看到別人做了千層蛋糕，我想..現在什麼不多，就時間最多（不過也是要等到週末老公不上班才有時間就是了），此時不做更待何時？可是當我開始研究食譜後發現竟然要用很多我冰箱裡面最珍貴的牛奶和蛋。最近疫情嚴重大家都自主隔離在家，我每次都努力撐2週才出門去買一次菜，可是我們家兩個在成長的兒子，牛奶跟蛋消耗的超級快。現在冰箱裡面的牛奶跟蛋對我來說比黃金都還珍貴！這個食譜竟然要用到7顆蛋，4大杯牛奶！！！不行我真的很想要也很需要挑戰，所以我豁出去了～ 這個食譜可不能失敗啊！
回到重點- 好險我提早兩天開始研究食譜，我的食譜要我在前一天先準備好可麗餅和中間奶油的食譜，這樣在冰箱一晚後味道才會混合的很均勻。我相信可麗餅對很多人來說很簡單，可是我上次做可麗餅是兩個孩子前，而且我的道具都沒了，如今只能拿我的不沾鍋硬著頭皮上場。還有還有....中間的奶油，吃的時候以為多簡單不過就是鮮奶油而已....錯！除了要打發鮮奶油，前一晚還要先準備好一種卡士達醬，當天才能混合鮮奶油。
今天也就是我做的當天，我才發現，Lady M的蛋糕賣的真是太值得了！雖然整個蛋糕要價$90美元，可是這個蛋糕真的很費工。我光是今天做一百層可麗餅（喔不，是25片）就花了我3小時！這還不包括我前天的研究，昨天的準備，還有建造千層蛋糕的時間，前前後後應該有用到5-6小時。 當然，我只是個無聊的媽媽，我相信專業的甜點師傅看到我這篇應該會嗤之以鼻吧🤣。人家2小時完成的甜點我要6小時！ 拜託，我可是要加上多做很多片失敗品，跟咒罵失敗品外加小屁孩在一旁要我餵食的時間！
品嚐心得- 看完我用的所有材料後，我很確定，如果整個蛋糕吃下去，三高絕對會爆表！雖然我跟Lady M 一樣用了20層，可是我的口感吃起來還是皮太厚，跟我吃過所有其他家的千層蛋糕一樣。不過我覺得以第一次來說我已經很滿意了。這種蛋糕不論Lady M與否，由於蛋和鮮奶油用量非常大，吃多了一定會膩。我自己的蛋糕切很小一塊，而且推薦大家一定要配茶或咖啡。雖然如此，我已經開始期待下一個要做什麼口味了！
品嚐心得- 看完我用的所有材料後，我很確定，如果整個蛋糕吃下去，三高絕對會爆表！雖然我跟Lady M 一樣用了20層，可是我的口感吃起來還是皮太厚，跟我吃過所有其他家的千層蛋糕一樣。不過我覺得以第一次來說我已經很滿意了。這種蛋糕不論Lady M與否，由於蛋和鮮奶油用量非常大，吃多了一定會膩。我自己的蛋糕切很小一塊，而且推薦大家一定要配茶或咖啡。雖然如此，我已經開始期待下一個要做什麼口味了！
Lady M Mille Crêpe cake has always reserved a special spot in my heart from the first time I had it 12 years ago in New York. Back then my sister and I stumbled upon this heavenly cake in NY Dean and Deluca shop without even knowing anything about it. We were wowed by the texture and taste of this cake. Since then, many other stores have popped up trying to replicate the cake, but to my sister and I have not had one that is even close to Lady M!
When I saw a homemade (not a fair one since it was by a pastry chef’s daughter) posted online, I have decided what’s a better time than now to take on the challenge?! I love challenges especially when it comes to food!
Once I have looked into the recipe, I debated for a bit since it is asking me to use my most precious ingredients in my fridge -eggs and milk. Since quarantine I have been limiting my trips to grocery store, and eggs and milk are the fastest item to disappear in my fridge thanks to my 2 tiny but mighty boys! So after I have decided to go ahead I promised myself not to fail, since I can not afford to waste 6 eggs and 4 cups of milk! It’s more precious than gold right now.
Since baking is just a hobby not a profession, this cake from start to finish took me 5-6 hours.... good thing I started studying the recipe 2 days in advance, I had to prep the crepe batter and pastry cream 1 day in advance for the taste to settle. After going through everything few times mentally, I begin to realize why it make sense for Lady M to sell the whole cake at $90 USD... it is quite a bit of work (obviously speaking from an amateur baker). Day before prep work took me about an hour, and the 20 crepes on the day (and 3 failed 2 extra) took 3 hours of non stopcooking to achieve. The most important assembling part took easily another hour. But I must say, all those 5/6 hours of hard work was very therapeutic for me as well, and the end result was actually pretty good! It’s again no comparison to the paper thincrepes at Lady M, but for a first time home made Mille Crepe cake, I am pretty darn proud!
Here’s the recipe I used
Ingredients
20-Layer Crepe Cake:
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar) for topping
Crepe Batter:
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups milk
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 7 tablespoons granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
Pastry Creme Filling:
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon hot waster
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream, whipped
Instructions
1. The day before making and assembling the cake, make the Crepe Batter and the Pastry Creme Filling (see recipes below); refrigerate overnight.
Crepe Batter Instructions:
1. In a small pan, melt the butter until lightly browned; remove from heat and set aside.
2. In a separate, small pan, warm the milk until steaming; remove from heat and set aside to allow to cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl using your electric mixer at a low speed, mix together the eggs, flour, sugar, and salt. Slowly add in the warm milk and browned butter. Pour the batter into a tightly-sealed container to refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Pastry Creme Filling Instructions:
1. In a small bowl, add egg, flour, sugar, and cornstarch; beat until smooth.
2. In a saucepan over low heat, bring milk almost to a boil (simmer). Immediately remove from heat and slowly whisk the milk into the egg mixture. Return all ingredients to the saucepan, while constantly stirring, for about 5 minutes, until thickened and just comes to a boil.
3. Remove from the heat. Add vanilla extract and hot water; stir until dissolved into the mixture. Set aside to cool until firm.
4. When the Pastry Creme has cooled, fold in the whipped cream.
5. Refrigerate mixture until thick (best if refrigerated overnight).
ON THE DAY
1. Remove the prepared Crepe Batter from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature. Since I do not own a crepe pan, I used a 10 inch T-Fal non-stick pan. This recipe yields 25 crepes.
1. Remove the prepared Crepe Batter from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature. Since I do not own a crepe pan, I used a 10 inch T-Fal non-stick pan. This recipe yields 25 crepes.
2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Using a nonstick or lightly-oiled crepe pan over medium-low heat (my electric stove I used 3.5 medium low).
4. Evenly distribute approximately ¼ cup Crepe Batter; swirl to cover the surface of the pan. Cook approximately 4 minute or just until the bottom of the crepe becomes lightly browned.
5. Using your clean fingers, gently and carefully turn the crepe over and continue cooking the other side of the crepe for no longer than 5 seconds. Remove the cooked crepe onto a prepared baking sheet (do not stack the crepes on top of each other).
6. Repeat this process until you have 20 perfect crepes. NOTE: You might need to prepare a few practice crepes in the beginning.
7. Remove the prepared Pastry Creme Filling from the refrigerator:
7. Remove the prepared Pastry Creme Filling from the refrigerator:
8. Whip the 2 cups of heavy cream with the 1 tablespoon sugar. Gently fold the whipped cream into the prepared chilled and thickened Pastry Creme Filling.
Assembly of 20-Layer Crepe Cake:
9. Place one (1) prepared crepe on a large cake plate.
10. With a small spatula or wide blade knife, completely cover the crepe with a thin layer of the pastry cream mixture (approximately 1/4 cup).
11. Cover with another dry crepe and repeat covering with the Pastry Creme until you have reached 20 layers.
12. The 20th crepe will be the last or top layer.
13. Refrigerate the prepared cake for a minimum of 2 hours to let the pastry cream become firm. Dust with powdered (confectioners' sugar).
14. When ready to serve, slice into individual servings. Garnish the plate with fresh berries.
