Discover the world of homemade cream-filled pastry tubes
For years, cream-filled pastry tubes have enjoyed steady popularity and can be found in various places, from large bakeries to small stalls along the promenades of tourist towns. Surprisingly, few people realize that making them at home is not difficult at all; you simply need to purchase the right molds.
Various variations on cream-filled pastry tubes
Initially, the tubes were merely covered with whipped cream, but soon the cream began to be placed inside the pastries. Over time, different fillings became popular, including fruit spreads and various creams. In the early 20th century, Maria Ochorowicz-Monatowa, a renowned culinary guide author, recommended making the tubes from puff pastry.
The prototype might be Sicilian cannoli
Cream-filled pastry tubes are not just a Polish specialty. In Sicily, as early as the 10th century, cannoli were being baked—crunchy pastries filled with ricotta cheese cream. In the Czech Republic, "hořické trubičky" filled with cream of various flavors have been popular for 200 years.
Traditional whipped cream is an excellent filling for the tubes. Chilled heavy cream whipped with vanilla sugar yields the best result. Alternatively, you can fill the tubes with custard cream, whipped cream with mascarpone, or lemon curd.
Recipe for homemade cream-filled pastry tubes
The tubes can be made from various types of dough. At home, the best result is achieved by kneading semi-shortcrust dough made from wheat flour, cold butter, and sour cream. Below is a recipe for traditional tubes with whipped cream.
Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups of cake flour
- 7 oz cold butter
- 7 oz sour cream (18%)
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- A pinch of salt
- 7 oz heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar
Instructions:
- Sift the flour into a bowl.
- Add cold, chopped butter, chilled sour cream, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt.
- Knead the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Roll out the dough into a thin sheet and cut into strips about 0.6 inches wide.
- Wrap the dough strips around buttered metal molds, brushing the edges with egg white.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes in an oven preheated to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. When golden brown, remove and let cool.
- Whip the cream with vanilla sugar and fill the baked tubes.
