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Crème pâtissière
Pastry cream
Crème pâtissière: thick French vanilla pastry cream for tarts and choux
Crème pâtissière is the vanilla pastry cream of every French bakery, piped into éclairs and choux, spread under strawberries in fruit tarts and swirled through pains aux raisins. Milk infused with vanilla is whisked into egg yolks, sugar and cornflour, then boiled until thick and glossy and chilled. The common mistake is stopping before it boils, so it stays floury and runny; it must bubble for a full minute. Chef's tip: press cling film right on the surface as it cools to stop a skin forming.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 vanilla podsplit, or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 1 ⅜ oz cornflour
- ⅞ oz butter
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the 2 cups whole milk with the 1 vanilla pod until steaming, then take off the heat and leave for 5 minutes. Scrape the seeds into the milk.
5 minStep 2: Whisk the 4 egg yolks, 3 ½ oz caster sugar and 1 ⅜ oz cornflour in a bowl until pale and smooth.
2 minStep 3: Pour the hot milk over the yolks, whisking, then pour everything back into the pan.
2 minStep 4: Whisk over a medium heat until it thickens, then keep whisking while it bubbles for 1 full minute; it should be thick, glossy and smooth.
4 minStep 5: Off the heat whisk in the ⅞ oz butter. Pour into a dish, press cling film on the surface, cool and chill for at least 2 hours. Whisk smooth before using.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does crème pâtissière take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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