Description
Karpatka, also known as Polish Carpathian Mountain Cream Cake, is a stunning and delicious dessert that embodies the heart of Polish culinary traditions. This impressive layered cake features airy choux pastry enveloping a rich cream filling, making it ideal for special occasions or simply indulging at home. With its unique mountain-like appearance, Karpatka not only delights the palate but also serves as a beautiful centerpiece at any gathering. Easy to prepare and versatile, you can customize it with various flavors and toppings to suit your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup water
- 80 g unsalted butter
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 150 g all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups milk (for filling)
- 2 eggs (for filling)
- ⅔ cup sugar (for filling)
- 50 g cornstarch (for filling)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (for filling)
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (room temperature for filling)
- Powdered sugar (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). In a saucepan, combine milk, water, butter, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and add flour all at once, stirring until the mixture forms a ball. Allow to cool slightly before adding eggs one by one.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the choux pastry into two parts and spread on the sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes until golden brown; let cool.
- For the cream filling, heat milk in a pot. Whisk eggs with sugar and cornstarch in another bowl. Gradually add hot milk to temper eggs before returning to heat until thickened; mix in vanilla extract and butter.
- Assemble by placing one layer of pastry on a platter, spreading cream over it, topping with the second layer, and dusting with powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (100g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg