Delicacies for Carolers: Christmas Trees Filled with Vanilla Cream
The holidays are approaching, and the aroma of sweet bread and pastries fills the air! During this time, treats for carolers become a beloved tradition, and Christmas trees filled with vanilla cream are an excellent choice to delight the taste buds of loved ones. This easy-to-make recipe combines the crispy texture of the dough with the delicacy of vanilla cream, all in a playful tree shape. Let's discover together how to prepare these delicious little trees!
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 15-20 minutes
Total time: 50-60 minutes
Number of servings: 20 little trees
Necessary ingredients:
For the dough:
- 2 fresh eggs
- 5 tablespoons of sugar
- 100 ml of milk
- 1 teaspoon of ammonium bicarbonate
- Lemon juice (about 1 teaspoon)
- Green food coloring
- Flour as needed (about 400 g)
For the vanilla cream:
- 500 ml of milk
- 80 g of corn starch
- 100 g of sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- Vanilla essence (1-2 tablespoons)
For decoration:
- 50 g of white chocolate
- Red food coloring
Step by step: Preparing the little trees
1. Preparing the dough:
In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until you obtain a homogeneous mixture of a deep yellow color. Add the milk and mix well. Don’t forget the ammonium bicarbonate extinguished with lemon juice! This ingredient will make the dough fluffy and easy to shape. Gradually incorporate the flour until you obtain a soft dough that does not stick to your hands. If the dough is too sticky, add a little flour at a time.
2. Shaping the little trees:
On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a thin sheet, about 3 mm thick. Use a knife or a pizza cutter to cut narrow, long strips about 1 cm wide. These strips will be rolled onto cone-shaped metal molds, giving them a tree shape. Make sure the molds are well greased with oil to prevent the dough from sticking.
3. Baking the little trees:
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the little trees on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden. It’s important to remove them from the molds while they are still hot to prevent sticking. Let them cool on a rack.
4. Preparing the vanilla cream:
In a saucepan, combine the egg yolks with the sugar and mix well until homogeneous. Add the corn starch and slowly mix until you obtain a smooth paste. Continue by gradually adding the milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Place the saucepan over low heat and let the cream boil, stirring continuously until it thickens. When ready, transfer the cream to a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming, and let it cool.
5. Assembling the little trees:
Once the cream has cooled, mix it for a few minutes to make it smoother. Use a piping bag to fill the little trees with vanilla cream. Make sure to fill them well, but don’t overdo it to avoid breaking the dough.
6. Decorating the little trees:
Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler, then transfer it to a bag and decorate the little trees as desired. You can color half of the chocolate with red food coloring to create an attractive contrast.
Practical tips:
- Ingredients: Use fresh eggs and whole milk for a richer taste. Also, a few drops of vanilla essence will enhance the flavor of the cream.
- Ingredient temperature: Make sure the ingredients are at room temperature before using them. This will help better homogenize the mixtures.
- Variations: You can add cocoa to the dough for a pleasant color contrast or fill the little trees with different creams, such as chocolate or caramel.
- Serving: These little trees are ideal to be served alongside a cup of hot chocolate or a fragrant tea. Treat your loved ones to a moment of indulgence and joy!
Nutritional benefits:
These little trees filled with vanilla cream are a source of carbohydrates and proteins, thanks to the eggs and milk. Although they are sweet, moderate consumption can add a touch of joy to your daily diet.
Frequently asked questions:
- Can I use other flavors for the cream?
Absolutely! You can experiment with flavors like almond, orange, or even rum.
- How can I store the little trees?
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, but do not fill them with cream before serving to avoid the dough getting soggy.
- Can I freeze the little trees?
Yes, you can freeze the plain little trees without cream. When you are ready to serve them, thaw them and fill them with fresh cream.
Now that you know step by step how to prepare these little trees filled with vanilla cream, all that’s left is to get to work and enjoy the moments spent with loved ones this festive season! Enjoy your meal!
The holidays are approaching, and the aroma of sweet bread and pastries fills the air! During this time, treats for carolers become a beloved tradition, and Christmas trees filled with vanilla cream are an excellent choice to delight the taste buds of loved ones. This easy-to-make recipe combines the crispy texture of the dough with the delicacy of vanilla cream, all in a playful tree shape. Let's discover together how to prepare these delicious little trees!
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 15-20 minutes
Total time: 50-60 minutes
Number of servings: 20 little trees
Necessary ingredients:
For the dough:
- 2 fresh eggs
- 5 tablespoons of sugar
- 100 ml of milk
- 1 teaspoon of ammonium bicarbonate
- Lemon juice (about 1 teaspoon)
- Green food coloring
- Flour as needed (about 400 g)
For the vanilla cream:
- 500 ml of milk
- 80 g of corn starch
- 100 g of sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- Vanilla essence (1-2 tablespoons)
For decoration:
- 50 g of white chocolate
- Red food coloring
Step by step: Preparing the little trees
1. Preparing the dough:
In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until you obtain a homogeneous mixture of a deep yellow color. Add the milk and mix well. Don’t forget the ammonium bicarbonate extinguished with lemon juice! This ingredient will make the dough fluffy and easy to shape. Gradually incorporate the flour until you obtain a soft dough that does not stick to your hands. If the dough is too sticky, add a little flour at a time.
2. Shaping the little trees:
On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a thin sheet, about 3 mm thick. Use a knife or a pizza cutter to cut narrow, long strips about 1 cm wide. These strips will be rolled onto cone-shaped metal molds, giving them a tree shape. Make sure the molds are well greased with oil to prevent the dough from sticking.
3. Baking the little trees:
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the little trees on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden. It’s important to remove them from the molds while they are still hot to prevent sticking. Let them cool on a rack.
4. Preparing the vanilla cream:
In a saucepan, combine the egg yolks with the sugar and mix well until homogeneous. Add the corn starch and slowly mix until you obtain a smooth paste. Continue by gradually adding the milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Place the saucepan over low heat and let the cream boil, stirring continuously until it thickens. When ready, transfer the cream to a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming, and let it cool.
5. Assembling the little trees:
Once the cream has cooled, mix it for a few minutes to make it smoother. Use a piping bag to fill the little trees with vanilla cream. Make sure to fill them well, but don’t overdo it to avoid breaking the dough.
6. Decorating the little trees:
Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler, then transfer it to a bag and decorate the little trees as desired. You can color half of the chocolate with red food coloring to create an attractive contrast.
Practical tips:
- Ingredients: Use fresh eggs and whole milk for a richer taste. Also, a few drops of vanilla essence will enhance the flavor of the cream.
- Ingredient temperature: Make sure the ingredients are at room temperature before using them. This will help better homogenize the mixtures.
- Variations: You can add cocoa to the dough for a pleasant color contrast or fill the little trees with different creams, such as chocolate or caramel.
- Serving: These little trees are ideal to be served alongside a cup of hot chocolate or a fragrant tea. Treat your loved ones to a moment of indulgence and joy!
Nutritional benefits:
These little trees filled with vanilla cream are a source of carbohydrates and proteins, thanks to the eggs and milk. Although they are sweet, moderate consumption can add a touch of joy to your daily diet.
Frequently asked questions:
- Can I use other flavors for the cream?
Absolutely! You can experiment with flavors like almond, orange, or even rum.
- How can I store the little trees?
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, but do not fill them with cream before serving to avoid the dough getting soggy.
- Can I freeze the little trees?
Yes, you can freeze the plain little trees without cream. When you are ready to serve them, thaw them and fill them with fresh cream.
Now that you know step by step how to prepare these little trees filled with vanilla cream, all that’s left is to get to work and enjoy the moments spent with loved ones this festive season! Enjoy your meal!