Description
Karpatka Cake is a traditional Polish dessert made of two golden, puffed layers of choux pastry filled with a rich and velvety vanilla pastry cream. Its rugged appearance, dusted with powdered sugar, resembles the Carpathian Mountains.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line and lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the flour all at once until a dough forms and pulls away from the pan.
- Cool for 5 minutes, then beat in the eggs one at a time until the dough is smooth and glossy.
- Divide the choux dough between the two pans and spread gently. Bake for 25–30 minutes until puffed and golden. Let cool completely.
- To make the pastry cream, heat the milk until steaming. In a bowl, whisk sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks.
- Gradually pour the hot milk into the yolk mixture while whisking constantly. Return to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking until thickened (5–7 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap pressed to the surface and chill.
- To assemble, place one choux layer on a serving platter, spread the chilled pastry cream evenly over it, and top with the second pastry layer.
- Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Flavor the pastry cream with almond extract or lemon zest for variation.
Fold in whipped cream for a lighter filling.
For a chocolate version, add cocoa powder to the cream and drizzle with ganache.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Best served chilled or after sitting at room temperature for 15–20 minutes.
Do not freeze as texture will deteriorate.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
