Italian Grandma’s Cake (Torta della Nonna) 🍋🥧✨
A cozy Italian classic straight from the heart of home kitchens—creamy custard nestled in a buttery crust, baked until golden and kissed with powdered sugar.
Ingredients 🛒
Custard Filling
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 4 egg yolks
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
Pastry Crust
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- ½ cup (115 g) cold butter, cubed
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Topping
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Method 👩🍳
- Make custard: Warm milk gently until steaming. In a bowl, whisk yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Slowly pour warm milk into mixture, whisking constantly. Return to saucepan, cook until thick. Stir in vanilla and lemon zest. Cool.
- Prepare crust: Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add egg, knead into dough. Chill 30 minutes.
- Assemble: Roll out dough. Line tart pan with half. Spread custard filling. Cover with remaining dough. Sprinkle pine nuts on top.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes until golden.
- Finish: Cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Tips
- Extra indulgence: Add a splash of limoncello to custard for depth.
- Variation: Use almonds instead of pine nuts for a twist.
- Serving idea: Slice with espresso or cappuccino for a true Italian moment.
Details
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: ~1 hour 10 minutes
- Kcal: ~320 per slice
Caption & Engagement
Caption: “Torta della Nonna—creamy custard, buttery crust, and pine nut crunch 🍋🥧✨”
- Comment prompt: “Would you keep it classic or add limoncello?”
- Rotating closers: “Save for your next Italian bake.” • “Tag a friend who loves custard desserts.” • “Golden crust, creamy filling bliss.”