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Heavenly Karpatka Cake: An Incredible Ultimate Recipe You Must Try Recipe

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5 from 93 reviews

Heavenly Karpatka Cake is a traditional Polish dessert featuring two layers of delicate choux pastry filled with a rich, creamy custard. This recipe offers a perfect balance of textures with its golden, puffed pastry and smooth, velvety vanilla custard, making it an irresistible treat for any special occasion or afternoon tea.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pastry Layers:

  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 pinch of salt

For the Custard Filling:

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

For Serving (Optional):

  • Powdered sugar for dusting
  • Whipped cream or fresh fruit for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Prepare the Pastry: In a saucepan, combine the water and butter. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, allowing the butter to melt completely and the water to reach boiling point.
  3. Add Flour: Once boiling, add the flour and salt all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a smooth ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan, indicating it’s properly cooked. Remove from heat immediately.
  4. Incorporate Eggs: Let the dough cool for about 5 minutes to prevent cooking the eggs. Add the eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing after each addition until the dough is smooth, shiny, and elastic.
  5. Spread Dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Spread one half evenly onto the prepared baking sheet, shaping it into a rectangular layer approximately ¼ inch thick.
  6. Bake Pastry Layers: Bake the layer in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Repeat the process with the remaining dough for the second layer.
  7. Make Custard Filling: In a saucepan, gently heat the milk and sugar over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely, making sure not to boil. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and cornstarch until smooth and pale.
  8. Thicken the Custard: Slowly temper the egg yolk mixture by gradually adding a small amount of the warm milk, then pour the combined mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the custard thickens and reaches a pudding-like consistency. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and softened butter until fully incorporated.
  9. Cool Custard: Transfer the custard to a clean bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Let it cool to room temperature before assembling.
  10. Assemble the Cake: Place one cooled pastry layer on a serving platter. Spread the entire custard evenly over this layer. Top with the second pastry layer, pressing gently to level the cake.
  11. Dust and Decorate: Sprinkle the top layer with powdered sugar for an elegant finish. Optionally, garnish with whipped cream or fresh fruit to enhance presentation and flavor before serving.

Notes

  • Ensure the dough cools slightly before adding eggs to prevent curdling.
  • Spread the dough evenly to ensure uniform baking and puffing.
  • Constant stirring while making custard prevents lumps and burning.
  • Cover custard with plastic wrap directly on surface to avoid skin formation.
  • The cake is best served chilled, allowing flavors to meld.
  • Fresh fruit choices like berries complement the creamy custard beautifully.

Keywords: Karpatka cake, Polish dessert, choux pastry, custard cake, traditional cake, creamy custard, baked pastry, vanilla custard, festive dessert

Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/heavenly-karpatka-cake-an-incredible-ultimate-recipe-you-must-try-recipe/