Dairy Free Pastry Cream, otherwise known as Crème Pâtissière is a sticky sweet custard filling for eclairs, profiteroles, doughnuts, cakes and any other patisserie or bake you care to make! It's made with just eggs, dairy free milk, sugar and flour, which gives a lusciously silky sweet sauce to create a sweet treat or dessert for your friends and family.

Dairy Free Pastry Cream (Crème Pâtissière)

Gavin Wren Baking, Basic Ingredients, Dairy free baking, Recipes, Sauces

I’m tackling a patisserie basic today, luscious crème pâtissière, that thick, sweet, yellow cream found in the most amazing patisseries treats and tarts. This version here has undergone a lactose free tweak, making a dairy free pastry cream that everyone can enjoy.

“Krem pat”

Don’t worry, I’ve not adopted a peculiar language or speaking in tongues. It’s how I first heard crème pâtissière referred to during a croissant making workshop. The instructor was demonstrating other uses for the lovely, flaky, layered, enriched dough, working through pain au chocolat, before mentioning we could make pain au raisin.

He suddenly shouted across the kitchen to his assistant “Can I use some of your krem pat?”. She said “sure! It’s in the walk-in”. As I blankly wondered what the hell this krem pat was, he went on to explain crème pâtissière, or pastry cream as it’s also known.

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What's the best milk to make dairy free porridge with? I've tried them all, in this blog post I explain the findings, as well as the recipe for the thickest, creamiest, dairy free porridge made with jumbo oats and topped with beautifully spiced apples and pears for a breakfast that's gonna keep you going all day.

The Best Spiced Apple and Pear Dairy Free Porridge

Gavin Wren Breakfast, Recipes

Today I’m writing about how to make the best dairy free porridge, topped with delicious spiced apples and pears and drizzled with a sweetener of your choice, or none at all, which makes this a no added sugar recipe. It’s the perfect bowl of hot wholesome goodness for your morning’s chow during this cold snap. Brrrrrrrrrrr. It’s cold. Really cold. Every morning I sit patiently in my car and watch the heating create a lozenge …

Hot, soul warming golden turmeric milk packed full of the spices turmeric and cinnamon, plus a fiery dose of ginger, a twist of pepper and some rounded honey to sweeten things up. This hot milk drink can be made with any milk, from cow and goat to any of the dairy free options you might like. It's the perfect way to kick off your day, or to round your evening off after a hard day.

Soul Warming Golden Turmeric Milk

Gavin Wren Drinks

Today I’m making my version of golden turmeric milk, a traditional hot drink made with turmeric, cinnamon and ginger to give your body a heart, body and soul warming hug from the inside. It’s simple to make and incredibly comforting, plus features a wide range of health benefits associated with the consumption of turmeric. This one’s a keeper! Winter Wonderland. When I made and photographed this recipe a few days ago, there was a clear …

Lactose intolerant Milk pouring into jug

Being Lactose Intolerant & Intolerant of Lactose Intolerance

Gavin Wren Food Education, Food Opinion Pieces, Writing

Can you keep a secret? I’m going to break some news, admit something I’ve been ruminating over for a long time. I’m going to hold my hand up and say that I don’t like milk, that I am probably lactose intolerant. This isn’t based on scientific numbers and doctors reports, it is based on personal evidence of an aversion to milk, so all those who hate the ‘fad of wellness’ better saddle up your best …

Hot cinnamon milk

Hot cinnamon milk

Gavin Wren Drinks, Recipes

It’s not even deepest winter, yet there’s a chill breeze whisking it’s way through our creaky, draughty old flat. Last night, the air outside was so crisp and clear that it felt like every noise I made was amplified and the background clattering of London was gently quietened for a change. Our quaint Victorian home has wonky floors, parallelogram shaped window frames and a staircase with uneven height stairs which makes first time visitors stumble …