Dessert Recipes
Caramel Pastry Cream
Yield: 2 1/2 cups
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 cups milk, divided
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 plump vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped out with a small spoon
Instructions
- Place the cornstarch and 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl and mix together well; add egg yolks and mix until a paste is formed. Stir in 1/2 cup milk.
- Place remaining 1/4 cup sugar and water in a small heavy pot and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring, until sugar turns a medium amber.
- Carefully pour in remaining milk and stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla seeds. Bring mixture back to a simmer then pour hot mixture over mixture in bowl, whisking constantly. Pour back into saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and thick.
- Remove from heat and stir an additional minute.
- Transfer to a bowl. Cover with buttered parchment or plastic wrap touching top of cream to avoid skin formation.
- Chill a minimum of 2 hours or as long as 2 days.