Italy is undoubtedly renowned for its pastry creations: incredibly delicious cakes, bignè, pastries, and more. But what often unites them all?!? Pastry cream! It can come in various flavors, but the foundation is always the same! Italians stay true to their tastes, and this is the very cream that their mothers used to make for them in their childhood ❤️ And how could it be any different? One thing is for sure… when I prepare it at home, someone always hovers around with a spoon.
Recipe:
- 6 egg yolks
- 350ml milk
- 150g cream
- 130g sugar
- 40g cornstarch
- Vanilla seeds
- Beat the egg yolks with sugar, vanilla seeds, and cornstarch.
- Gradually add the milk and cream while continuing to whisk to prevent lumps from forming.
- Place a saucepan with your cream mixture over medium heat and let it thicken.
- Stir the cream with a silicone whisk during the cooking process.
- Once the cream has thickened, remove it from the heat and cover it with plastic wrap. The plastic wrap should tightly adhere to the surface of the cream. This is necessary to prevent the formation of a skin and to create a dense film.
Tips:
- You can store the cream in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for 2-3 days.
- Always use the freshest eggs and fresh milk. Do not use powdered milk or long-life milk.
- To thicken the cream, you can also use corn flour, potato starch, or tapioca starch. You can also use regular flour, but it is less ideal. If your cream has lumps, use a small sieve to strain the cream and remove the lumps.
- Do not overheat your cream. The temperature should not exceed 85°C (185°F). Excessive heat can give the cream a strong egg yolk flavor.
- If you don’t have vanilla seeds or don’t like them but want to give a unique flavor to the cream, you can use citrus zest, coffee beans, or cinnamon sticks. Simply infuse these ingredients in the milk before using it to make the cream.
- You can use fewer egg yolks, but in that case, the amount of cornstarch should be increased.
- You can also add white chocolate to your cream. When you place the cream on the heat to thicken, add pieces of white chocolate. The result will be amazing, and you won’t even notice how your cream disappears before the festive table is set )
Good luck and Buon Appetito! 😉🇮🇹
