Indulge in the delectable world of Italian pastry with our comprehensive guide to crema pasticcera, the cornerstone of many beloved desserts. This versatile cream, often referred to as Italian pastry cream or custard, forms the heart of iconic pastries like bomboloni, cannoli, and mille-feuille. With its rich, velvety texture and symphony of flavors, crema pasticcera elevates ordinary treats into extraordinary culinary experiences. Embark on a culinary journey as we unveil the secrets behind this classic cream, providing you with step-by-step recipes for traditional and modern variations, including a vegan alternative for those with dietary restrictions. Discover the art of balancing sweetness, creaminess, and subtle hints of citrus and vanilla to create a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
Recipes Included:
1. Traditional Crema Pasticcera: This classic recipe forms the foundation of all other variations. With its harmonious blend of milk, sugar, eggs, cornstarch, and flavorings, it's the perfect starting point for your crema pasticcera adventure.
2. Chocolate Crema Pasticcera: Indulge in the rich, decadent symphony of chocolate and cream. This variation incorporates melted chocolate, transforming the classic custard into a chocolate lover's dream.
3. Lemon Crema Pasticcera: Experience the vibrant burst of citrus in this refreshing variation. Zesty lemon zest and juice add a delightful tang that beautifully complements the sweetness of the cream.
4. Vegan Crema Pasticcera: For those with dietary restrictions or a preference for plant-based options, this vegan interpretation uses almond milk, cornstarch, sugar, and flavorings to create a creamy, delectable custard that rivals its traditional counterpart.
5. Gluten-Free Crema Pasticcera: Enjoy the creamy goodness of crema pasticcera without compromising on taste or texture. This gluten-free version uses cornstarch, rice flour, and a blend of dairy-free milk to create a smooth, rich custard that caters to those with gluten sensitivities.
BOMBOLONI ALLA CREMA - ITALIAN CREAM-FILLED DONUTS RECIPE - (4.6/5)
Provided by ctozzi
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- 1.Place flours, sugar, instant yeast, vanilla bean seeds, zest of your choice and salt in a large bowl. Using a large whisk, whisk to well combine. 2.Make a well in the centre; pour in the warm milk. Work together the milk and the dry ingredients with the tips of your fingers. 3.Add the eggs all at once; work together the ingredients until you have a rough ball of dough. 4.Gradually add the butter, one-piece-at-a-time, working each piece of butter into the dough before adding the next. 5.Transfer dough to a clean, lightly floured work surface; knead until smooth and elastic (not sticky), 10 to 15 minutes. 6.Transfer dough back to the large bowl; cover with a sheet of plastic wrap and leave to rise in a warm place, 1½ to 2 hours. 7.When the dough has doubled in volume, transfer to a clean, floured work surface. 8.Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1 cm (a little less than ½-inch); using a cookie cutter or glass cut out rounds about 7-cm to 7½-cm (2¾-inch to 3-inch) in diameter (keep the cuts as close together as possible). (Gather up the leftover pieces, give a quick knead to bring the pieces together, return dough to the bowl, cover and leave to rise in a warm place until double in volume, about ½-hour and proceed to roll out and cut out rounds. At this point if you have any remaining dough, gather together re-roll and cut rounds until all of the dough has been used.) 9.Place the rounds on a parchment lined baking sheet lightly sprayed with vegetable spray, cover with a sheet of plastic wrap and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume (they should appear full of air), 1½ to 2 hours. (I find it much easier to remove the rounds from the parchment paper when I lightly coat the parchment with vegetable spray opposed to flouring the parchment sheet. I also used a 3-inch deep baking pan instead of a baking sheet to place my rounds in to rise, this ensures the tops of my bomboloni will not stick to the plastic wrap.) 10.Heat oil in a 6-litre/quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat to between 160° C and 170° C (320° F and 340° F), about 20 minutes. (Check your oil frequently while frying bomboloni to maintain these temperatures. If you have a thermometer attach to the saucepan to monitor the temperature of the oil.) 11.Prepare 2 large plates for draining and rolling of bomboloni. Layer one plate with 3 to 4 sheets of paper towel for draining, and the other plate with a thin layer of caster sugar, for rolling, set-aside until ready to use. 12.Fry four to six bombolone at-a-time to ensure even frying. Fry until golden on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes. (Bomboloni should be golden on both sides creating a distinct line lighter in colour in between - can be difficult at times to achieve because the bomboloni have a mind of their own and they puff up while cooking, sometimes more on one side than the other.) Remove bombolone, one-at-a-time, with a spider skimmer or slotted spoon, drain on paper towels and immediately roll in caster sugar until evenly coated. 13.While bomboloni are still warm fill with Crema Pasticcera (Italian pastry cream). To fill bomboloni, transfer Crema Pasticcera to a large pastry bag fitted with a ½-cm to 1-cm (¼-inch to ½-inch) plain round tip. Use a sharp paring knife to make a small hole (in the centre) on the top of each bombolone. Insert pastry tip into the hole of the bombolone and pipe crema until the bombolone feels heavy; continue to fill until you have a mound of pastry cream visual on the top of the bombolone. 14.Bomboloni are best enjoyed on the day they are made. Serve immediately. Crema Pasticcera {Italian Pastry Cream}: 1.In a small saucepan bring milk, vanilla bean, and vanilla bean seeds just to the boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, cover and let steep 10 to 12 minutes. 2.In a large bowl, using a large hand whisk, cream together egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale. 3.Add the flour and whisk to well combine. 4.Gradually, in a steady stream, add the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture; whisking constantly until well combined. 5.Return the milk-egg mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. 6.Remove from heat and strain Crema Pasticcera through a fine mesh sieve into a 20-cm (8 inch) square dish or 23 X 33 cm (9 X13 inch) rectangular dish. Discard solids. (A little tip for you - I remove the vanilla bean; give it a quick rinse and then allow it to dry and use it when I am making syrups or compotes (gives the compote or syrup a hint of vanilla taste) or I also place the vanilla bean in a mason jar (a large one because I continue to add beans and top with more sugar as I go along) with sugar and make my own vanilla sugar (make sure the vanilla bean is completely dry before storing with sugar.) (This time I saved the vanilla bean and used it to make my stems for decorating the completed Pesche.) Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto Crema Pasticcera to prevent a skin from forming while cooling. When Crema Pasticcera has completely cooled place in refrigerator to chill until ready to fill cookies.
PASTRY CREAM (CREMA PASTICCERA)
Make this for our "English Soup" (Zuppa Inglese).
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Yield Makes 3 cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Stir together milk and lemon zest in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring, just until small bubbles appear at edges. Remove pan from heat.
- Put egg and yolks and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until pale, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add flour and vanilla. Beat until just combined. Beat in the hot milk mixture. Raise speed to high; beat 1 minute more. Transfer the pastry cream to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Transfer warm pastry cream to a bowl. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto surface. Refrigerate until just chilled, about 2 hours, or up to 1 day.
CREMA PASTICCERA (ITALIAN PASTRY CREAM) FOR BOMBOLONI
Categories Egg
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Crema Pasticcera {Italian Pastry Cream} In a small saucepan bring milk, vanilla bean, and vanilla bean seeds just to the boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, cover and let steep 10 to 12 minutes. In a large bowl, using a large hand whisk, cream together egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale. Add the flour and whisk to well combine. Gradually, in a steady stream, add the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture; whisking constantly until well combined. Return the milk-egg mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain Crema Pasticcera through a fine mesh sieve into a 20-cm (8 inch) square dish or 23 X 33 cm (9 X13 inch) rectangular dish. Discard solids. (A little tip for you - I remove the vanilla bean; give it a quick rinse and then allow it to dry and use it when I am making syrups or compotes (gives the compote or syrup a hint of vanilla taste) or I also place the vanilla bean in a mason jar (a large one because I continue to add beans and top with more sugar as I go along) with sugar and make my own vanilla sugar (make sure the vanilla bean is completely dry before storing with sugar.) (This time I saved the vanilla bean and used it to make my stems for decorating the completed Pesche.) Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto Crema Pasticcera to prevent a skin from forming while cooling. When Crema Pasticcera has completely cooled place in refrigerator to chill until ready to fill cookies.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor and texture of your pastry cream.
- Make sure your milk and eggs are at room temperature before you start. This will help them combine smoothly and prevent curdling.
- Cook the pastry cream over medium heat, stirring constantly. This will help prevent it from burning or curdling.
- Don't overcook the pastry cream. It should be thick and smooth, but not too thick or stiff.
- Strain the pastry cream through a fine-mesh sieve before using it. This will remove any lumps or bits of cooked egg.
- Let the pastry cream cool completely before using it. This will help it to set and thicken.
Conclusion:
Crema pasticcera is a delicious and versatile Italian pastry cream that can be used in a variety of desserts, from bomboloni to tarts and cakes. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can easily make this classic dessert at home.Crema pasticcera is a delicious and versatile Italian pastry cream that can be used in a variety of desserts. It is easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients. With a little bit of care and attention, you can create a smooth and creamy pastry cream that will enhance any dessert.
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