Chestnut Pastry Cream Recipes

CHESTNUT PASTRY CREAM

Steps:

• Place milk and vanilla bean seeds in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, and cornstarch. Add eggs, and whisk mixture until pale and stiff. Continue whisking while slowly adding half of the hot milk mixture. Transfer egg mixture to saucepan with the remaining milk mixture. Place over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk together chestnut paste and rum, if using. Remove egg mixture from heat, and whisk in chestnut paste mixture. Pour mixture into a wide shallow dish, and cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool. Strain through a fine mesh sieve before using.

CHESTNUT PASTRY CREAM FOR CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl halfway with ice water, and set aside. Whisk together 1/4 cup sugar, the egg yolks, and salt in a bowl. Whisk in cornstarch, 1 tablespoon at a time. Whisk in chestnut puree.
• Bring milk and remaining 1/4 cup sugar to a simmer in a saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Whisking constantly, gradually add half the milk mixture to the yolk mixture. Pour back into pan with remaining milk mixture, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly and scraping bottom of pan. Boil for 2 minutes.
• Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on surface of pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Set bowl in ice water, and stir occasionally until cold, about 40 minutes.

CHESTNUT CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Score the skin of each chestnut with a sharp paring knife.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add chestnuts and cook for 25 minutes. Drain.
• Peel chestnuts while still warm. Transfer to a food processor. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, and 4 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream; puree until smooth.
• Combine remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream, white sugar, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl. Beat until quite thick, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Beat remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a small bowl until light and fluffy. Slowly mix into the egg mixture. Gradually beat remaining 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar into the egg mixture.
• Stir chestnut puree into the egg mixture, making sure to blend in well.