Mille-Feuille: The Ultimate Creamy Dessert Delight
Ingredients for Puff Pastry Layers:
Two puff pastry sheets (store-bought or handmade)
- Granulated sugar: sprinkles
- Powdered Sugar: Dusting
For pastry cream:
- Whole Milk: 2 cups
- (1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon extract)
- Half-cup Granulated Sugar
- Four big egg yolks
- Corn flour: 1/4 cup
- Two teaspoons unsalted butter
- To add creaminess, whip 1/2 cup heavy cream.
For Assembly:
- Dust with confectioners’ sugar
- Crumpled Puff Pastry Scraps: optional garnish
Instructions:
Prepare Puff Pastry Layers:
- Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Parchment a baking sheet.
To remove wrinkles, roll out puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Cut each page into three equal-sized rectangles. - Lay pastry rectangles on the baking sheet. Fork-prick the entire surface of each slice to prevent over-puffing during baking.
- Lightly dust with granulated sugar. To keep the pastry flat, add another parchment paper sheet on top and another baking sheet.
- Pre-heat the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Allow the pastry to cool completely on a wire rack.
Make Pastry Cream:
- Cook milk and vanilla bean (split and seeds scraped) in a medium saucepan until simmering. Remove from heat and infuse for 10 minutes. Put vanilla essence in the milk after it has heated.
- In another bowl, mix sugar, egg yolks, and cornflour until light and smooth.
- To avoid overcooking, slowly add heated milk to the egg mixture while whisking frequently.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and stir continually over medium heat until the cream thickens and boils. Cook another 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Stir in melted butter until smooth. Place pastry cream in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing it onto the surface to prevent skin formation. Allow it to chill completely in the fridge.
- If desired, add whipped heavy cream into chilled pastry cream for lightness.
Build the Mille-Feuille:
- Serve one puff pastry rectangle on a plate. Cover with pastry cream evenly.
- Repeat with two additional puff pastry-cream layers.
- Add powdered sugar and crumpled puff pastry scraps to the top layer for texture and adornment.
- To serve, slice the Mille-feuille carefully with a sharp knife.
- Serve chilled or room temperature. Enjoy a delicious mix of crispy pastry and creamy filling.
Perfect Mille-Feuille Tips:
- Handling Pastry: To keep puff pastry flaky, keep it refrigerated until usage.
- Ensure uniform layers by using a piping bag to distribute pastry cream for cleaner, more accurate layers.
- Allow enough time for the completed Mille-feuille to chill for easy slicing and blending of flavours.
Nutritional Benefits:
- Milk and Cream Provides calcium and vitamin D for bone health.
- Protein and good fats boost nutrition.
- Egg yolks are high in vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as choline, which is beneficial for brain function.
- Consuming mille-feuille in moderation can be part of a healthy diet, despite its indulgence.
In conclusion
- mille-feuille is a decadent delicacy that exemplifies French patisserie. Featuring flaky puff pastry and creamy filling, this dessert is ideal for formal events or refined home treats. Create a gorgeous Mille-feuille with this recipe to impress and delight family and friends. Soak up the process of making this beautiful dessert and relish each bite!