Elegant Vanilla Mille-Feuille

Indulge in the classic French pastry, Mille-Feuille, with a touch of elegance and simplicity. This Elegant Vanilla Mille-Feuille combines crispy puff pastry layers with rich vanilla pastry cream, topped with a beautiful glaze. Perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself to a delightful dessert, this recipe is a must-try. Follow these detailed steps to create this stunning pastry at home.

Ingredients:

For the Pastry Cream:

• 2 cups whole milk (473mL)
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 6 egg yolks
• 2/3 cup sugar (135g)
• 1/4 cup cornstarch (37g)
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter (15g), cold

For the Dough:

• 1 package frozen puff pastry

For the Icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

For the Whipped Cream:

• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 3 tbsp powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Prepare the Pastry Cream:

• Slice the vanilla bean down the middle and scrape out the seeds.
• Transfer milk and vanilla seeds to a medium pot and heat over medium-high until boiling. Remove from heat and set aside for 15 minutes.
• Whisk sugar and cornstarch in a bowl; add egg yolks and whisk until fluffy.
• Whisk in 1/4 cup of hot milk mixture, then the rest, and return all to the saucepan.
• Cook over medium-high heat, whisking until thick. Remove from heat, stir in butter, and set to cool slightly.
• Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and chill for at least 2 hours.

2. Prepare the Pastry Layers:

• Thaw puff pastry for 45 minutes, roll out, and cut into 2×4 inch rectangles.
• Bake at 400°F (200°C) on a lined sheet for 11 minutes, covering with another sheet to keep the layers flat. Cool on a rack.

3. Prepare the Glaze:

• Mix powdered sugar with vanilla and milk to a spreadable consistency.
• Split some glaze for the chocolate version, adding cocoa and additional milk.
• Fill piping bags and prepare for assembly.

4. Prepare the Whipped Cream:

• Whip cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Combine with the chilled pastry cream.

5. Assemble the Mille-Feuille:

• Layer the pastry rectangles with vanilla icing, add chocolate stripes, and create chevrons by dragging a toothpick through the icing.
• Alternate layers of puff pastry and the combined whipped cream and pastry cream mixture.
• Continue layering until you have reached the desired height, finishing with a beautifully glazed top layer.

Nutritional Information:

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cooking Time: 11 minutes
• Total Time: 3 hours
• Calories: 580 per serving
• Servings: 8

Tips for Success:

• Chill the Pastry Cream: Make sure to chill the pastry cream thoroughly to achieve the perfect consistency for layering.
• Keep Pastry Layers Flat: Baking with an additional sheet on top helps keep the puff pastry layers flat and even.
• Create Perfect Chevrons: Use a toothpick or skewer to drag through the chocolate stripes on the glaze for a professional-looking finish.

This Elegant Vanilla Mille-Feuille is a showstopper, perfect for any special occasion or as a treat to impress your loved ones. Enjoy the delightful combination of textures and flavors in every bite!