Macedonian Cherry Cream Pie (Krem Pita s Višni)
A delightful Macedonian dessert featuring a flaky pastry crust filled with a rich, creamy custard and topped with sweet-tart cherries. It's a lighter, fruitier take on the classic Krem Pita.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 sheets Puff pastry(thawed if frozen)
- 1 liter Milk
- 250 g Granulated sugar
- 100 g Cornstarch
- 4 large Egg yolks
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 50 g Butter
- 500 g Fresh or frozen cherries(pitted)
- 50 g Powdered sugar(for dusting)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
💡 Tip: Ensure oven is fully preheated for best puff pastry results. - 2
Unroll one sheet of puff pastry and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Prick the surface all over with a fork. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. Let cool completely.
- 3
In a large saucepan, whisk together milk, sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks until smooth.
💡 Tip: Whisking cornstarch and sugar with the cold milk first prevents lumps. - 4
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency. This will take about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract and butter until smooth.
💡 Tip: Continuous stirring is key to prevent scorching and ensure even thickening. - 5
Pour the custard into a bowl. Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- 6
Once the custard is chilled and the pastry base is cool, spread the custard evenly over the baked pastry. Arrange the cherries on top of the custard.
💡 Tip: If using frozen cherries, ensure they are well-drained. - 7
Unroll the second sheet of puff pastry and place it over the cherries and custard. Trim any excess pastry. You can score a decorative pattern on top if desired. Bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until the top pastry is golden brown and cooked through.
- 8
Let the pie cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar and slicing. Serve chilled.
💡 Tip: Allowing the pie to cool fully helps the custard set properly.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can add a tablespoon of lemon zest to the custard.
- ✓If cherries are very tart, you may want to add a little more sugar to the custard or macerate them with a tablespoon of sugar before adding them to the pie.
- ✓Ensure the puff pastry is baked until crisp to prevent a soggy bottom.
🔄 Variations
- Use other berries like raspberries or mixed berries instead of cherries.
- Add a layer of thinly sliced apples or pears beneath the cherries for added texture.