What Is Bavarian Cream?

Somewhere between solids and liquids lies “gelatinous cream stuff.” This is where custards reside, and where we’ll be living today. Because today we’ll be talking about Bavarian cream. What is Bavarian cream? It’s not just a filling. It is a delightful dessert in its own right. But that’s not all. Let’s take a deep dive into Bavarian cream (yum) and talk about it.

What is Bavarian Cream?

Bavarian cream (or crème Bavaroise if you want to sound fancy) is a French dessert that’s essentially whipped cream, gelatin, and custard, all folded together into a creamy, spoonable delight. It can be served on its own (preferably in an elegant glass) and eaten like a standard pudding, or used to fill pastries such as pies or cakes or doughnuts. 

Is Bavarian cream custard?

Yes, Bavarian cream is custard that has been stiffened with gelatin. This custard’s got reinforcements! 

What’s in Bavarian cream?

Bavarian cream consists of custard (egg yolks, sugar, salt, vanilla, milk) that is mixed with whipped cream and gelatin. 

How do you make Bavarian cream?

For some reason, I can’t help but read that question in the cadence of a joke like, “How do you make Bavarian cream?” “Practice, man! Practice!” Well, practice certainly helps in this situation…but obviously there’s a bit more to be done! 

Making Bavarian cream is very similar to making a standard custard, but you don’t stop with custard. You add some gelatin and fold in fresh-whipped cream. Bavarian cream is typically chilled until firm, when it’s then ready to be gobbled up by hungry dessert desirers.  

What does Bavarian cream taste like?

Bavarian cream is vanilla and cream flavored. It has the rich flavor of a classic custard but with a lighter, creamier texture thanks to the addition of fluffy whipped cream. 

So, next time you find yourself in the midst of a gigantic pie fight, and your face happens to get walloped with a particularly light and airy filling, you can be comforted in the knowledge that Bavarian cream is among the artillery!