Dessert

Vanilla slice

A classic treat made from layers of flaky, buttery pastry with vanilla-flecked custard filling. Photography and recipe by Gourmet Traveller.
Vanilla slice recipeGourmet Traveller
8
40M
3H

Ingredients

Vanilla icing

Method

1.Preheat oven to 200°C. Cut a 25cm square from each sheet of pastry, place each square on a baking tray lined with baking paper and prick all over with a fork. Place a 2cm high pastry cutter in each corner of each tray, place baking paper over cutters and place another tray on top (this helps the pastry rise evenly).
2.Bake, swapping and turning trays partway through cooking so pastry cooks evenly, until dark golden and puffed (10-15 minutes). Cool on wire racks, then trim to 20cm squares with a serrated knife and place one square in the base of a 20cm square cake tin lined with baking paper that extends above the rim for easy removal.
3.Bring milk, cream, butter and vanilla beans and seeds just to the simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
4.Meanwhile, whisk sugar, cornflour and yolks in a bowl to combine. Pour milk mixture in, whisking continuously, then return to pan and whisk until thick (4-5 minutes).
5.Remove from heat, discard vanilla beans and pour onto pastry in cake tin. Press remaining pastry square on top and refrigerate until set (2-3 hours).
6.For vanilla icing, stir ingredients in a bowl until smooth, adding a little water to thin to drizzling consistency.
7.Remove vanilla slice from tin and carefully cut into rectangles with a serrated knife. Drizzle with vanilla icing and serve.

Vanilla bean paste or extract can be used in place of vanilla beans; a teaspoon of extract is equivalent to one vanilla bean.

Note

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