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 gives good results (you can see the recipe and tips for making cream here ).
If you already have your pastry cream ready, you have endless options to enjoy it. Today I leave you some ideas and recipes to use pastry cream:
1. Apple puff pastry
If you have your cream ready, one of the quickest and most delicious ways to make it is to prepare apple puff pastry. One of my favorite treats for Sunday afternoon snacks. Enjoy!
With both round and rectangular puff pastry, all you have to do is:
- Fold the edges of the puff pastry, making a frame of approximately one centimetre, and prick the entire surface of the puff pastry with a fork.
- Line the pastry with baking paper and fill the centre of the pastry with weights (either ceramic balls or dried legumes) to prevent it from rising.
- Bake at 180º-200ºC for about ten minutes or until the puff pastry is slightly cooked and just starting to brown.
- Remove from the oven, remove the weights and paper and place a layer of your pastry cream on top of the puff pastry (avoiding going around the edges).
- Arrange the sliced apple on top, covering the entire surface with cream.
- Brush the edges of the puff pastry with beaten egg, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, and bake for 15 minutes.
2. Kiwi, strawberry and banana cake
This tart will become another Sunday vice: it involves making, as before, a puff pastry base with cream, and placing the cut fruit on top. What I recommend in this case is that the puff pastry be rectangular.
What you need to do is follow exactly the same first steps as before: make the edges on the puff pastry and bake it with the weights. Now, 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 pastry is golden brown around the edges, take it out and spread a layer of cream all over the centre. Then, all you need to do is arrange a few rows of chopped fruit in alternating colours: kiwi, strawberry and banana – a classic and delicious combination!
NOTE: In the same way that I suggest you make the baked apple pie 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, peaches... Pastry cream and fruit are an explosive combination!
Strawberry tart and apple puff pastry tart
3. Larpeira ball
I invite you to prepare a typical Galician dessert that combines brioche-type dough with the classic bands of cream on top. The peculiarity of this recipe is that the brioche is lightly flavoured with anise and lemon, which together with the touch of cream is wonderful. You will find the recipe here .
4. Brick pastry flowers with red fruits
If you are looking for a quick and effective recipe, some brick pastry flowers can save you on many occasions. It involves baking the pastry with the cream and some fruit on top. I leave you the recipe that we made with lemon curd ( here ), but if you substitute it with pastry cream it will be delicious.
5. Cream tartlets with raspberries
The custard is delicious with sablée pastry. The idea of making these tartlets with custard and topping them with raspberries will be a hit at home, and it's not complicated. If you want, you can also replace 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 is a good idea to let the batter rest for at least half an hour before using it. But as we have said many times, making crêpes is really easy.
What I suggest is to make crêpes, stack them up to form a nice tower, and between each layer place a layer of the pastry cream you have prepared.
On the blog we have this lemon curd filled crepe cake. You can see it here , and follow it exactly the same way but replacing the lemon curd with pastry cream.
7. St. John's coca
It is typical of San Juan, but one wants to enjoy this coca all year round! 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 prepare this coca. While you decide which is your excuse, here is the recipe.
8. Tartlets made of sablée dough with cherries and raspberries
We made some tartlets with sablée pastry and mascarpone that were a real delight. Today I suggest you prepare them, but replacing the mascarpone cream with pastry cream that will go so well with the cherries and raspberries. You will find the recipe here .
