Sunday Sweet Cream Pastries

Sweet cream pastarelle are a traditional Italian dessert, ideal to enjoy on Sundays, especially after a family meal. They are simple shortcrust pastry treats to prepare, filled with pastry cream or whipped cream. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 300 g of 00 flour
• 150 g of sugar
• 150 g cold butter, cubed
• 1 whole egg
• 1 egg yolk
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1/2 sachet of baking powder
• Fresh cream for whipping (as needed)
• Powdered sugar for decorating

For the whipped cream:

• 500 ml fresh cream
• 50 g powdered sugar
• 1 vanilla bean or vanilla extract

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder.
2. Add the sugar, lemon zest, and pinch of salt.
3. Add the cold butter, cubed, and work the dough with your fingertips until you obtain a sandy mixture.
4. Make a well in the center and add the whole egg and yolk, then knead until you have a smooth and homogeneous dough.
5. Form a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
7. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of about 5 mm.
8. Cut out shortcrust pastry discs with a round cookie cutter and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake the shortcrust pastry discs in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden.
10. Meanwhile, whip the cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until firm and fluffy.
11. Once the shortcrust pastry discs are cool, fill them with a generous amount of whipped cream.
12. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Trivia

Pastarelle are perfect for customizing with additions to the filling, such as chocolate shavings or dark chocolate chips, or served with fresh fruit. In some variations, pastry cream is also added to the whipped cream for an even more indulgent filling. They are a delight for the eyes and the palate, a symbol of conviviality and sweetness.