Cremeschnitte – Romanian Vanilla Cream Pie

The best cremeschnitte – two layers of puff pastry filled with heavenly creamy vanilla cream.

Cremeschnitte or Cremsnit Recipe

The creamiest cremeschnitte you can imagine! I have no words for this Romanian cremsnit, you definitely have to make this in order to see what I am talking about.

I can say it is creamy – the creamiest -but that word will still not be able to actually describe the feeling this vanilla cream leaves on your tongue, the sweetness and delicacy of the taste, that feeling of utter satisfaction you get when eating this cremsnit.

And recently, during our holiday in Croatia, I found out that the cremeschnitte is not only a super popular Romanian dessert, but it is very well-known and loved in Croatia and other Eastern European countries as well.

I have made lots and lots of cakes and pies or desserts during the past ten years, but I can tell you honestly, this is one of my favorites. Top three and there is no particular order in this top three, they are all equally exquisite.

It is a shame that although I knew the name and the look of this Romanian cremsnit my whole life, it was only recently that I have made and ate it for the first time. But there is no going back now, I will make these creamy squares every chance I get.

How to make?

Luckily, the cremeschnitte recipe is so easy and quick to make!

Baking with puff pastry (the already made one) is fast and convenient and making the vanilla cream is a piece of cake. The pie only needs a few hour’s time in the fridge to set, but otherwise, nothing to worry about. Just give it a try, you will love it!

Vanilla cream filling:

• Separate the eggs. Place the egg whites in a very clean bowl and make sure that the beaters of the electric mixer are very clean as well. If there is any trace of fat on them, you will not be able to beat the egg whites properly. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Slowly add the sugar and continue beating until the egg whites are stiff and glossy.
• Add the egg yolks one at a time. Carefully and slowly incorporate each egg yolk. Add the cornstarch, vanilla extract, and finely grated lemon zest and incorporate it with the help of a plastic spatula.
• In the meantime heat the milk well. Do that in a jug, it will be easier for you to pour the milk over the egg mixture. If you don’t a heatproof jug, transfer the milk to a regular plastic or glass jug after heating it.
• Very slowly pour the milk over the egg mixture. Keep the jug in the left hand if you are right-handed and the electric mixer in the right hand. Pour in a thin stream while mixing.
• Transfer the egg-milk mixture back to the jug/pan where you heated the milk. Place on low heat and bring to a simmer while whisking continuously. It will be like making a pudding, this is also the consistency you will have to reach. So keep whisking with a regular whisk (not an electric mixer) until you obtain a thick pudding, it will not take long. Make sure to reach the bottom and the walls of your pan with the whisk regularly to avoid the pudding catching at the bottom.
• Take the vanilla cream off the heat and add the cubed butter, 1 or 2 small pieces at a time, while whisking continuously to help them melt and incorporate into the pudding.
• Leave to cool for a while, the cream should be lukewarm when you spread it on the pastry.

Puff pastry:

• While you wait for the vanilla filling to cool, preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius/ 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bake each puff pastry sheet according to the packet’s instructions or until golden brown. It took me about 12 minutes but keep an eye on them and read the instructions. Leave to cool completely.
• Place one pastry sheet on a rectangular serving plate and spread the vanilla cream evenly on top. Place the second pastry sheet on top and press gently. Refrigerate for one or two hours to allow the vanilla filling to set and sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.
• Cut the cremeschnitte with an electric knife. This is the only thing I have to warn you about, the cremeschitte is a bit difficult to cut. The puff pastry on top of an immensely soft and creamy filling will make a mess when cutting.
• I use an electric knife to cut this pie. If you don’t have one I recommend cutting the upper puff pastry sheet before placing it on the cream or even before baking it. You can cut one of the unbaked pastry sheets into small squares and bake the squares, which you will then place on top of the filling.

More Romanian pastry?

Berry Puff Pastry Cake – A simple cake recipe with puff pastry and lots of berries, this pastry cake looks impressive but is so easy to make. 

Layered Lemon Cake – A glorious layered lemon cake with lemon buttercream – Lamaita (Lemon Cake) or Alba ca Zapada (Snow White Cake).

Arlechin – Layered Cake with Jam Filling – Thin layers of cake filled with tangy plum and apricot jam – this is the Romanian cake Harlequin. 

Mucenici – Romanian Yeast Pastries – Soft and fluffy Moldavian Yeast Pastries soaked in syrup and topped with honey and walnuts.

Branzoaice – Romanian Sweet Cheese Pies – Or Poale-n brau: this is a Moldavian sweet cheese pie recipe made with cottage cheese and raisins.

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Cremeschnitte - Romanian Vanilla Cream Pie

Yield: 16

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

The best cremeschnitte - two layers of puff pastry filled with a heavenly creamy vanilla cream.

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Ingredients

• 5 eggs, separated
• pinch of salt
• 300 g / 10.6 oz/ 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 100 g/ 3.5 oz/ ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract, to taste
• zest of ½ organic lemon, optional
• 1 liter/ 33.8 fl.oz/ 4 ¼ cups full-fat milk
• 200 g/ 7 oz/ 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 sheets of puff pastry, about 40x24 cm/ 16x10 inches (See note)

Instructions

Vanilla cream filling:

1. Separate the eggs. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Slowly add the sugar and continue beating until the egg whites are stiff and glossy.
2. Add the egg yolks one at a time, incorporating each yolk carefully and slowly. Add the cornstarch, vanilla extract, and finely grated lemon zest and incorporate it with the help of a plastic spatula.
3. In the meantime heat the milk well. Do that in a jug, it will be easier for you to pour the milk over the egg mixture. Or transfer the milk to a jug after heating it.
4. Very slowly pour the milk over the egg mixture. Keep the jug in the left hand if you are right-handed and the electric mixer in the right hand. Pour in a thin stream while mixing.
5. Transfer the egg-milk mixture back to the jug/pan where you heated the milk. Place on low heat and bring to a simmer while whisking continuously. It will be like making a pudding, this is also the consistency you will have to reach. So keep whisking (I do that with a regular whisk this time) until you get a thick pudding, it will not take long. Make sure to reach the bottom and the walls of your pan with the whisk regularly to avoid the pudding catching at the bottom.
6. Take off the heat and add the cubed butter, 1 or 2 small pieces at a time, while whisking continuously to help them melt and incorporate in the pudding.
7. Leave to cool for a while, the cream should be lukewarm when you spread it on the pastry.

Cremeschitte:

1. In the meantime preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius/ 430 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the puff pastry sheets one after another according to the packet's instructions or until golden brown. It took me about 12 minutes but keep and eye on them and read the instructions. Leave to cool completely.
2. Place one pastry sheet on a rectangular serving plate and spread the vanilla cream evenly on top. Place the second pastry sheet on top and press gently. Refrigerate for one or two hours and sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.
3. Cut the pieces with an electric knife. If you don't have an electric knife I recommend cutting the upper puff pastry sheet before placing it on the cream or even before baking it. You can cut one of the unbaked pastry sheets into small squares and bake the squares, which you will then place on top of the filling.
4. The cremsnit is best served on the day it is made, this way the pastry will still be crunchy. It is still delicious the next day (the children and I fought over the leftovers), but the pastry will become rather soggy.

Notes

I used already rolled puff pastry sheets of the above mentioned size. They are to be found in the refrigerator section of the supermarket. If using frozen puff pastry, thaw it according to the package's instructions and roll it to the requested size.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 230Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 121mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.