Napoleon Cream: Classic Custard and 9 More Homemade Recipes

Napoleon cake is one of the most beloved cakes of all generations. Thanks to its flawless combination of texture and flavor, the dessert simply melts in your mouth. And the right cream plays a crucial role here. After all, it's what transforms the crisp, crumbly layers into a luxurious dessert.

In this collection, I've compiled 10 wonderful recipes for luxurious Napoleon cake creams. Each one will impart a distinctive flavor and unique aroma to the dessert. Experiment with creams and surprise your loved ones with your culinary masterpieces.

Ice cream with milk

I present to you a delicious recipe for a creamy custard cream, perfect for layering a Napoleon cake. This Plombir cream tastes like ice cream and adds incredible softness and airiness to the cake.

Ingredients

• Milk - 500 ml
• Sugar - 4 tbsp.
• Corn starch - 2 tbsp.
• Butter - 100 g
• Eggs C1 - 2 pcs.
• Cream 33-35% - 250 ml
• Powdered sugar - 100 g

Cooking time: 2 hours

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Break the eggs into a saucepan or a heavy-bottomed pan, add sugar and cornstarch.

Step 2

Mix the ingredients until smooth, so that there are no lumps.

Step 3

Pour milk into the resulting mixture and stir well again.

Step 4

When the mixture becomes homogeneous, place the pan on low heat.

Step 5

Stirring continuously, cook the cream base until it thickens, then remove the pan from the heat.

Step 6

Add butter to the hot custard base. Whisk the mixture thoroughly until smooth. Then let it cool to room temperature.

Step 7

Pour the well-chilled cream into a deep bowl and add powdered sugar.

Step 8

Beat the cream with a mixer at medium speed until thick.

Step 9

Whisk the cooled custard base and begin to fold in the whipped cream. Stir thoroughly each time until smooth.

Step 10

The airy creamy custard cream "Plombir" is ready for further use.

Cream with condensed milk and butter for Napoleon cake

Smooth buttercream with condensed milk is perfect for layering Napoleon cakes. It soaks the layers well and imparts a unique flavor. The recipe for this buttercream is very simple and quick.

Ingredients

• Butter 82.5% - 200 g
• Condensed milk - 200 g

Cooking time: 20-30 min

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

We prepare the necessary ingredients.

Step 2

Place soft butter in a deep bowl.

Step 3

Beat the butter with a mixer for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.

Step 4

Without stopping whisking, pour in the condensed milk in a thin stream.

Step 5

When the mass becomes homogeneous, turn off the mixer.

Step 6

Smooth, elastic and delicious butter cream is ready.

Classic custard for Napoleon cake

This simple custard recipe is perfect for the beloved Napoleon cake. The custard is incredibly soft and silky. It's just the right amount of sweet, not cloying, and has a pleasant, rich flavor. Even a novice cook can make this custard for the cake.

Ingredients

• Milk - 600 ml
• Eggs C1 - 2 pcs + 1 yolk
• Sugar - 120 g
• Flour - 40 g
• Corn starch - 10 g
• Butter - 100 g

Cooking time: 2 hours

Servings: 1 (you will get about 1 kg of cream)

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Prepare all the necessary ingredients

Step 2

Pour milk into a saucepan, add half of the sugar and place on the fire.

Step 3

Lightly beat the eggs

Step 4

Add the remaining half of the sugar to the beaten eggs.

Step 5

Add flour and starch to the egg mixture and mix all ingredients until smooth.

Step 6

When the milk and sugar boil, remove it from the heat.

Step 7

While continuously stirring the egg mixture, slowly pour in half the milk. If you pour it all in at once, the eggs will curdle and form lumps.

Step 8

Pour the egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk, mix thoroughly and place on low heat.

Step 9

Continuing to stir the cream continuously, bring it to thickening.

Step 10

Remove the cream from the heat. Add the room-temperature butter in 2-3 additions and mix thoroughly.

Step 11

To cool the cream, pour it into any bowl or wide form.

Step 12

Then carefully cover with cling film and let cool at room temperature. This will help prevent a crust or lumps from forming.

Napoleon cream with cream

Want to add a light and airy touch to your Napoleon cake? Then you'll definitely need this wonderful creamy custard recipe. It only requires two ingredients. It has a delicate, creamy flavor with a hint of caramel.

Ingredients

• Cream 33-35% - 500 ml
• Condensed milk (boiled) - 360 g

Cooking time: 20-30 min

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Pour the well-chilled cream into a deep bowl.

Step 2

Whip the cream with a mixer at low speed, gradually increasing the speed.

Step 3

When the cream has increased in volume and turned into a thick foam, turn off the mixer.

Step 4

Add boiled condensed milk in portions, whisking thoroughly each time.

Step 5

When all the condensed milk has been added, beat our cream for a few more minutes until smooth.

Step 6

The delicate and fluffy cream is ready. It's quite stable, making it suitable not only for layering but also for decorating the cake.

Egg-free Napoleon cream

This is a fairly versatile recipe for a soft custard that pairs beautifully with crisp puff pastry. You can use any milk, even plant-based. And the lemon juice can be replaced with any other flavoring (vanilla, cocoa, orange zest), depending on your taste.

Ingredients

• Milk - 300 ml
• Sugar - 4-5 tbsp.
• Flour - 2 tbsp.
• Lemon juice - 1 tsp.

Cooking time: 20-30 min

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

We prepare the necessary ingredients.

Step 2

Pour 250 ml of milk into a saucepan with a thick bottom and add sugar.

Step 3

Mix the ingredients and place the pan on the fire until it boils.

Step 4

Pour the flour into a separate bowl and add the remaining milk to it.

Step 5

Mix the mixture thoroughly until smooth.

Step 6

Pour the flour mixture in a thin stream into the boiling milk.

Step 7

Cook the mixture until it boils and thickens.

Step 8

Remove the pan from the heat. Add lemon juice to the custard mixture and whisk until smooth.

Step 9

The custard is ready. All that's left is to cool it. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate it for a few hours before layering the cake.

Diplomat Cream

Light yet quite stable, Diplomat frosting is ideal for layering Napoleon cakes and other multi-layered cakes. It perfectly soaks the layers, giving them softness and incredible tenderness. Even a novice pastry chef can master this frosting.

Ingredients

• Milk - 180 ml
• Sugar - 2 tbsp.
• Starch - 1 tbsp.
• Egg yolks - 2 pcs
• Butter - 80 g
• Vanillin - 1-2 g

Cooking time: 2 hours

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

We prepare all the necessary ingredients.

Step 2

Place the yolks in a deep bowl and lightly beat them with a whisk.

Step 3

Add starch to the yolks. Mix the ingredients well.

Step 4

Pour 20-30 g of milk into the resulting mixture and lightly whisk until smooth.

Step 5

Pour the remaining milk into a saucepan with a thick bottom and place over low heat.

Step 6

When the milk boils, add sugar and vanilla and bring to a boil again.

Step 7

Pour the egg-starch mixture into the milk in a thin stream, stirring continuously.

Step 8

Cook the cream base until it thickens. Then cover it with a lid or plastic wrap and let it cool.

Step 9

Place the softened butter in a separate bowl and begin beating it with a mixer at medium speed.

Step 10

When the butter becomes fluffy, increases in volume, and turns white, add the cooled custard mixture a little at a time. Beat thoroughly until smooth.

Step 11

The aromatic and delicious Diplomat cream is ready for further use.

Custard for Napoleon with starch

I'd like to share another recipe for a wonderful custard. It always turns out incredibly tender because it's made with egg yolks and thickened with cornstarch. This custard will complement crispy puff pastry perfectly.

Ingredients

• Milk - 300 ml
• Sugar - 60 g
• Egg yolks - 3 pcs
• Corn starch - 30 g
• Butter - 30 g
• Vanilla extract (or vanillin) - ½ tsp.

Cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Pour half of the sugar into a saucepan with a thick bottom.

Step 2

Add the milk to the sugar, stir, and place the pan on the stove. Heat the mixture until it almost boils.

Step 3

In a separate bowl, add the remaining sugar and cornstarch. Mix the ingredients.

Step 4

Add the yolks to the resulting mixture and mix thoroughly until smooth.

Step 5

While continuously stirring the egg mixture, pour hot milk into it in a thin stream.

Step 6

When the mixture becomes homogeneous, pour it into a saucepan and place it on low heat.

Step 7

Cook the base, stirring constantly, until it thickens, then remove the pan from the heat.

Step 8

Add vanilla extract or vanillin, as well as butter, to the hot custard base.

Step 9

Stir the cream until smooth. Then transfer it to a wide mold or bowl, cover with cling film, and let it cool.

Step 10

Beat the chilled cream with a mixer to give it a smooth texture.

Step 11

The most delicate custard for “Napoleon” is ready.

Sour cream for Napoleon cake

Everyone's used to Napoleon cakes being made with custard. But I suggest a slight departure from the classics and making this popular cake with a wonderful creamy sour cream layer. This cream enhances the superb flavor of the layered layers, giving them a delicate, soft texture.

Ingredients

• Sour cream 20% - 400 ml
• Cream 33% - 200 ml
• Powdered sugar - 100 g
• Vanilla sugar - 1 tsp.

Cooking time: 35-45 min

Servings: 1 (for cake 22-24 cm)

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Pour the chilled cream into a bowl or cup and begin whipping at medium speed.

Step 2

Once the cream has thickened, add vanilla sugar and powdered sugar.

Step 3

Beat the ingredients until fluffy and smooth.

Step 4

Place the sour cream into a deep bowl.

Step 5

Add whipped cream to sour cream and gently mix with a spatula until smooth.

Step 6

The airy sour cream for Napoleon is ready.

Curd cream for Napoleon cake

You'll definitely love this curd cream. It has a very soft texture, a light caramel aroma with hints of vanilla, and a taste reminiscent of crème brûlée. If you want to pleasantly surprise your guests, make a Napoleon cake with this luxurious cream.

Ingredients

• Cottage cheese - 200 g
• Condensed milk (boiled) - 200 g
• Cream 33-35% - 250 ml
• Vanilla extract (or vanillin) - 1 tsp.

Cooking time: 30-40 min

Servings: 1

Step-by-step recipe

Step 1

Place the cottage cheese in a bowl and add vanilla extract or vanillin.

Step 2

Add boiled condensed milk to the cottage cheese and lightly mix the ingredients.

Step 3

Blend the resulting mass with a blender until smooth.

Step 4

Beat the chilled cream with a mixer until it thickens and forms fluffy peaks.

Step 5

Add whipped cream to the curd mixture in portions, mixing thoroughly each time until the cream is smooth.

Step 6

Cover the bowl with the prepared cream with cling film and place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.

Step 7

The chilled curd cream is ready to use. We can begin assembling the Napoleon cake.