Description
Make an easy Napoleon cake at home with flaky puff pastry, silky vanilla custard, and a buttery crumb coating. A classic Russian dessert made simple.
Ingredients
2 sheets store-bought puff pastry, thawed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, for dusting
4 large egg yolks
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Reserved baked pastry scraps, crushed fine
Powdered sugar, optional, for dusting
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll puff pastry thin, cut into rectangles, prick with a fork, and bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden.
2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale, then whisk in flour. Temper with hot milk, return to heat, and cook whisking until thick and bubbling. Stir in butter and vanilla.
3. Press plastic wrap on the warm custard and chill at least 1 hour until completely cold.
4. Layer pastry and custard in a serving dish, pressing gently after each layer.
5. Crush reserved pastry trimmings and press crumbs into the top and sides. Chill 6 to 12 hours or overnight before slicing.
Notes
Store-bought puff pastry saves hours and works beautifully for this recipe.
The overnight chill is essential for the tender, cake-like texture.
For a richer custard, add an extra tablespoon of butter at the end.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert And Drinks
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Russian, European, Family Heritage
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 185mg