How To Make Pastry Cream
Pastry cream is a classic French dessert that is used to fill cakes, tarts, and other pastries. It is a rich and creamy custard that is made with milk, eggs, sugar, and cornstarch. It is a versatile dessert that can be flavored with vanilla, chocolate, or other extracts.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of whole milk
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of cornstarch
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and sugar and heat over medium heat until the mixture is hot but not boiling.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and egg yolks until the mixture is smooth.
- Slowly add 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly.
- Pour the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
- Pour the pastry cream into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming.
- Refrigerate the pastry cream for at least 2 hours before using.
Nutritional Information:
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 6g
Additional Tips and Variations:
- For a chocolate pastry cream, add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the milk mixture before heating.
- For a flavored pastry cream, add 1 teaspoon of your favorite extract to the pastry cream after it has been cooked.
- For a richer pastry cream, use half-and-half or heavy cream instead of whole milk.
Pastry cream is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be used to fill cakes, tarts, and other pastries. It is easy to make and can be flavored with vanilla, chocolate, or other extracts. With just a few simple ingredients and a few minutes of cooking time, you can make a delicious pastry cream that will be sure to impress your family and friends.
