Custard or Pastry Cream is undoubtedly the base of pastry creams and many desserts. Today, we will learn how to prepare an excellent custard, from the ingredients to its correct storage.
Let’s start!
table of contents
EASY VANILLA PASTRY CREAM RECIPE WITH 2 CUPS OF MILK
Ingredients
- 500 ml Whole milk (about 2 cups)
- 4 Large egg yolks (about 80 g total)
- 120 g Granulated sugar (about 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp)
- 15 g Rice starch (about 2 tbsp; optional, for a silkier texture)
- 35 g Cornstarch (about 4 tbsp)
- 1/2 vanilla bean Bourbon vanilla (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- 1/2 Lemon zest (optional, for lemon pastry cream)
- 1 pinch Salt
Instructions
- Sanitize a stainless-steel tray by pouring in a small amount of food-grade alcohol, then wipe the bottom and sides with a paper towel. For home use, a very clean shallow pan also works well.
- Bring the milk and salt to a boil in a saucepan. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the vanilla, sugar and starches in a mixing bowl.
- When the milk is hot, pour it into the egg yolk mixture in several additions, whisking constantly, until the mixture is completely smooth and evenly diluted.
- Transfer everything back to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the pastry cream begins to thicken.
- When ready, pour the hot pastry cream into the sanitized tray, cover with plastic wrap directly touching the surface, and cool quickly to 39°F / 4°C before using.
How to Make Pastry Cream at Home
Traditional Method
Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, flavorings, and starch (do not whip to incorporate air). Once the milk reaches a boil, gradually pour it into the egg mixture a little at a time while whisking. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened.
When the custard is done, cool it quickly as explained below and flavor as desired (for example, add fresh lemon zest for a lighter taste).
Whipped-Yolk Method
Whip the yolks, sugar, flavorings, and starches in a stand mixer until pale and fluffy. Gently pour this mixture into the boiling milk without stirring.
As soon as the mixture begins to bubble around the edges, whisk vigorously and remove from the heat. Because the whipped yolks contain more air, this method slows down heat transfer slightly, so cooking takes a bit longer.
Microwave Method
This method works best when making small batches of custard.
First, mix the eggs, sugar, starch, and flavoring together until smooth. Whisk in the milk, then transfer the mixture to a microwave-safe container (Pyrex or microwave-safe plastic). Cook on full power for about 2 minutes.
Remove and stir vigorously to redistribute the heat. Repeat in intervals of 1 to 1 ½ minutes, stirring each time, until the custard is fully cooked and thickened.
Thermomix Method
The Thermomix is very convenient for custard, especially for batches under 1 liter of milk. Add all ingredients to the bowl, blend on medium speed for 30 seconds, then cook at 194°F (90°C) for 7–8 minutes.
Cool quickly once finished. For chocolate custard, add chopped chocolate during the last minute of cooking, then blend at high speed for 10 seconds once finished.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Custard (Pastry Cream)
Quick diagnosis: the most likely cause and a practical fix so your custard (pastry cream) always turns out smooth and silky.
Quick Best Practices
- Pour hot milk slowly while whisking: prevents thermal shock
- Use a thermometer: stop at 180–185 °F / 82–84 °C
- Dissolve starch in cold liquid before heating
- Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and chill quickly
- For silkiness: combine cornstarch + rice starch
- Always use real vanilla bean, pure extract, or fresh citrus zest
Cooling and Storage
No matter which method you use, once cooked, custard must be cooled quickly. This stops the eggs from overcooking and prevents bacteria growth.
For best results, transfer the custard into a clean, sanitized metal pan. Cover with plastic wrap touching the surface and chill rapidly to 39°F (4°C). If you have a blast chiller, use it for the smoothest texture.
Before serving or using the custard, whisk it vigorously to restore its creamy texture and shine.
Properly prepared and cooled custard can be stored in the refrigerator at 39°F (4°C) for up to 2 days. If you fold in whipped cream (to make an Italian-style Chantilly cream), storage time is reduced to 24 hours.
You can technically freeze custard by adding 0.35 oz (10 g) of gelatin per quart (1 liter) of milk to the base recipe. However, freezing is not recommended—especially with home freezers—since it often causes lumps once thawed.
How to Flavor Custard
Once your custard is ready, you can customize the flavor in many ways:
- Nut Pastes (such as hazelnut or pistachio): about 3.5 oz paste for every 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of cooled custard.
- Chocolate: melt and add as described in the “Ingredients > Chocolate” section.
- Liqueurs: around 1.8 oz (50 g) per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of chilled custard. Adjust depending on the type of liqueur and your taste preference.
Simple pastry cream: the right ingredients and why they matter
Starches: the key to texture
In professional pastry cream, starches are usually preferred over flour: flour gelatinizes at around 198 °F / 92 °C, which is above the coagulation point of egg yolks (172–176 °F / 78–80 °C), and it can leave a slightly “floury” mouthfeel. Rice starch (about 172 °F / 78 °C) gives the cream a smoother, glossier texture, while cornstarch (about 180 °F / 82 °C) makes it firmer and more pudding-like. Potato starch, on the other hand, tends to become stringy, so it is not recommended for this preparation.
Sugars: sweetness and cooking control
Beyond flavor, sugar raises the coagulation point of the eggs and makes the cream silkier. For balanced sweetness, use about 250–350 g of sugar per 1 liter of milk. As an alternative, you can use honey: reduce the amount by about 30% (for example, use 700 g of honey to replace 1 kg of sugar), keeping in mind that honey will also add its own aroma.
Eggs: structure, color, and flavor
Eggs are one of the most important ingredients in pastry cream because they affect its structure, color, flavor, creaminess, and stability. More specifically, it is the egg yolks that give pastry cream its signature velvety consistency: they contain fats, proteins, and lecithin, which help create a stable emulsion and a finer texture.
As a general rule, the more egg yolks you use, the richer, smoother, glossier, and more stable the cream will be. A professional-style pastry cream, designed for rich fillings or a more refined result, can contain as many as 30–40 egg yolks per liter of milk. In this case, the color becomes more intense, the flavor rounder, and the texture creamier.
On the other hand, a pastry cream made with fewer egg yolks will usually be lighter, paler, and less rich on the palate. That is not necessarily a flaw: it depends on how you plan to use it. For baked pastry cream or preparations that need a drier, firmer structure, a lower amount of egg yolks may be more suitable. For a rich filling, however, it is better to increase the percentage of yolks.
| Use | Recommended amount of egg yolks | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Simple homemade pastry cream | 8–10 egg yolks per liter | Balanced, soft, and versatile cream |
| Rich filling cream | 15–25 egg yolks per liter | More intense, creamy, and stable cream |
| Rich professional pastry cream | 30–40 egg yolks per liter | Vivid color, great finesse, glossy texture |
| Pastry cream with whole eggs | 4–6 whole eggs per liter | More economical, less refined, and more compact cream |
Pastry cream with whole eggs
Pastry cream can also be made with whole eggs, but the result changes. Egg whites contain mostly water and proteins, so they tend to make the cream less rich, less yellow, and more compact than pastry cream made with yolks only.
Using whole eggs is a more practical and economical choice, and it is very common in home recipes. The cream will still be good, but it will have a different structure: firmer, less glossy, and with a slightly more noticeable egg flavor if the cooking is not well controlled.
Rich Professional Pastry Cream with Extra Egg Yolks
| Ingredient | Amount for 1 liter of milk |
|---|---|
| Fresh whole milk | 1000 ml |
| Egg yolks | 800 g (about 40 egg yolks) |
| Granulated sugar | 420 g |
| Rice starch | 25 g |
| Cornstarch | 25 g |
| Salt | 3 g |
| Bourbon vanilla | 1 vanilla bean |
| Grated lemon zest | optional |
Milk & cream: body and roundness
Whole milk is the ideal base for both flavor and structure. If you want a rounder, creamier pastry cream, replace about 20% of the milk with heavy cream (for example, 800 g milk + 200 g heavy cream for 1 liter total). This will give the cream more richness and smoothness without making it excessively heavy.
Flavorings and salt: the final touch
Choose a vanilla bean and lemon zest for a more natural, authentic aroma; a pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors. Avoid artificial flavorings or vanillin if you want a more professional flavor profile.
I REPLAY YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CUSTARD
14 thoughts on “Crema Pasticcera: Ricetta Facile, Veloce e Senza Grumi”
Ciao,
Anche se facessi una crema pasticcera al pistacchio dovrei utilizzare pochi tuorli oppure ciò vale solo per quella al cioccolato? Siccome dovrei fare un Pan di Spagna a due strati, uno con la crema classica, e l’altro al pistacchio, mi chiedevo se potevo prepararle in un’unica preparazione, oppure se è meglio farle separate qualora le dosi di tuorlo devono essere diverse. Grazie
Ciao Andrea,
puoi preparare tranquillamente la stessa crema. Il gusto delle uova varia soprattutto il gusto del cioccolato, ma per le creme di frutta secca non hai problemi!
A presto!
Ben trovati: Grazie della bellissima spiegazione.
Ho riportato in un foglio di calcolo di Google il bilanciamento della crema pasticciera adesso vorrei sapere come poter diminuire (seppur di un poco ) la quantita di zucchero, essendo questo direttamente proporzionale alle uova, tenedo conto del tuo consiglio che riporta dalle 20 alle 25 uova per litro di latte.
Grazie e saluti dal Venezuela
Ciao Fred! Un bel ritorno qui su bianco lievito. Ho trovato molto interessante la spiegazione sulla crema pasticcera. Circa l’amido di riso, è possibile sostituirlo con della farina di riso?
Ciao Luca,
potresti, ma la crema non avrà lo stesso aspetto. Per la crema ti consiglio di usare gli amidi, invece delle farine, perché gelificiano prima e ti permettono di non cuocere troppo la crema!
A presto!