Almond Custard Filling Recipes

Steps:

• Heat milk in microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in the microwave on high until hot but not boiling, 2 to 4 minutes. Combine sugar, flour, and salt together in a separate microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl. Whisk hot milk into the sugar mixture gradually. Cook milk mixture in microwave on high in 1-minute intervals, stirring after each interval, until thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Whisk eggs in a separate small bowl until pale and frothy. Whisk 1/3 cup of the milk mixture into eggs gradually, then whisk egg mixture into remaining milk mixture gradually until smooth custard forms. Heat custard in microwave on high until thickened, about 2 minutes more. Cool slightly; stir in vanilla extract. Chill custard in refrigerator until completely cooled, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in saucepan. In a separate bowl beat eggs and mix together with milk. Stir into dry mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbling. Cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, add almond liqueur and stir well. Cover surface of filling with plastic wrap to prevent film from forming and chill completely before using.

Steps:

• Blend the cornstarch with a little of the milk. Add the remaining milk.
• Add the egg and cream, whisk well.
• Pour the mixture into a small saucepan and stir constantly over a low heat until the custard thicks. DO NOT BOIL as your mixture may curdle.
• Alternately, instead of the saucepan mixture-you can use the micro-wave. Use medium low heat and stir at 1 minute intervals until the custard thickens.
• Stir in the ground almonds, vanilla and sugar.
• Serve warm or cold as desired.

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, salt, and egg yolk. Stir in flour and oats until a crumbly dough forms. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Bake until set and light golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Filling: In a medium saucepan, heat milk, salt, and vanilla seeds until simmering around the edges. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together yolks and sugar until pale and thick; whisk in cornstarch until smooth. Whisking constantly, gradually add half of milk to egg mixture, then pour egg mixture into saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly until custard is thickened and bubbles once in the center, about 2 minutes.
• Using a rubber spatula, press custard through a sieve into crust; smooth with a small offset spatula. Cover surface directly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. Just before serving, arrange strawberries on top and sprinkle with almonds.

Steps:

• In a double boiler, combine 3 cups milk and sugar; add egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium heat for 10 minutes or until mixture coats the back of a metal spoon and a thermometer reads 160°., In a saucepan, combine gelatin and remaining milk; let stand for 1 minute. heat on low until gelatin is dissolved. Stir into custard. Chill until partially set., Stir in the extracts. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into a shallow serving dish. Refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle with almonds before serving.

Steps:

• For frosting, in a small saucepan, heat chocolate chips, cream and butter over medium-low heat, stirring until blended. Transfer to a large bowl; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a covered container; refrigerate until cold or overnight., For cake, place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. Line bottoms of two greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment paper; grease paper., In a large bowl, cream shortening and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extracts. In another bowl, whisk cake flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition., With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Fold into batter., Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For custard, in a small heavy saucepan, mix sugar, all-purpose flour and salt. Whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat., In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a small bowl; stir in extracts and almonds. Press plastic wrap onto surface of custard. Refrigerate until cold., To assemble cake, in a large bowl, beat cold frosting until fluffy and spreadable. Cut a small hole in the tip of a pastry bag or a corner of a food-safe plastic bag; fill bag with 1/3 cup frosting., Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Pipe a border of frosting along edge of cake. Fill center with custard. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting. If desired, decorate with cookies and pipe with green frosting. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• Cut a 9-inch round of parchment paper to line the bottom of a 9 × 2-inch round cake pan. Butter and line the pan. Butter the lining, then flour the pan, tapping out excess; set aside.
• Make the dough: Whisk together 2 1/4 cups flour and the almond flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Put the butter and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 3 egg yolks, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the wine, almond extract, and half the vanilla seeds; mix until combined, about 15 seconds. Add the flour mixture in 2 additions, mixing until just combined (do not overmix).
• Divide the dough in half, and flatten each piece into a disk. Wrap the disks in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Make the custard filling: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Fit an electric mixer with the whisk attachment. Put 3 egg yolks and the remaining 6 tablespoons sugar in a clean mixing bowl; beat on medium speed until pale yellow and thickened. Add the remaining 5 tablespoons flour; beat on low speed until combined.
• Bring the milk, remaining vanilla seeds, and zest to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour 1/2 cup hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, and beat on medium-low speed until combined. Stir the mixture into the remaining milk in the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to reach the bottom and sides of the pan. Cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Set the pan in the ice-water bath; stir occasionally until cool, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Press 1 piece of dough onto the bottom of the prepared pan and 1 1/2 inches up the sides. Spoon the custard on top, and spread into an even layer.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the remaining dough into an 11-inch circle. Drape over the pan; trim the edges flush with the pan. Gently press the edges of the top crust to meet the bottom crust; crimp the top edges with a fork to seal. Refrigerate the cake 30 minutes.
• Beat the remaining egg yolk and the cream in a small bowl. Brush the top of the cake with egg wash; sprinkle with almonds. Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Invert the cake to unmold; peel off the parchment, and reinvert. Just before serving, dust the cake with confectioners' sugar. Serve with the strawberry-rhubarb sauce.
• Strawberry-Rhubarb Sauce
• Bring the rhubarb, sugar, and 1/4 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Stir in the strawberries and vanilla; cook until the berries are softened, about 3 minutes more. Serve the sauce warm or at room temperature.