Oh yes 😍—Italian Custard Cake (sometimes called Torta della Nonna style or Crostata di Crema) is a soft, buttery cake with a rich vanilla custard center. Here’s a full, authentic recipe you can make at home:
🍰 Italian Custard Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the custard filling:
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional topping:
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Sliced almonds for crunch
Instructions
1. Make the custard
- In a saucepan, heat milk until warm (don’t boil).
- In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Slowly pour warm milk into egg mixture, whisking constantly.
- Return mixture to saucepan, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Let cool slightly.
2. Make the cake batter
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold into wet mixture until smooth.
3. Assemble the cake
- Grease and flour a 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pan.
- Spread half of the cake batter evenly in the pan.
- Pour cooled custard over the batter.
- Spoon the remaining batter gently over the custard (don’t mix).
- Optional: sprinkle sliced almonds on top.
4. Bake
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40–50 minutes, until golden and a skewer comes out mostly clean (some custard may cling).
- Cool completely before slicing.
🌟 Tips for Success
- Custard must be slightly cooled before adding to cake, or it may sink too much.
- For extra flavor, add lemon zest to custard.
- Dust with powdered sugar just before serving for a classic Italian look.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Serve with fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream.
- Pair with espresso or sweet dessert wine for a true Italian experience.
If you want, I can also share a mini cupcake version of this cake that’s perfect for parties or gift-giving—same custard goodness in individual servings 😋.
Do you want me to do that?