Creamy Vanilla Slice with Flaky Puff Pastry
Indulge in the delightful experience of making a Creamy Vanilla Slice with Flaky Puff Pastry. This elegant dessert features layers of crispy puff pastry filled with rich, smooth vanilla custard, making it a perfect treat for any occasion, from casual family gatherings to sophisticated dinner parties. Its luxurious texture and irresistible flavor are sure to impress your guests, while its simple preparation ensures that even novice bakers can create this masterpiece with ease. Dust with powdered sugar for an added touch of refinement and enjoy a slice of pure bliss!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 9 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
- 2 sheets of puff pastry (thawed)
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 3½ cups whole milk (warm)
- 6 large egg yolks (room temperature)
- 1 vanilla bean (seeds scraped out) or 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line baking trays with parchment paper.
- Roll puff pastry sheets to about 9×9 inches and prick all over with a fork. Bake for 35-45 minutes until golden brown, then cool.
- Trim edges of baked pastry to fit an 8×8-inch square pan.
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt; add egg yolks and mix well.
- Heat whole milk in another saucepan until steaming but not boiling.
- Gradually mix warm milk into the egg mixture, then return to the saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbling.
- Stir in vanilla seeds and cold butter until melted and combined.
- Line an 8×8 pan with foil, place one pastry layer at the bottom, pour in custard, top with second pastry layer, press gently. Cover and chill for at least four hours or overnight.
- Lift out using foil overhang, slice into squares with a serrated knife, dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: For variations, try infusing the custard with different flavors like almond extract or citrus zest. Ensure all ingredients are at the right temperature for best results; use warm milk and room temperature eggs.