Name: Vanilla slice recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 2 sheets puff pastry; 1/2 cup caster sugar; 1/2 cup custard powder; 1 1/2 cups cream; 2 1/2 cups milk; 2.00 tsp vanilla essence; 2 cups icing sugar; 1 tsp butter; 1/2 cup hot water

by rick-ash Last updated on 01/13/2025

I have fond memories of walking into a bakery as a child and seeing rows of custard-filled vanilla slices behind the glass. They were always the most indulgent of treats. But now I make my own! To be honest, if I knew how easy they are to make using bought puff pastry, I would have started making them years ago!

How to make vanilla slice: key tips

When using the puff pastry, place the just-thawed sheets on baking trays and prick them all over with a fork. This is an important step for this slice as it lets the steam escape while baking, ensuring a flaky thin and crispy pastry that's not very puffy.

This custard is quite sweet. If you prefer it less sweet, start by adding only ¼ cup caster sugar to the mixture. Taste it when it’s ready – you can always stir more sugar into the hot custard if you want it sweeter.

When making the icing, only mix a little of the water into the mixture at a time and stir well to combine, until you reach your desired consistency.

To assemble your slice, place 1 baked sheet of puff pastry in the base of a deep slice pan or roasting pan. Top evenly with the custard. Ice the remaining sheet of baked puff pastry and then use a sharp knife to cut it into the desired number of vanilla slices. Arrange the iced pieces of pastry on top of the custard layer and chill for at least 3 hours. Pre-cutting the top sheet of pastry will make it easier to slice through the custard and bottom layer of pastry without all the precious custard squishing out the sides as you cut.

Key ingredients in this vanilla slice recipe

Bought puff pastry creates those flaky layers we love so much. You can make your own puff pastry, but using bought pastry is so very convenient.

Custard is fairly simple to make using custard powder. For an extra cheat, you could use bought double thick creamy custard instead.

Craving more custard? You’ll love 55 of our best custard desserts. And these 140+ slice recipes will keep you stocked up with treats all year long.

This recipe was originally submitted by rick-ash, a member of the Australia’s Best Recipe community. Introduction and additional recipe notes by Natasha Shaw.

- Australia's Best Recipes Team

Ingredients

2 sheets puff pastry
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup custard powder
1 1/2 cups cream
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla essence

Icing

2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp butter
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup hot water

Method

Step 1

Place puff pastry on lined oven tray. Prick with a fork and bake for 10-15 minutes at 220C.
Step 2

Put sugar, custard powder and cream into a saucepan and stir over a medium heat until it starts to thicken.
Step 3

Add milk ½ a cup at a time and whisk continuously until the custard is thick.
Step 4

Let everything cool slightly. Place in a 22 cm square tin, pastry, custard, pastry then icing.
Step 5

Icing: Place icing sugar, butter and vanilla in a bowl and add enough hot water to make thin to medium textured icing.

Recipe Notes

from Australia’s Best Recipes team

Can I change up the icing on this vanilla slice?

This recipe uses a simple vanilla icing, but you can boost the flavour by stirring in some passionfruit pulp, orange or lemon juice, or desiccated coconut. If adding a liquid, you may not need to add any hot water at all. Whisk the icing ingredients and then adjust the consistency using extra liquid, only if needed.

How long will this vanilla slice keep?

This slice is best eaten on the day it is made (after a few hours in the fridge to firm up), as the custard will eventually make the pastry soggy. However, you can keep it for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.