What You’ll Need

• Pastry cream uses very simple ingredients that you can find in just about any grocery store. According to Le Cordon Bleu, the principal ingredients in pastry cream are sugar, egg yolk, flour, cornstarch, milk and vanilla bean. The amount of sugar can vary depending on how sweet you want your cream to be. Required cooking tools include a saucepan, whisk, mixing spoon, mesh strainer and mixing bowls.

Technique

• You don’t need to be a professional pastry chef to make your own pastry cream, as only basic cooking techniques are required. To make a simple pastry cream, you must be able to whisk together ingredients and heat them in a saucepan. Be sure to follow proportions accurately as this will ultimately determine the taste and texture of your finished product.

Tips

• Constant whisking of the cream helps prevent lumps from the flour and cornstarch. Because pastry cream can burn easily during cooking, use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to reduce the risk. A blender at the end of the process ensures that no unsightly lumps remain.

Variations

• Add ingredients to a simple pastry cream for variety. Chiboust cream incorporates gelatin and Italian meringue; diplomate cream includes whipped cream; frangipane is flavored with almond cream; and mousseline cream is enriched by cream or butter. Cinnamon sticks, coffee beans, dried lavender or chocolate are other flavor enhancers.