Date night. Two words that deserve a little something sweet like say my Elderflower Kissed Strawberries with Pastry Cream? A romantic no bake summer classic!
[Recipe updated 8/10/18]
I have always been a big proponent of date night. Whether we were dating or now as a busy parent, I love love love date nights. It’s super dorky but I don’t care, they just get me excited! I have always loved trying to come up with fun little ideas to make date night extra special. And trust me it’s not about how much money you spend on the date.
Yes I enjoy fancy dinners or tickets to games or shows… which we use to do a lot more of. But most of the time, I just love making something special, having great conversation, laughing and cuddling. When we were dating, we had date nights like 3-4 times a week. Ha! I am probably exaggerating but seriously we had date nights a lot. Always making fun adventurous dinners, watching watching movies, buying new wines, going out to new restaurants… good times.
Now date nights are sacred and a little bit different. Going out, just the two of us, doesn’t happen nearly as often. But ever since completing sleep training with Miss Poppy, we have evenings to ourselves after 730pm! Which means date nights in 😍
This week I was craving summery and sweet. Berries berries berries and pastry cream. Simple, light, sweet, the hubs LOVES it, and I can make it ahead of time.
Strawberries are kind of a date night cliché, I know, I know. Chocolate covered strawberries or strawberry with whipped cream are pretty awesome… BUT have you tried strawberries with pastry cream?? I mean it’s like taking the best part of a French pastry and mixing it with sweet liquor-infused berries… ahhhh! Nothing better. If that doesn’t scream romance, I don’t know what will.
This recipe is very versatile. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries even mulberries… they all work. Next, take them to a whole other level by macerating them in a little sugar and elderflower liquor. Scoop on the creamy luscious pastry cream and then sprinkle with something crunchy. I like crumbled up ginger snaps, graham crackers, lady fingers or any crispy cookie.
Elderflower Kissed Strawberries with Pastry Cream will rock your date night in… I promise 😘
Serves 3
Ingredients
- 1.5 - 2 cups Strawberries (other berries work fine too!)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons St. Germain (elderflower liquor)
- 1 teaspoon lemon, fresh
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2/3 cups milk
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- A handful of ginger snaps, lady fingers or your favorite crisp cookie
Instructions
- De-stem strawberries and cut into quarters. In a small bowl, add sugar, liquor and lemon juice. Stir and slightly muddle a few times with a wooden spoon. Let strawberries sit and macerate at room temperature for 30min - 2 hours.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks and sugar on medium-high speed for 4 minutes, or until very thick. Reduce to low speed, and add the cornstarch.
- Warm milk in the microwave until warm to the touch check every 30 seconds (do not boil it).
- Set the mixer to low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes. Don't worry if it looks custardy and curdley. Just keep beating. The pastry cream will become very thick, like pudding.
- Stir in the vanilla. Pour the custard through a sieve into a bowl to get rid of lumps. Place plastic wrap directly on the custard and refrigerate until cold. Pastry cream can be refrigerated and covered with plastic wrap, up to 3 days in advance.
- To serve, layer strawberries first and then cream in 2 pretty glasses. Add crumbled up ginger snaps, graham crackers, lady finger or your favorite crisp cookie.
Notes
Pastry cream can be made up to 3 days in advance. You can omit the liquor if you prefer and simply make a vanilla pastry cream.
Originally posted 2016-07-10 20:25:50.
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