This basic pastry cream recipe is the base for filling many pastries, pies, cakes, and tarts. Pastry cream can be flavored in a variety of ways, is an incredibly versatile dessert component, and is also the base for making sweet souffles! Pin it for Later »

Pastry cream filled into a cream puff

Pastry Cream Recipe Overview

Skill Level: Beginner

Pastry cream is one of the most basic components involved in baking and pastry making. Pastry cream, also known as creme patisserie or creme pat for short, has arguably the most applications of any single pastry component.

Pastry cream can be piped into eclairs, cream puffs, and napoleons, used as a cream filling for cake, and can also be the base of a cream pie, such as coconut cream pie. Walk into any professional pastry kitchen and a big batch of pastry cream is sure to be found.

What is Pastry Cream?

Pastry cream is a classic French stirred custard. This means that the custard is stirred while it cooks on the stove, much like the process of making lemon curd, which results in a smooth and creamy mixture that works well as a filling or sauce.

As with any custard, pastry cream contains milk, eggs, and sugar; however, pastry cream also has the addition of cornstarch, to help thicken it to a pipeable consistency, as well as butter to increase the richness. The most common flavoring for pastry cream is real vanilla bean, however it can be flavored in an endless variety of ways.

Pastry cream with cream puff shells and eclairs

How to Make Pastry Cream

Technically, the ingredients for pastry cream can all be put into a pot at once and heated until thick. However, a few additional steps will ensure a much smoother and silky pastry cream.

Step 1: “Blanch” the Egg Yolks

In a mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until the mixture is foamy and about double in volume. This works best with an electric mixer but can also be achieved with a whisk.

This process is called blanching the egg yolks and helps ensures lumps do not form with the pastry cream. The sugar essentially protects the egg proteins from coagulating too quickly when they cook.

Step 2: Add the Cornstarch

Whisk the cornstarch into the egg yolk/sugar mixture. The cornstarch will help thicken and stabilize the custard once it is cooked.

Step 3: Heat the Milk

In a saucepan, bring the milk up to a boil. If using a vanilla bean pod or cocoa powder, these ingredients would also be added at this point. Other extracts and flavorings would be added later, if using.

Step 4: Temper the Egg Yolks

Slowly pour about half of the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking. It can help to nestle your bowl in a wet tea towel to stabilize the bowl so that you can whisk with one hand. This will temper the egg yolks and prevent them from becoming scrambled eggs.

Step 5: Cook the Custard

Pour the egg/milk mixture back into the pot with the remaining milk and heat over medium/low heat while whisking continuously. The mixture will reach a boil and thicken.

Step 6: Strain

Pour the cooked custard through a fine mesh sieve while it is still hot. This will catch any lumps that may have formed.

Step 7: Add Butter & Other Flavorings

If using, add finely chopped chocolate at this point while the custard is still hot. Add the butter, and any other flavorings or extracts, if using. Try this recipe to make a chocolate pastry cream.

Step 8: Chill

Press a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the pastry cream and refrigerate the cream until completely cooled before using.

Pastry Cream Ingredient Functions

  • Sugar sweetens the pastry cream and also forms a barrier for the proteins in the egg yolks to slow down coagulation. 
  • Egg Yolks thicken the pastry cream and add richness. 
  • Cornstarch further thickens the pastry cream creating a more sturdy custard. 
  • Milk is the base for what is being flavored and thickened. 
  • Butter adds richness and creates a silky texture. 

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Pastry cream filled into a cream puff
Yield: About 3 Cups or enough for 24 eclairs or cream puffs

Pastry Cream, Creme Patisserie

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

This basic pastry cream recipe is the base for filling many pastries, pies, cakes, and tarts. Pastry cream can be flavored in a variety of ways, is an incredibly versatile dessert component, and is also the base for making sweet souffles! 

Ingredients

  • 100 grams (½ cup) granulated sugar
  • 110 grams (6 large) egg yolks
  • 30 grams (¼ cups) cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 568 grams (2 ½ cups, 600 ml) whole milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla paste (optional)
  • 28 grams (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Instructions

Prep: 

  1. Measure out all of the ingredients. Cut the butter into small pieces. 

To Make the Pastry Cream: 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks (110 grams, 6 large) with the sugar (100 grams, ½ cup), cornstarch (30 grams, ¼ cup), and salt (¼ teaspoon) with a whisk until foamy and about double in size. This will ensure a smooth pastry cream.
  2. In a saucepan, heat the milk (568 grams, 2 ½ cups) until it starts to boil. 
  3. Temper the egg yolks by slowly pouring about half of the milk into the egg/cornstarch mixture while whisking continuously. It can be helpful to nestle the mixing bowl in a damp kitchen towel to stabilize the bowl while you whisk and pour.
  4. Pour the milk/egg mixture back into the pot with the remainder of the milk and cook over low heat, whisking continuously, until the mixture thickens and starts rapidly bubbling. Do not rush this process. 
  5. Pour the hot pastry cream through a fine mesh sieve.
  6. If you are adding any chocolate or other flavorings, they can be whisked in at this point. Add the butter (28 grams, 2 tablespoons) and vanilla (1 ½ teaspoons) and whisk in. 
  7. Place a piece of plastic wrap right on top of the pastry cream and refrigerate until ready to use.
  8. Pastry cream can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

VARIATIONS

Chocolate Pastry Cream: Add 10 grams (2 tablespoons) unsweetened cocoa powder in with the milk when you bring it to a boil. After the mixture has been strained, stir in 168 grams (6 ounces) of finely chopped bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate.

Coconut Pastry Cream: Replace 113 grams (½ cup) of the milk with 120 grams (½ cup) full fat coconut milk. 100 grams (1 cup) of toasted coconut flakes can also be added to the filling before placing in the pie shell. 

Peanut Butter Pastry Cream: Whisk 127 grams (½ cup) creamy peanut butter into the mixture after it has gone through the sieve. Omit the butter. 

Nutrition Information:


Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0