
Natilla cubaine
Crème pâtissière cubaine à la cannelle et au zeste de citron vert, servie froide.
Portions
Ingrédients
Nutrition
Par portion
Étapes

Infuse the milk
In a medium pot, heat 750 ml of the milk with the cinnamon stick, lime peel and salt over medium heat until steaming, but not boiling. Turn off the heat, cover and let sit 10 minutes, then remove the cinnamon stick and peel.
- 750 ml whole milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 lime peel
- 1 pinch salt
✅ C'est prêt quand : milk is steaming and fragrant, not boiling

Mix the yolks
In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour with the remaining 250 ml cold milk until completely smooth, with no lumps of cornflour.
- 6 egg yolks
- 180 g sugar
- 4 tbsp cornflour
- 250 ml cold milk
✅ C'est prêt quand : mixture is smooth and pourable, no lumps

Cook the custard
Pour the yolk mixture through a sieve into the warm milk. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 8-10 minutes until thick enough to coat the spoon; do not let it boil hard or it may curdle.
- all yolk mixture from step 2
- all warm infused milk from step 1
✅ C'est prêt quand : custard coats the back of the spoon and leaves a visible trail

Chill
Stir the vanilla into the hot custard, then divide among 6 small dishes. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of each to stop a skin forming, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until fully set and cold.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- all custard from step 3
✅ C'est prêt quand : custard is fully set and cold to the touch

Serve
Dust each custard with a little ground cinnamon just before serving.
- to serve ground cinnamon

Infuse the milk
In a medium pot, heat 750 ml of the milk with the cinnamon stick, lime peel and salt over medium heat until steaming, but not boiling. Turn off the heat, cover and let sit 10 minutes, then remove the cinnamon stick and peel.
- 750 ml whole milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 lime peel
- 1 pinch salt
✅ C'est prêt quand : milk is steaming and fragrant, not boiling

Mix the yolks
In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour with the remaining 250 ml cold milk until completely smooth, with no lumps of cornflour.
- 6 egg yolks
- 180 g sugar
- 4 tbsp cornflour
- 250 ml cold milk
✅ C'est prêt quand : mixture is smooth and pourable, no lumps

Cook the custard
Pour the yolk mixture through a sieve into the warm milk. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 8-10 minutes until thick enough to coat the spoon; do not let it boil hard or it may curdle.
- all yolk mixture from step 2
- all warm infused milk from step 1
✅ C'est prêt quand : custard coats the back of the spoon and leaves a visible trail

Chill
Stir the vanilla into the hot custard, then divide among 6 small dishes. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of each to stop a skin forming, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until fully set and cold.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- all custard from step 3
✅ C'est prêt quand : custard is fully set and cold to the touch

Serve
Dust each custard with a little ground cinnamon just before serving.
- to serve ground cinnamon
The Story Behind the Dish
Natilla comes from Spain, where it's one of the oldest custard desserts. In Cuba it became a home favourite, flavoured with cinnamon and the peel of the local limes.
It's the dessert Cuban grandmothers make for children, served in small glass dishes.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Smooth, sweet and fragrant with cinnamon, it's pure nostalgia for Cubans everywhere.
💡 Fun Fact
Some Cuban cooks caramelise sugar on top with a hot iron, making a natilla very similar to crema catalana.
All over Cuba
23.11°N, -82.37°W
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