Pastry cream, also known as crème pâtissière, is a rich and versatile custard used as a filling or topping in various pastries, such as éclairs, cream puffs, and tarts. This velvety smooth and creamy custard can be easily made at home with just a few basic ingredients. Whether you are a novice baker or an experienced pastry chef, understanding the essential steps and techniques involved in making pastry cream will unlock the door to creating delectable desserts that will surely impress your family and friends. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of preparing a classic pastry cream recipe, providing tips and tricks to ensure a perfect consistency and heavenly flavor. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to embark on a delightful baking journey!
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
PASTRY CREAM
This is a classic pastry cream often used in bakeries and restaurants. It can be used as a filling for cakes, pies or pastries. To make a lighter filling, fold in plain whipped cream.
Provided by CHRISTINIBEANIE
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European French
Time 20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a heavy saucepan, stir together the milk and 1/4 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and egg. Stir together the remaining sugar and cornstarch; then stir them into the egg until smooth. When the milk comes to a boil, drizzle it into the bowl in a thin stream while mixing so that you do not cook the eggs. Return the mixture to the saucepan, and slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly so the eggs don' t curdle or scorch on the bottom.
- When the mixture comes to a boil and thickens, remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and vanilla, mixing until the butter is completely blended in. Pour into a heat-proof container and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled before using.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 151.3 calories, Carbohydrate 21.4 g, Cholesterol 87 mg, Fat 5.8 g, Protein 3.5 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 56.6 mg, Sugar 17.6 g
PASTRY CREAM (CRèME PATISSERIE)
Pastry Cream (Crème Patisserie) is a starch bound custard, which means that it gets most of its thickening strength from some form of starch (e.g. Flour, Cornstarch, Arrowroot). This recipe is the perfect base for many dessert custards, creams and fillings.
Provided by Mark F.
Categories Dessert
Time 20m
Yield 3 Cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, heat the Milk, Sugar, Vanilla and Salt to a gentle simmer, completely dissolving the Sugar. Stir frequently as Milk can easily scorch over high heat.
- While the Milk mixture comes to a simmer, whisk together the Egg Yolks and Cornstarch in a large bowl until smooth.
- Once the Milk mixture reaches temperature, slowly pour approximately half of it into the Egg mixture while whisking, tempering the Egg mixture. Return the saucepan to the stove and pour all of the tempered Egg mixture back into the saucepan.
- With the saucepan over medium heat, return the mixture to a gentle simmer while whisking actively. Once it is simmering, continue to cook the Pastry Cream for two minutes, whisking constantly.
- Chef's Note: It is important to monitor your heat. Boiling the Pastry Cream for a full two minutes in necessary to activate the starches, but you do not want to burn the mixture.
- After two minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat. To cool the Pastry Cream, prepare a sheet tray by fully wrapping it with plastic wrap. Pour the Pastry Cream in a thin layer over the prepared sheet tray. Place another piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the Pastry Cream to prevent a skin from forming. Once the Pastry Cream has cooled to room temperature, place it in the refrigerator.
- Storage: The Pastry Cream can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days. It should not be frozen. Before using Pastry Cream that has been refrigerated, beat it with a paddle attachment for several minutes to make it smooth again.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 397.9, Fat 12.1, SaturatedFat 5.5, Cholesterol 292.9, Sodium 472.2, Carbohydrate 61.8, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 41.9, Protein 9.2
CREME PATISSIERE (PASTRY CREAM)
This easy recipe for classic, vanilla-flavored creme patissiere can be used in Napoleons, fruit tarts, eclairs and more.
Provided by Christine Benlafquih
Categories Dessert
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Set out a large bowl, a medium saucepan, a whisk or heavy spoon, and a sieve or strainer.
- In the medium-sized saucepan, heat the milk with the vanilla bean over medium heat almost to boiling.
- While the milk is heating, mix the egg yolks and sugar together in the large bowl.
- Then whisk in the flour and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth.
- Remove the vanilla bean from the milk.
- Then, gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Do this very slowly as you don't want the yolks to cook from the heat of the milk.
- Strain the mixture back into the saucepan.
- Place over medium heat, stirring or constantly whisking until the mixture thickens and reaches a boil. Continue cooking for half a minute longer, stirring hard and constantly to keep the pastry cream smooth.
- Remove the pastry cream from the heat. Stir in the vanilla flavoring at this point if you did not use a vanilla bean. Place a layer of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to avoid a skin forming, and leave to cool to room temperature.
- The pastry cream can be used when cool, or covered and refrigerated for up to several days until needed. Stir chilled pastry cream before using.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 638 kcal, Carbohydrate 83 g, Cholesterol 582 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 288 mg, Sugar 63 g, Fat 22 g, ServingSize Approx. 3 Cups (2 Servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
Tips:
- Use whole milk for a richer flavor and texture.
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature before adding it to the pastry cream.
- Add the cornstarch or flour to the milk mixture gradually, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
- Bring the pastry cream to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Once the pastry cream has thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
- Strain the pastry cream through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps.
- Cover the pastry cream with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
- Chill the pastry cream for at least 4 hours, or overnight, before using.
Conclusion:
Pastry cream, also known as creme patissiere, is a versatile and delicious filling for a variety of desserts. It can be used in tarts, pies, cakes, and pastries. With its rich and creamy texture and delicate flavor, pastry cream is sure to please everyone. So next time you're looking for a special dessert, give pastry cream a try. You won't be disappointed!
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