Pavesini Reindeer
Category: Desserts
Servings: 20 pieces
These delightful Pavesini Reindeer are a fun and festive treat, perfect for holiday gatherings or as a whimsical gift. With a creamy cinnamon custard filling, delicate chocolate antlers, and colorful touches, these reindeer-shaped cookies are sure to bring joy to any table. Here’s how to make them step by step:
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Whole milk | 250g |
| Egg yolks | 3 |
| Sugar | 60g |
| Cornstarch (Maizena) | 35g |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 pinch |
| Pavesini biscuits | as needed |
| Dark chocolate | 100g |
| White chocolate | 50g |
| Food coloring (red) | as needed |
| Decorative food items | as needed |
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Cinnamon Custard
Start by making the cinnamon custard, which will be the filling for the Pavesini. Pour the milk into a saucepan and whisk it gently. Once the sugar is fully dissolved, add the cornstarch. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
When the milk begins to boil, carefully pour it into the egg yolks mixture. Transfer the mixture back into the saucepan, add the cinnamon, and cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly.
Once thickened, remove the custard from heat and transfer it into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, making sure the wrap touches the surface of the custard, and allow it to cool to room temperature. After it cools, refrigerate until it becomes fully chilled. -
Whisk the Chilled Custard
Once the custard has cooled, whisk it again to smooth out any lumps. Then, transfer the custard into a pastry bag for easy filling. -
Prepare the Chocolate Antlers
While the custard chills, chop the dark chocolate into small pieces. Melt the chocolate, either in a microwave in short bursts or over a double boiler. Transfer the melted chocolate into a pastry bag.
On a sheet of parchment paper, pipe out antler shapes using the melted dark chocolate. Once shaped, refrigerate the chocolate antlers for about 10 minutes to harden. -
Melt the White Chocolate and Color It
Chop the white chocolate into small pieces and melt it the same way you did with the dark chocolate. Once melted, add a few drops of red food coloring to create a vibrant red hue. Transfer the colored white chocolate into another pastry bag or a paper cone for easy piping. -
Assemble the Pavesini Reindeer
Take one Pavesini biscuit and pipe approximately 10g of the chilled cinnamon custard onto it. Top with another Pavesini biscuit, pressing gently to make sure the cream sticks.
Pipe a small amount of dark chocolate onto the biscuit for the reindeer’s eyes and add two chocolate antlers on top.
For the nose, pipe some of the red-colored white chocolate just below the eyes to create a cute, festive touch. -
Finish and Decorate
Repeat the process for the remaining biscuits. For extra decoration, feel free to add edible decorations of your choice, such as sprinkles or colored icing. -
Serve and Enjoy
Once all the Pavesini reindeer have been assembled and decorated, place them in the fridge for a few minutes to let everything set. Once the chocolate has firmed up, they are ready to be served.
Tips for Success:
- If you don’t have Pavesini biscuits, you can substitute with other types of ladyfingers or biscuits, though Pavesini provides the perfect balance of crunch and softness.
- Customize the reindeer’s features with different colored food dyes to create a variety of reindeer faces.
- These little treats can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
This whimsical dessert will undoubtedly be the star of your next holiday spread, offering both delicious flavors and charming presentation. Enjoy your Pavesini Reindeer as a festive treat that’s as much fun to make as it is to eat!
