Vanilla Custard Cake Filling aka Pastry Cream Cake Filling

5 from 64 votes

Vanilla Custard Cake Filling aka Pastry Cream Cake Filling

A vanilla custard cake filling can be an absolute treat hidden between two layers of cake. That creamy sweet goodness made from cooking eggs, milk, and sugar. Try it as a cake filling, in layered trifles or just pour it alongside a delicious warm Brownie. It's a luxury in all forms.

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Keyword cake filing, desserts, pastry cream, vanilla

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes

Total Time 12 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 206kcal

Author Veena Azmanov

Cost $5

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup Milk
1 cup Cream
6 large Egg yolks
½ cup Sugar
4 tbsp Cornstarch
2 tsp Vanilla
2 tbsp Butter

Metric - US customary

Instructions

Heat Liquid

Have all your ingredients ready.
Heat milk, cream and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat.
Let it come to almost a boil but do not boil.

Prepare Eggs

While the milk/cream mixture is heating.
In a mixing bowl combine egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch.
Whisk until light and foamy.

Temper Eggs

Once the milk has reached an almost boiling point.
Carefully add the milk/cream mixture to the egg mixture.
This has to be done really slowly.
Star with ¼ cup of the milk to eggs - mix thoroughly.
Followed by another ¼ cup - mix thoroughly.
Once almost half the milk/cream mix has been added the eggs should have been tempered.
Pour egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk/cream mix to continue cooking.

Cook the Custard

Place the saucepan back on low heat and continue to cook stirring constantly.
This has to be cooked slowly on low heat with constant stirring or the mixture will curdle.
The mixture will slowly start to thicken and thick bubbles will start to disappear.
Continue to cook on low until the custard is thick and coats the back of your spoon.
When done - strain thru a sieve to remove any curdled eggs.
Finally, add the butter and give it a good mix
Cover the custard with a cling wrap making sure the plastic is in contact with the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming.
Place in the fridge to cool completely.
When cooled - use a whisk attachment and beat the custard for 3 minutes on high.
The cream in the custard will give you a smooth glossy filling that will hold better.
If not using immediately continue to chill in the fridge.
Once chilled your custard is ready to be used as the cake filling, or in trifles etc.

Video

Notes

Always use good quality ingredients - fresh eggs is very important for creme patisserie.
Heat the milk with the vanilla for a few minutes before you temper the egg yolks. This lets the milk infuse with the vanilla and results in wonderful rich vanilla flavor.
Whip the egg yolks, sugar, and starch with a whisk until light and fluffy to prevent lumps.
There is no need to rush the tempering process. Take your time and pour a little at a time carefully. What is important, is that you continue to move the egg mixture while pouring the milk to prevent curdling.
A whisk or wooden spoon works great when stirring.
You must stir all the time - this will prevent the milk and egg from curdling and you will have a silky smooth custard.
Stirring can be very boring but it is important to keep the heat med-low and stir constantly.
You want the mixture to cook and thicken at the same time. If you thicken it too fast, it may curdle but it may also be undercooked. The slow process helps cook the eggs as well as the cornstarch. The mixture will look reduced in quantity when thickened.
This mixture will continue to thicken as it cools and chills in the fridge.
Sieve is necessary to remove any lumps - giving you a smooth velvety creamy pastry.
Always cover the top surface of the custard to prevent any skin from forming. If you don't that skin will later result in lumpy pastry cream.

Nutrition