A few days ago we mentioned that making pastry cream is very easy, and we encouraged you to make it at home with a recipe that always yields good results (you can see the recipe and tips for making cream here).
If you already have your pastry cream ready, you have countless options to enjoy it. Today I leave you some ideas and recipes to use pastry cream:
1. Apple puff pastry
If your cream is ready, one of the quickest and most delicious options is to prepare an apple puff pastry. One of my favorite treats for Sunday afternoon, Enjoy!
Whether using round or rectangular puff pastry, the only thing you need to do is:
- Fold the edges of the puff pastry, making a border of about one centimeter, and prick the entire surface of the pastry with a fork.
- Place parchment paper on top and fill the center of the pastry with weights (either with ceramic baking beads or with dried legumes), to prevent it from rising.
- Bake at 180º-200ºC for about ten minutes or until you see that the puff pastry is partially cooked and just beginning to brown.
- Remove from the oven, take out the weights and the paper, and spread a layer of your pastry cream over the puff pastry (avoiding the edges).
- Arrange the apple cut into slices on top, covering the entire surface with cream.
- Brush the edges of the puff pastry with beaten egg, sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top, and bake for 15 minutes.
2. Kiwi, strawberry and banana tart
This tart will become another Sunday addiction: it consists, as before, of making a puff pastry base with cream, and arranging the sliced fruit on top. What I recommend in this case is that the puff pastry be rectangular.
What you should do is follow exactly the same first steps as before: form the edges on the puff pastry and bake it with weights. However, it is important that this time the puff pastry is well baked, because you will not put it back in the oven.
Make sure the puff pastry is golden at the edges, take it out and spread a layer of cream over the entire center. Then, all that's left is to arrange rows of sliced fruit alternating the different colors: kiwi, strawberry and banana, a classic and very tasty combination!
NOTE: In the same way that I suggest making the apple tart in the oven or the kiwi, strawberry and banana puff pastry, you can make it with any other fruit: a whole cream puff pastry with only strawberries, cherries, raspberries, peach... Pastry cream and fruit are an explosive combination!
Strawberry tart and puff pastry apple tart
3. Bolla larpeira
I invite you to prepare a typical Galician sweet that combines brioche-like dough with the classic strips of cream on top. The peculiarity of this recipe is that the brioche is lightly flavored with anise and lemon, which together with the touch of cream is wonderful. You can find the recipe here.
4. Brick pastry flowers with red fruits
If you’re looking for a quick and impressive recipe, some brick pastry flowers can save you on many occasions. It’s about baking the pastry with the cream and some fruits on top. I leave you the recipe we made with lemon curd (here), but if you substitute it with pastry cream it will be divine.
5. Cream tartlets with raspberries
Pastry cream goes very well with sablée dough (sweet shortcrust pastry). The idea of making these tartlets with cream and topping them with raspberries will be a hit at home, and it’s not complicated. If you want, you can also substitute the raspberries with strawberries, berries or cherries, for example. You’ll love them!
Bolla larpeira, brick pastry flowers with red fruits and cream tartlets with raspberries
6. Crêpe cake
The only thing you need to keep in mind when preparing crêpes is that it’s advisable for the batter to rest at least half an hour before using it. But as we have said repeatedly, making crêpes is really easy.
What I suggest is to make crêpes, stack them into a pretty tower, and place a layer of the pastry cream you have prepared between each cake.
On the blog we have this crêpe cake filled with lemon curd. You can see it here, and follow it exactly the same but replacing the lemon curd with pastry cream.
7. Coca de San Juan
It’s typical for San Juan, but one wants to enjoy this coca all year long! The recipe for coca de San Juan (or Sant Joan) can be the perfect excuse to prepare cream, or the cream is the perfect excuse to make this coca. While you decide which is your excuse, here I leave you the recipe.
8. Sablée tartlets with cherries and raspberry
We made sablée tartlets with mascarpone that were an absolute delight. Today I suggest preparing them, but replacing the mascarpone cream with pastry cream which will pair so well with cherries and raspberries. You can find the recipe here.
