Kremówka - Polish Cream Cake

Ingredients

• 2 sheets of puff pastry (400g) 2 sheets of puff pastry (400g)
• 4 cups (960ml) whole milk 4 cups (960ml) whole milk
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lemon Zest of 1 lemon
• Powdered sugar, for dusting Powdered sugar, for dusting

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 18g, 9g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 42g, 22g
• Protein: 7g
• Fiber: 1g
• Salt: 0.2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
2. 2.
   Roll out one sheet of puff pastry and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. 3.
   Bake the pastry for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
4. 4.
   In a saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it starts to simmer. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until well combined.
5. 5.
   Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
6. 6.
   Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and reaches a custard-like consistency. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
7. 7.
   Once the puff pastry and cream are cooled, spread a generous layer of the cream over the baked pastry.
8. 8.
   Place the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the cream layer, pressing gently to adhere.
9. 9.
   Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.
10. 10.
    Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
11. 11.
    Slice into squares or rectangles and serve chilled.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Puff pastry — Ensure that the puff pastry is thawed properly before rolling it out. If it becomes too soft, refrigerate it for a few minutes to firm it up.
• Lemon zest — Use a microplane or fine grater to zest the lemon, making sure to only grate the outer yellow part of the peel. Avoid grating the bitter white pith.

Tips & Tricks

• To achieve a crisp and flaky puff pastry, make sure to bake it at a high temperature.
• Allow the cream to cool completely before spreading it on the puff pastry to prevent the pastry from becoming soggy.
• For an extra touch of elegance, garnish each slice with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of grated chocolate or cocoa powder.
• If you prefer a stronger lemon flavor, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the cream mixture.
• Serve the Kremówka chilled for the best taste and texture.

Serving advice

Serve each slice of Kremówka on a dessert plate, accompanied by a cup of hot coffee or tea. The cake is best enjoyed chilled, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation of the Kremówka, dust the top of the cake with a generous amount of powdered sugar just before serving. This will create an elegant and inviting appearance.