This is a pastry cream recipe is vanilla flavored and the base for
any other flavors of cream. You can add liqueur to the cream, herbs,
spices or other extracts.
More flavor ideas further down the page. Easy dessert recipes above and at the end of the
page.
I love Dorie Greenspan, and this is from her cookbook "Baking, From my Home to Yours."
HOMEMADE PASTRY CREAM FROM SCRATCH
2 cups whole milk
6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch, sifted
1-1/2 tsp
pure vanilla extract
3-1/2 TBS unsalted butter, cut up at room temperature
Bring the milk to a boil in a small saucepan.
Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan, whisk the yolks together with the sugar
and cornstarch until thick and well blended. Still whisking, drizzle in
about 1/4 cup of the hot milk - this will temper (or warm) the yolks so
they won't curdle. Continue whisking and slowly add the rest of the
hot milk.
Put the pan over medium heat and whisk vigorously, bringing the mixture
to a boil. Boil for two minutes whisking continuously and remove the
pan from the heat.
Whisk in the vanilla extract. Let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk in bits of the butter, stirring until it is fully incorporated and the pastry cream is smooth and silky. Scrape the cream into a bowl and create an airtight seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. If you want it to cool quickly, put the bowl into a larger bowl filled with ice cubes and cold water, and stir the cream occasionally until it is thoroughly chilled, about 20 minutes.
FLAVOR IDEAS
Liqueur Scented Pastry Cream Recipe
You can flavor vanilla pastry cream with various liqueurs. Reduce the
vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon and after you have added it, add 2
teaspoons of liqueur. If you want more flavor, add more liqueur 1
teaspoon at a time.
There are many good choices for additions, among them: amaretto (almond
liqueur) or Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur), in which case you might want
to reduce the vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon and add 1/4 teaspoon of pure
almond extract; Chambord (raspberry liqueur), anisette (licorice),
brandy, cognac, kirsch (cherry), framboise (raspberry) or poire Williams
(pear).
Rum Scented Pastry Cream
After you add the vanilla extract, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of dark rum, to taste.
Cinnamon Pastry Cream
Put 2 cinnamon sticks into the saucepan with milk and bring to a boil,
then remove the saucepan form the heat, cover and steep for 1 hour.
Cook the pastry cream with the cinnamon sticks, then discard the sticks
when you stir in the vanilla extract. Alternatively, you can beat 2 to 3
teaspoons of ground cinnamon into the egg mixture.
Citrus Pastry Cream Recipe
Follow the directions for Cinnamon Pastry cream, steeping the zest to 1
large (or 2 small) lemons, 2 limes or 1 orange, cut from the fruit in
wide strips (no pith), in the milk. Reduce the vanilla extract to 1
teaspoon. If you want a stronger taste, use the appropriate citrus
extract or oil, and begin with one drop. Add additional flavor by
droplets.
Coffee or Espresso Pastry Cream
Make a coffee or espresso extract by dissolving 2 tablespoons of instant
coffee OR espresso powder in 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Add 1
tablespoon of the mixture to the pastry cream after you’ve added the
vanilla extract. If you want more flavor, add additional mixture 1
teaspoon at a time.
Ginger Pastry Cream
Follow the directions for Cinnamon Pastry Cream, steeping 8 to 10
quarter-size pieces of peeled ginger in the milk. Alternatively, you
can beat 2 to 3 teaspoons of ground ginger to the egg mixture.
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