Aussie Recipe: The Vanilla Slice
Undoubtedly, one can find similar confections elsewhere in the world. But in Australia,
The Vanilla Slice enjoys an almost iconic status. As Aussie as the lamington or the pavlova, there's even an annual competition to find the most delectable slice of all:
The Great Victorian Vanilla Slice Bake Off, staged in Ouyen, country Victoria.
It started after the Victorian Premier of the day was passing through the remote town and declared the Ouyen slice the best he'd tasted. So here's a recipe. Maybe you could win the next Vanilla Slice bake-off!
Ingredients (for 8)
- 2 puff pastry sheets
- 250ml (1 cup) milk
- 1 split vanilla bean
- 3/4 cup cornflour
- 1/2 cup custard powder
- 220g (1 cup) caster sugar
- 750ml (3 cups) thickened cream
- 50g unsalted butter
- 3 egg yolks
- Icing sugar, to dust
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What to do
- Preheat oven to 210°C.
- Line a 23cm square pan with aluminium foil,
going above the sides to allow you to lift out
the slice.
- Place each pastry sheet on a baking tray lined
with non-stick baking paper
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Set aside to cool. When cool, place 1 pastry
sheet, cooked-side up, in bottom of pan, trimmed
to fit.
- Heat milk in pan over medium heat. Add vanilla
seeds and bean. Warm gently, then set aside for
10 minutes.
- Place cornflour, custard powder and caster
sugar in a pan. Strain milk, discarding bean,
into pan with cornflour and whisk until smooth.
- Add cream, then return to heat, stirring
constantly over low heat until the mixture
thickens and boils. Add butter, stirring well to
combine, then remove from heat and whisk in egg
yolks, one at a time, until smooth.
- Pour into pastry-lined pan and set aside to
cool slightly before placing other piece of
pastry, cooked-side up, on top. Refrigerate
overnight.
- Remove from pan, cut into squares and dust
with icing sugar.
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Wrap your laughing-gear (mouth) around
a delicious Aussie Icon
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