Irresistibly Creamy Easy Napoleon Cake for Home Bakers Recipe
This Irresistibly Creamy Easy Napoleon Cake features flaky all-butter puff pastry layered with a rich, velvety vanilla custard. Perfectly baked and chilled to enhance its creamy texture, it’s an elegant dessert that home bakers can easily prepare. Finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and optional fresh berries for a vibrant touch, this classic French-inspired cake will impress any gathering.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 2 sheets Puff Pastry Sheets (Select all-butter for a richer taste)
Custard Filling
- 2 cups Whole Milk (Enhances creaminess)
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar (Adjust to taste)
- 4 large Egg Yolks (Use fresh eggs)
- 1/4 cup Cornstarch (Stabilizes the custard)
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (Can be substituted with margarine)
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract (Opt for pure extract)
Topping
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar (For dusting)
- 1 cup Fresh Berries (Optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the puff pastry layers.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out the puff pastry sheets and cut them into rectangles approximately 4 by 3 inches. Prick each piece with a fork to prevent excessive puffing during baking.
- Bake Pastry Layers: Arrange the cut pastries on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover them with a second parchment sheet and place another tray on top to maintain flatness while baking. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
- Heat Milk: In a saucepan, gently warm the whole milk over medium heat until it is steaming but not boiling, which helps to prepare it for the custard base.
- Mix Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, granulated sugar, and cornstarch until smooth and well combined. Gradually add the warm milk into the egg mixture while continuing to whisk, tempering the eggs to prevent curdling.
- Cook Custard: Return the combined mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat. Stir continuously until the custard thickens, which should take about 5-7 minutes. It should coat the back of a spoon smoothly.
- Add Butter and Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the unsalted butter and vanilla extract until completely incorporated and smooth.
- Assemble Cake: On your serving dish, place one layer of baked puff pastry and spread a generous layer of custard on top. Repeat the layering process, ending with a final puff pastry layer on top.
- Chill: Cover the assembled cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight to allow the custard to set and the flavors to meld.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, dust the top layer with powdered sugar. Optionally, garnish with fresh berries for a burst of color and freshness.
Notes
- Using all-butter puff pastry enhances the flavor and texture of the cake.
- Be sure to prick the puff pastry to prevent it from puffing unevenly.
- Gradually incorporating the warm milk into the egg mixture helps avoid curdling the custard.
- Chilling the cake overnight improves the custard’s consistency and the overall flavor.
- Fresh berries add a nice contrast but can be omitted if unavailable.
Keywords: Napoleon Cake, Puff Pastry, Vanilla Custard, French Dessert, Creamy Cake, Layered Cake, Easy Dessert
