Description
Creamy Spanish natillas blend rich custard with delicate cinnamon notes, creating a luxurious dessert that embodies Mediterranean sweetness. Home cooks can easily craft this classic treat, delighting palates with its smooth, silky texture and comforting flavor profile.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 egg yolks
- 500 ml (2 cups) whole milk
- 4 tbsps sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp vanilla essence
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 4 maria style cookies
Instructions
- Milk Infusion: Gently warm whole milk with cinnamon stick, sugar, and vanilla essence in a saucepan, heating until just before boiling, then let steep for 10 minutes to develop rich, aromatic flavors.
- Egg Preparation: Whisk egg yolks in a separate bowl, blending cornstarch smoothly to create a silky, uniform mixture without any lumps.
- Tempering Process: Remove cinnamon stick from infused milk, then gradually incorporate a small amount of warm milk into egg mixture, carefully raising egg temperature to prevent curdling.
- Custard Creation: Return combined liquid to low heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens into a luxurious, smooth custard with a consistent, velvety texture.
- Serving and Chilling: Pour the creamy natillas into individual ramekins, top with crisp Maria cookies, and refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and custard to set completely.
Notes
- Master Tempering Technique: Slowly add hot milk to egg yolks to prevent scrambling, creating a smooth custard base without lumps or curdling.
- Infusion is Key: Allow cinnamon and vanilla to steep in milk for full flavor development, transforming a simple dessert into an aromatic Spanish delicacy.
- Consistent Stirring Matters: Continuously whisk the custard over low heat to achieve a silky, thick consistency without burning or creating unwanted texture.
- Chill for Perfection: Refrigerate natillas for at least 4 hours or overnight to enhance flavor complexity and achieve the ideal creamy, set texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Spanish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 221
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 53 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 108 mg