Pastry Cream (Crème Patisserie)

May 09, 2023May 9, 20230 13

Delicious Pastry Cream (Crème Patisserie) recipe for your desserts

by The Chefin Pastry

Prep

10 min

Cook

20 min

Ready In

30 min

Level

Easy

Rating

Ingredients

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe

Calories

210

Sugar

23g

Fat

Pastry cream, also known as crème patisserie in French, is a thick and creamy custard that is commonly used as a filling or topping for desserts. It is often flavored with vanilla extract or other extracts, such as almond or lemon, and can be thickened with cornstarch or flour. Pastry cream is easy to make and can be used in a variety of desserts, including cream puffs, eclairs, and fruit tarts. Its creamy and rich flavor makes it a classic and essential component of French patisserie.

Instructions

1.	In a saucepan, heat the milk, 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla extract, and salt over medium heat until it just begins to steam.
2.	In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, cornstarch, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar until well combined.
3.	Slowly pour about half of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling.
4.	Gradually pour the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly.
5.	Continue to heat the mixture over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until it thickens and the whisk leaves distinct trails in the mixture.
6.	Remove the saucepan from the heat and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing lightly to extract as much liquid as possible.
7.	Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap onto the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming.
8.	Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and chill the pastry cream for at least 2 hours or until firm before using.

PROS

Pastry cream is a versatile and essential component of many desserts, such as eclairs, cream puffs, and fruit tarts.

The recipe is easy to follow and can be customized to your liking with different flavors, such as chocolate or coffee.

It can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

CONS

Pastry cream can be high in calories and fat, so it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

The recipe requires constant stirring and attention to prevent the eggs from curdling, which can be intimidating for beginners.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Pastry cream is not particularly healthy, but it can be enjoyed as an occasional treat in moderation.
It is a good source of protein and calcium from the milk and egg yolks.

	2 cups whole milk
	1/2 cup sugar
	1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
	1/2 teaspoon salt
	1/2 cup cornstarch
	5 egg yolks , large