A vanilla custard slice (also called a custard square or vanilla slice) is a classic bakery favorite—creamy, smooth custard sandwiched between flaky pastry. Here’s a reliable, bakery-style recipe that works beautifully at home.
Classic Vanilla Custard Slice
Ingredients
Pastry
- 2 sheets puff pastry (store-bought is fine)
Custard Filling
- 2 cups (500 ml) full-cream milk
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- ½ cup (60 g) custard powder or cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Icing (optional but traditional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk or hot water
- Few drops vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Bake the pastry
- Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C.
- Place puff pastry sheets on baking trays lined with parchment.
- Prick lightly with a fork to prevent excessive puffing.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Cool completely. Trim edges if needed.
2. Make the custard
- In a saucepan, whisk sugar and custard powder with ½ cup milk until smooth.
- Add remaining milk and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly.
- Cook until thick and smooth (about 5–7 minutes).
- Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla.
- Let cool slightly (custard should be thick but spreadable).
3. Assemble
- Place one pastry sheet in a lined square pan.
- Spread custard evenly over the pastry.
- Top with the second pastry sheet, pressing gently.
4. Ice & chill
- Mix icing ingredients until smooth.
- Spread over the top pastry layer.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (overnight is best).
Serving Tips
- Cut with a serrated knife for clean slices.
- Wipe knife between cuts for neat layers.
- Best served chilled.
Pro Bakery Tips
- For extra-firm slices, add 1 tsp gelatin (bloomed) to the hot custard.
- For ultra-smooth custard, strain before assembling.
- Dust with powdered sugar instead of icing for a lighter finish.
If you’d like, I can also share:
- 🇦🇺 Australian bakery-style vanilla slice
- 🍓 Strawberry custard slice
- 🍫 Chocolate-topped custard slice
- ⚡ No-bake shortcut version
Just tell me!
