Gateau Basque

Filled with creamy custard, this dense cake might remind you more of a very thick and decadent tart, with buttery crunchiness around the edges.

To keep the cake from breaking while being unmolded, bake it in an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Serve with a berry sauce if desired. It's best served the day it's made.

1 hr 15 min Prep: 40 min Cook: 35 min
Serves: 10 Save

Ingredients (16)

  • Dough:
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup ground almonds
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 12 tablespoon butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Custard filling:
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. To prepare dough, combine flour, almonds, baking powder and salt.
  2. Combine butter and sugar; beat with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add egg yolks and vanilla; mix until smooth. While mixing, slowly add flour mixture. Beat until thoroughly combined and mixture clings together when pressed against the side of bowl. Divide into 2 portions, with one portion slightly larger than the other. Flatten each into a disk; wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
  3. To prepare custard filling, heat milk and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk together egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch. When milk mixture is hot, slowly drizzle it into yolk mixture while vigorously whisking. Return mixture to pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until custard becomes very thick. (If lumps form, whisk until smooth.) Stir in vanilla. Transfer custard to a medium bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on top of custard. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven to 400F. Butter bottom and sides of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan.
  5. To assemble, roll larger portion of dough into a 101/2-inch round (dough will be thick). Place in bottom of pan, pressing excess dough up the inside edge of pan. Add filling, spreading evenly. Roll remaining dough into a 9-inch round. Place on top of dough and filling in pan; press edges of dough to seal and form a rim. Place on baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350F and continue baking 15 minutes, or until cake is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack at least 45 minutes before serving. Slice using a serrated knife. Refrigerate remaining cake after serving.