About 3 ½ cups This buttercream variation is exceptionally silky smooth and rich. It is very important that the pastry cream and butter be roughly the same temperature before beating them together.
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
(1 teaspoon vanilla)
Sub-recipe steps
Whisk together in a medium heatproof bowl until smooth: ½ cup sugar; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 3 large egg yolks; 1 large egg; ¼ teaspoon salt
Bring to a simmer in a medium saucepan: 1 ½ cups whole milk; (1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise)
If using, remove the vanilla bean and set aside. Slowly pour half the hot milk over the egg mixture while whisking it constantly. Whisk the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk and cook, stirring constantly, over medium-low heat until the cream thickens, about 2 minutes. Immediately scrape the custard into a clean bowl and stir in: 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
If you used a vanilla bean, scrape the seeds from the pod and stir into the pastry cream. If you did not use vanilla bean, stir in, if desired: (1 teaspoon vanilla)
Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool, then refrigerate before using. This keeps, refrigerated, for up to 2 days. When ready to use, transfer the pastry cream to a bowl, or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, and beat on low speed until smooth and creamy.
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
Let's Prepare
Collect
Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.
1 Pastry Cream, using an extra ¼ cup sugar
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
Let's Cook
Step 1.
Prepare and let cool to room temperature: Pastry Cream, using an extra ¼ cup sugar
Step 2.
Have ready: 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
Step 3.
In a large bowl, or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the pastry cream until smooth. With the mixer running on medium speed, beat in the butter slowly, a couple tablespoons at a time, beating after each addition until fully incorporated and smooth before adding the next. It should take about 3 minutes to incorporate all the butter. Beat until silky smooth. Use right away, cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Before using, let it come to room temperature, then beat well until smooth.
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