Natas do céu – Heavenly cream dessert

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• 30 butter biscuits, round, Portuguese (Maria bolacha)
• 3 eggs
• 10 tbsp water
• 8 tbsp sugar
• some lemon peel, 1 strip of it
• 200 ml cream
• 1 packet of vanilla sugar
• 1 pinch of salt

Instructions

Working time approx. 25 minutes; Rest time approx. 2 hours; Cooking/baking time approx. 10 minutes; Total time approx. 2 hours 35 minutes

Portuguese dessert with the traditional “Maria” cookies

Bring the water to a boil with 5 tablespoons of sugar and the lemon zest. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Discard the lemon zest. Meanwhile, finely crumble the butter biscuits. Separate the eggs. Place the egg yolks in a small bowl and whisk lightly. Stir some of the sugar and water into the egg yolks. Then add the egg yolks to the sugar and water in the pot and bring back to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for about 3 minutes and then let cool. Whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt. Whip the cream with the vanilla sugar and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Fold the beaten egg whites into the cream. Alternate layers of biscuit crumbs (reserve some for decoration) and cream in dessert glasses or a large bowl (I use 6 dessert glasses). First, place a layer of biscuit crumbs on the bottom of the glasses or bowl, then layer them alternately. Finally, add the egg yolk cream on top. Garnish with the remaining cookie crumbs. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.