Creme Patissere

A simple recipe for creme patissere, or pastry cream. This pastry staple is perfect for filling doughnuts, eclairs, cakes, and so much more. 

Creme patissere, or pastry cream, is a thick, velvety custard that is a key ingredient in many different desserts such as tarts, cakes, and doughnuts. You can eat it by the spoonful if you are feeling decadent, or use it as a quick and easy replacement in a creme brulee. There’s not much you can’t do with it and knowing how to make it will take your dessert making to the next level.

There are a few different methods to making creme patissere. Some prefer to use all flour while others will use a mix of flour and cornstarch. Most recipes also prefer to whip the eggs with the sugar until it becomes thick and ribbony, then temper it with hot milk before cooking it to a thick consistency.

I like to use a mix of flour and cornstarch because I find I get the best texture this way. I also mix the flour, cornstarch, and sugar together, then mix the milk and eggs together in a separate bowl before mixing them both together while they are still room temperature.

It is after they’ve mixed together that I begin to heat the mixture and cook until it is thickened. I find this prevents lumps and bits of cooked egg in the pastry cream.

The creme patissere should be a nice, velvety thick consistency that can hold it s shape when it is cool, but still nice and easy to pipe and spread. If it is too runny, you can always cook it until it is a bit thicker, and while, I have not tried this personally, I have heard of people whisking in tablespoons of cream into their pastry cream if they’ve thickened it too much.

There are a variety of flavors you can use in your pastry cream. This recipe is just the basic blank canvas for you to use. You can try different extracts for a number of flavors. Almond is popular, but you can try any thing that suits your fancy. You can also stir in chopped chocolate in when it is still hot for a chocolate pastry cream.

If you want something citrus, I recommend rubbing the zest in the sugar to release its oils and flavor. Then when you strain the creme patsserie, the zest is also removed so you will still have a smooth custard with which to work.

If you are just in love with pastry cream as I am, try these green tea eclairs

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Creme Patissere

Prep 5 mins

Cook 10 mins

Inactive 2 hours

Total 2 hours, 15 mins

Author Amanda Powell

Yield 2 1/4 cups

A smooth creme patissere perfect for all your pastry and dessert needs

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs, room temperature

2 cups whole milk, room temperature

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in cubes

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt until well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk toether the eggs and milk until well combined,

Pour the egg mixture into the sugar mixture and mix well until there are no lumps.

Turn on the heat to the stove on medium and continue to whisk the mixture.

Whisk the mixture continuously as it cooks and begins to thicken. The creme patissere is finished cooking once it is noticeably thicker and when you dip a spoon into the mixture and run a finger down the spoon, it leaves a line in the pastry cream.

Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the stove. Stir in the butter and the vanilla. Mix until the butter is melted and thoroughly mixed in.

Pour into a container and place plastic wrap directly on the creme patissere so that it is directly touching. This is to prevent skin forming on the pastry cream. Chill until completely cooled before using.

Courses Dessert

Cuisine French