2/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups whole milk or unsweetened soy milk (I like vanilla)
3 egg yolks
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan. Mix in enough of the milk to make a smooth paste. Heat the remainder of the milk in the microwave, then add it to the sugar mixture, stirring.
Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, and boil for one minute.
Take the mixture off the heat, and stir a small amount of it into the beaten egg yolks. Stir the egg mixture into the pan and bring to a soft boil. Let it cook for one minute.
Remove from the heat; stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Pour into custard dishes, or into a pre-baked pie shell.