Karpatka (Polish Custard Cake)
Crispy puff pastry layers with silky vanilla custard and a snappy caramelized sugar crust. No bake time needed — just assemble and torch.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 380
- Protein
- 6g
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry sheets (thawed)
- 1.5 cups whole milk
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk
Instructions
- 1
Whisk milk, cornstarch, 0.5 cup sugar, and egg yolk in a bowl until smooth, no lumps.
- 2
Pour into a saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly until thick and glossy, ~4 minutes.
- 3
Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, then spread custard on a plate to cool, ~5 minutes.
- 4
Lay one puff pastry sheet on a cutting board, spread half the custard across it evenly.
- 5
Top with the second pastry sheet, spread remaining custard on top, sprinkle 0.25 cup sugar over it.
- 6
Use a kitchen torch to caramelize sugar until deep amber and crackling, ~3 minutes total. Serve immediately.
Tools you’ll need
- mixing bowl
- whisk
- saucepan
- cutting board
- kitchen torch
- plate
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