Italian Grandma’s Cake (Torta della Nonna)

Italian Grandma’s Cake (Torta della Nonna)

Ingredients
For the Pastry Cream:

• 2 cups of whole milk
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ cup of sugar
• ¼ cup of cornstarch
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
  For the Cake Dough:
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• ½ cup of sugar
• ½ cup of cold butter, cubed
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• Pinch of salt
  For Topping:
• ¼ cup of pine nuts or sliced almonds
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. Start by making the pastry cream. In a saucepan, heat the milk until steaming. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. For the cake dough, combine the flour, sugar, butter, egg, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix until a dough forms. Press two-thirds of the dough into a greased tart pan, creating a crust. Spread the pastry cream over the crust.
3. Roll out the remaining dough and place it on top of the pastry cream. Sprinkle the pine nuts or sliced almonds on top. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
4. Once the cake is baked and cooled, dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve this delicious Italian Grandma’s Cake (Torta della Nonna) to enjoy a nostalgic treat.
   Tips:

• You can refrigerate the cake for a few hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
• Feel free to customize the toppings with fruit or additional nuts for added texture and flavor.
  Prep time: 30 minutes
  Calories: 280 per serving (serves