style treats to dip and let your kids indulge their creativity. Tubby custard is a fun sensory activity with a hit of nostalgia for 90s kids. Dip in and relive those magic Teletubbies moments!

FAQs

What is tubby custard from Teletubbies?

Tubby custard is the yellow custard-like snack the Teletubbies enjoy in the children's show. It has a thick, gooey texture and bright color.

What makes tubby custard yellow?

The vibrant yellow color of tubby custard comes from adding yellow food dye or coloring to a basic vanilla pudding recipe.

How do you recreate tubby custard at home?

Tubby custard is easy to make by preparing vanilla pudding from a mix or scratch recipe, adding neon yellow food dye, and chilling it for a thicker texture.

What can you dip into tubby custard?

Fun dippers for tubby custard include fruit like bananas or strawberries, cookies, cake pops, waffles, bread sticks, or anything kids want to get creative with!

Does tubby custard taste good?

Yes, homemade tubby custard has a nice vanilla flavor and rich, creamy texture that tastes great, especially when chilled thoroughly. Kids love it!