Karpatka – Polish Carpathian Mountain Cream Cake
Indulge in the delightful experience of making Karpatka, a traditional Polish Carpathian Mountain Cream Cake that beautifully balances light choux pastry with a rich, creamy filling. This elegant dessert is perfect for any occasion, from birthdays to family gatherings, and is sure to impress your guests with its stunning layers and delicious flavors. With easy-to-follow instructions, even novice bakers can create this impressive treat. Customize the filling to suit your taste preferences and enjoy the versatility of this classic dessert.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: Serves approximately 8 slices 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup Milk
- ½ cup Water
- 80 g Unsalted Butter
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Sugar
- 150 g All-purpose Flour
- 4 Eggs
- 2 cups Milk (for filling)
- 2 Eggs (for filling)
- ⅔ cup Sugar (for filling)
- 50 g Cornstarch (for filling)
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract (for filling)
- ¾ cup Unsalted Butter (room temperature, for filling)
- Powdered Sugar (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the choux pastry by heating milk, water, butter, salt, and sugar until boiling. Remove from heat and mix in flour until fully combined. Allow to cool slightly before adding eggs one at a time.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread half of the choux dough evenly on the sheet and bake for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- For the cream filling, heat milk in a saucepan. In a bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla until smooth. Slowly add hot milk while whisking continuously. Return to heat and cook until thickened.
- Once cooled, layer one choux pastry on a platter, spread cream filling on top, and gently press down with the second pastry layer.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving and chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 80mg