Name: Pastry Cream (Crema pasticcera)
Yield: Makes 6 cups (1 1/2 quarts / 1.4 liters)
Ingredients: Egg yolks, 8 large; Sugar, 1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces/100 grams); All-purpose flour, 1/2 cup (2 ounces/55 grams); Milk, 3 cups (24 fluid ounces/720 milliliters); Heavy cream, 1 cup (8 fluid ounces/240 milliliters); Pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon

Editor's note: Use this recipe to make Francine Segan's Torta Mimosa .

Creamy custard seasoned with aromatic vanilla, this is an absolute basic, used to make hundreds of classic Italian desserts, including torta della nonna and zuppa inglese.

It's also served plain, accompanied by fresh fruit, slices of pandoro or panettone, or cookies. This is a simple and very forgiving recipe.

Un Altro Modo

Crema pasticcera al caffè: Add 1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder.

Crema pasticcera al cioccolato: Add 3 ounces/85 grams grated dark chocolate and 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder.

Crema pasticcera al limone: Omit the vanilla and add the grated zest and juice of 1 lemon.

Recipe notes

Palets Bretons

Palets bretons are oversize cookies that feature butter, and because they’re from Brittany, they’re traditionally made with beurre salé, salted butter.

Île Flottante

Originally called omelette à la neige (snow omelet) in reference to the fluffy snow-like appearance of the meringue, île flottante (floating island) has a lengthy history that dates back to the 17th century.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Grape Dumplings

Native American people made these with cornmeal dumplings, simmering them with wild grapes, which were harvested at their peak sweetness.

Mississippi Mud Cake

This cake was created from thrift and was supposedly named after its appearance, which reminded people of the muddy Mississippi River bottom.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Homemade Whipped Cream

Fluffier, fresher, and fancier than anything from a tub or can.

Almost Cannoli Galettes

Cannoli and sfogliatelle require complex technique—making them is best left to the professionals. But a galette-inspired variation? That’s a snap to do at home.