Karpatka – Polish Carpathian Mountain Cream Cake
Karpatka – Polish Carpathian Mountain Cream Cake is a traditional Polish dessert that beautifully showcases the rich flavors and textures of Eastern European cuisine. This enchanting cake consists of delicate layers of choux pastry filled with a luscious custard cream, making it a delightful treat for any occasion. Whether served at birthdays, holidays, or simply enjoyed during the week, Karpatka promises to impress with its stunning presentation and indulgent taste. Easy to prepare yet impressive enough for gatherings, this cream cake is perfect for anyone looking to explore Polish desserts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 8
- 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
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- ¾ cup Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
- Powdered Sugar (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Choux Pastry: In a saucepan, combine milk, water, butter, salt, and sugar. Heat until boiling. Remove from heat and add flour; stir until dough forms. Return to low heat to cook for another minute. Let cool slightly before mixing in eggs one by one.
- Bake Layers: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread half of the choux mixture onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 30–35 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack.
- Make Cream Filling: Heat milk in a saucepan while whisking together eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla in another bowl. Gradually add hot milk to egg mixture while whisking. Return mixture to heat until thickened; let cool.
- Assemble Cake: Spread cream filling over one layer of cooled choux pastry and top with the second layer. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 90mg