Italian Cream Filled Pastry
Updated Feb 20, 2025, Published May 01, 2021
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These gorgeous Italian cream filled pastries are your next fancy dessert, and they’re also surprisingly very easy to make! The flaky puff pastry and the smooth lemon vanilla cream filling pair perfectly with berries for a show-stopping dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Italian Cream-Filled Puff Pastry is pure pastry perfection—flaky, golden layers filled with silky, luscious pastry cream. It takes me right back to my childhood in Italy, where my nonna would fill freshly baked pastries with sweet, velvety Crema Pasticcera for a special Sunday treat. Now, I’m bringing that tradition to your kitchen! More reasons to love these sweet treats:
- Crispy, Buttery, and Flaky – Light, airy puff pastry that shatters with every bite.
- Rich & Creamy Filling – The smoothest Italian pastry cream nestled between layers of crisp pastry create irresistable cream puffs.
- Elegant Yet Easy – Looks bakery-level fancy but is simple to make at home.
Recipe Ingredients
With a few simple ingredients you’ll have a delicable dessert without the fuss.
For the Pastry
- All-butter puff pastry sheets
- Egg (for egg wash)
For the Italian Pastry Cream (Crema Pasticcera)
- Whole milk
- Egg yolks
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
- Vanilla extract (or vanilla bean)
- Lemon zest (optional, for a hint of brightness)
- Butter (for extra silkiness)
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full amounts.
Substitutions and Variations:
- Puff Pastry → Use phyllo dough for an extra crispy texture or homemade rough puff for a from-scratch version.
- Pastry Cream → Swap with whipped mascarpone cream or cannoli dip for a different filling. Use heavy cream to make it richer.
- Vanilla Extract → Use almond extract, citrus zest, or liqueur (like Grand Marnier) for extra flavor.
- Chocolate Lovers – Mix melted dark chocolate into the pastry cream or drizzle chocolate on top. Add freshly whipped cream on top.
- Caramelized Sugar Top – Lightly torch the top with sugar for a crème brûlée-style crunch.
How To Make Italian Cream Filled Pastries
In a few easy steps, you will have a stunning and delcious Italian dessert!
Make the Italian Pastry Cream
Add the room temprature eggs and granulated sugar to a bowl and beat until light and pale yellow.
Then, add the cornstarch and mix again to combine.
Add the milk to the pan and heat on medium heat.
Slowly temper the eggs into the hot milk, whisking constantly. Cook until it sticks to the back of a wooden spoon and is thick (pudding-like). Add the vanilla and lemon zest to the end of cooking and stir to combine.
Let the Italian pastry cream cool before filling the puffed pastry.
Defrost the puff pastry according to the package directions. Roll out the dough slightly, cut into desired shapes, and bake. Once cooled, cut it in half and fill it with the Italian pastry cream.
Expert Tips
- Use High-Quality Puff Pastry – Opt for all-butter puff pastry for the best flavor and flaky texture. Thaw it in the fridge for even rolling.
- Cold Dough, Hot Oven – Keep the pastry chilled before baking and bake at 400-425°F (200-220°C) for maximum puff.
- No Soggy Bottoms – Bake pastries until deep golden brown to ensure crisp layers that hold up to the cream.
- Smooth & Lush Pastry Cream – Cook the cream low and slow, whisking constantly for a silky texture. Strain if needed for extra smoothness.
- Chill Before Filling – Let both the pastry cream and baked shells cool completely before assembly to prevent sogginess. Add plastic wrap to the pastry cream to avoid a skin forming on the top.
Optional Add-ins
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Cherries
- Plums
- Apricots
- Bananas
- And more!
Even a delicious homemade (or store-bought) preserve/jam of your liking!
What is the best store-bought puff pastry?
Since we aren’t making our own puff pastry, there are a few things to keep in mind when buying it from the store. Here are tips for getting the best results: Choose butter if you can. The two brands of frozen puff pastry you’re most likely to find: Dufour, made with butter, and Pepperidge Farm, made with vegetable-based fats. If you’re a Trader Joe’s shopper, the chain also sells an all-butter version. I recommended using one of these brands as I know them best and approve of the taste. You can certainly use another kind if you prefer!
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Italian Cream Filled Pastry Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 recipe for Italian Pastry Cream
- 1 package store bought puff pastry of choice, 2 ready bake sheets 430 grams
- 2 cups fruit of choice, diced
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare pastry cream and set aside (this can be done up to one week in advance if stored in an airtight container in the fridge). Thaw puff pastry per package directions.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place pastry sheets on lightly floured surface and remove parchment paper. Roll out dough and cut out round shapes with pastry cutters. Depending on the size of your cookie cutters you will get a varying number of dough circles.
- Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place puff pastry dough cut outs on lined cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes until slightly golden brown. Let cool. Right before serving- cut the individual puff pastries in half and fill with desired amount of pastry cream. Top with berries. Dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Perfect for any gathering!