The 10-Minute Napoleon: Why Everyone Is Toasting Flour for This No-Bake Dessert Hack

Despite the world’s cuisines having created all kinds of desserts for any occasion, some cakes just stay in your heart forever after the first bite. This might be the case for Napoleon, one of Russia’s favorite desserts ever named after the famous emperor and filled with the most delicate sweet cream.

However, the classic Napoleon might be a bit difficult to make at home, though some managed to make a simpler version that doesn’t even require baking. In case you’ve wanted to try something new recently, check out this recipe.

Here’s what you need: 120 g of butter, 180 g of flour, 1.5 tablespoons of sugar, a pinch of salt, 300 ml of milk, 60 g of sugar, 2 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons of flour, 30 g of butter.

First, prepare the crumb topping: mix the flour with salt and sugar, add the grated cold butter, and rub the mixture together until it resembles coarse crumbs. Pour this mixture into a skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until golden brown (about 8–10 minutes).

For the cream, mix the egg yolks with sugar in a saucepan, pour in the milk, add the flour, and stir until smooth. Place on the stove and cook until thickened, then remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

Assemble the dessert right in the glasses: a layer of crumbs, a layer of cream, and so on until the top. If you wish, you can chill it slightly before serving.

Additionally, you can add a layer of your favorite jam, and top the dessert with berries.