Vanilla Custard Cream Squares Recipe
Ingredients
- Puff Pastry: 2 sheets, thawed
- Filling:
- Whole Milk: 4 cups
- Granulated Sugar: 1 1/2 cups
- All-Purpose Flour: 1 1/4 cups
- Eggs: 8, separated into yolks and whites
- Vanilla Extract: 3 teaspoons
- Rum: 2 tablespoons (optional)
- Heavy Whipping Cream: 2 cups, chilled
- Powdered Sugar: 2 tablespoons, plus additional for dusting
Preparation
- Prepare Puff Pastry:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place each puff pastry sheet on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the puff pastry for about 10 minutes or until it’s golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool on the baking sheet.
- Make the Custard Filling:
- Pour three cups of milk into a medium saucepan and heat it over medium until it reaches a boil.
- While the milk is heating, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Gradually whisk in the flour, vanilla extract, rum (if using), and the remaining 1 cup of milk until smooth.
- Once the milk in the saucepan has boiled, reduce the heat to low and slowly whisk in the egg yolk mixture. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens to a creamy consistency (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from heat.
- Incorporate Egg Whites:
- In a clean and dry bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the thickened custard, ensuring not to deflate the mixture. This process adds lightness to the custard.
- Assemble the Base Layer:
- Place one of the cooled puff pastry sheets at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread the prepared custard evenly over the puff pastry. Place the dish in the refrigerator and chill until the custard is cool and set, approximately 1-2 hours.
- Add Whipped Cream Layer:
- In a bowl, combine the chilled heavy whipping cream with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until the cream forms stiff peaks.
- Spread this whipped cream evenly over the chilled custard layer.
- Top with Puff Pastry Squares:
- Cut the second sheet of cooled puff pastry into 15 equal squares.
- Gently place these squares on top of the whipped cream layer, arranging them in a grid.
- Final Chilling:
- Return the baking dish to the refrigerator and chill for another 2 hours to allow the layers to firm up and the flavors to meld.
- Serve:
- Just before serving, dust the top with additional powdered sugar for a sweet, finished look.
- Cut into squares and serve chilled.
Enjoy your delicious homemade Vanilla Custard Cream Squares, a perfect dessert for any occasion!
