4.9 from 102 votes
Pastry Cream Recipe (Crema Pasticcera)
Simple Italian pastry cream recipe (crema pasticcera) that is used for filling countless desserts and pastries.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 68 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 4 egg yolks organic
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp Potato Starch (if using corn starch add 1 extra tsp)
- 1 pinch salt
- 14 oz milk
- 1 tsp vanilla or ½ tsp pure vanilla powder or paste
Instructions
- Place the egg yolks into a medium sized pot (off the heat).
- Add the sugar and potato or corn starch and whisk together until uniform.
- When the mixture is smooth, place the pot on the stovetop. Begin pouring in the warm milk whilst whisking. Turn the heat on to medium.
- Continue whisking and gradually increase the heat. The pastry cream will thicken as it heats up.
- When the mixture comes to a boil, let it cook for about 3 minutes then remove from the heat. Add the vanilla and keep stirring as it cools so that it doesn't form a skin. Move into a large bowl and set the bowl into a larger bowl with ice water (if you need to cool it quickly), then refrigerate covered until completely chilled.
- Use as desired.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If you want a lighter version of this pastry cream, whip 4 oz (120 ml) of heavy whipping cream until stiff and then fold into the chilled pastry cream.
- You can add more or less cream to your liking, and also add a little sugar to the cream when whipping (I prefer it without).
- Adding a tablespoonful of Grand Marnier (at the end) makes a lovely addition, too.
- Pastry cream can be kept refrigerated for 1 or 2 days, but must be consumed promptly once the pastries are filled.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1
Calories
68kcal
(3%)
Carbohydrates
9g
(3%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Cholesterol
65mg
(22%)
Sodium
20mg
(1%)
Potassium
76mg
(2%)
Fiber
0.1g
(0%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
135IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
0.1mg
(0%)
Calcium
49mg
(5%)
Iron
0.2mg
(1%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 68
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 68kcal | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 9g | 3% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 20mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 76mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 0.1g | 0% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 135IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 49mg | 5% |
| Iron | 0.2mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.