I had a serious face-palm moment. I had been buying this cake from the supermarket’s cake fridge for years before it occurred to me to actually… you know… bake it! I am so glad I did! Now I’ve decided to make a proper bucket list, actually written down, of all the yummy things I like to eat and really should try to make. Any suggestions?  🙂

I adapted a recipe from Australian super-cook Stephanie Alexander and filled it with my own pastry cream recipe. The dough and pastry cream can both be prepared the day before.

Crème Pâtissière

240ml (1 cup) whole milk, divided
2 tbsp cornstarch
75g (6 tbsp) granulated (white) sugar
3 large egg yolks
30g (2 tbsp) butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Dissolve cornstarch in 1⁄4 cup of milk in a mixing bowl.

Combine the remaining 3/4 cup milk with the sugar in a small to medium heavy based saucepan on medium-low heat, bring to the boil, whisking occasionally so it doesn’t form a skin on top or scald on the bottom, and remove from heat.

Beat the egg yolks into the cornstarch mixture. Pour 1/3 of the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly (this tempers the eggs so they don’t cook before they are mixed into the custard).

Return saucepan to low heat and pour the hot egg mixture back into the milk in a stream while continuously whisking.

Continue whisking until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and beat in the butter and vanilla.

Pour into a stainless steel, glass or ceramic bowl. Press plastic wrap firmly against the surface. Cool to room temperature then refrigerate until ready to use.

Dough

250g (2 scant cups) all-purpose (plain) flour
pinch of salt
1 tsp instant yeast
120ml (1/2 cup) cup milk
3 tbsp granulated (white) sugar
3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
75g (5 1/2 tbsp) unsalted butter, diced, room temperature

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whisk together flour, salt and yeast.

Warm milk and sugar slightly, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, then allow to cool a little.

Whisk together egg yolks and warm milk mixture.

Make a well in flour, then pour in milk mixture and mix to a dough. Continue beating while adding butter bit by bit. The dough should be shiny and smooth and will come away cleanly from sides of bowl.

Cover bowl with a plastic wrap and leave dough to double in size, at least two hours. Mine took closer to four!

Butter a round 24cm (9”) or 30 x 20cm (12 x 8”) springform pan and line bottom and sides with parchment.

Punch down dough, turn out and briefly knead by hand. Shape into disc and pat out into pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for at least two hours, or overnight in the fridge. If refrigerating, bring to room temperature for at least two hours before proceeding the next morning.

Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F) while you prepare the topping.

Topping

75g (5 1/2 tbsp) unsalted butter
65g (3 tbsp) honey
80g (2/5 cup) sugar
75g (3/4 cup) flaked almonds
1 tbsp cream

Combine butter, honey and sugar in a small, heavy based saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring continuously.

Remove from heat and whisk in cream and stir in almonds. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.

Spoon topping gently over top of dough in pan.

Bake in centre of oven for about 25 minutes, until deep golden on top.

Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, remove from pan to a wire rack, carefully peel off parchment and allow to cool completely before filling.

Use a large serrated knife to cut the cake into two layers, spread the Crème Pâtissière on the bottom half and replace the top.

Eat!!!