In Brazil, Christmas pavé is the most traditional dessert of the end of year festivities and cannot be missing from Brazilians’ dinner.
It may not seem like it, but there are those who say that Christmas pavé, this traditional dessert that cannot be missed at Christmas dinner, is a sweet of Brazilian origin and was inspired by its name in France.
The name pavê is derived from the French word pavingwhich means pavement, that is, what is made of several layers.
That’s why this word well describes the shape of Christmas pavé, which is made up of several layers of ingredients such as cookies, creams, fruits and syrups, forming a delicious tower of flavors.
In Brazil, Christmas pavê is the favorite dessert during the end of the year festivities. After all, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the old joke of “is it pavé or pacomê?”. Is not it?
Over time, Christmas pavé has been gaining new looks and increasingly innovative recipes.
Some even go beyond the end of year festivities and land in large restaurants across the country, which also offer the dessert all year round.
The story of Christmas pavé
According to some pavé historians and researchers, the dish is inspired by the Italian recipe for génoise, a cake made up of several layers of filling.
However, in Brazil, our beloved Christmas pavé underwent adaptations so that it could be served cold, that is, fromdifferent from the cake that inspired it.
We cannot say for sure when our delicious Christmas pavé was created.
However, it can be said that the traditional biscuit Champagne used in its original recipe first appeared in 1533 in the French Court.
The most important thing is that this Christmas classic cannot be missing from Brazilians’ Christmas dinner. Right?
Christmas pavé recipes
One of the most important dishes of the Christmas dinner and one that cannot be missed on the Brazilian table is definitely Christmas pavé.
So, we’ve put together delicious Christmas pavé recipes to make your Christmas even tastier.
Christmas Trifle
This Christmas pavé recipe is one of the most traditional and well-known recipes for this delicious dessert.
Next, check out how simple and easy it is to prepare this Christmas pavé.
Ingredients
400 grams of champagne or cornstarch biscuits
2 cups of milk
5 tablespoons of rum
1 cup unsweetened cherries
1 stick of semi-sweet chocolate
Ingredients for the cream
2 cans of condensed milk
4 cans of milk (use the can of condensed milk as a reference)
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon panettone or vanilla essence
Preparing the white cream
When preparing your Christmas pavé, start with the white cream.
To do this, place the condensed milk in a pan accompanied by the milk and cornstarch.
Then dissolve in it the essence of the flavor you chose.
Then, place over low heat and stir constantly until the cream becomes thick.
Then turn it off and let it cool.
How to prepare Christmas pavé
In a bowl mix the rum and 2 cups of milk to moisten the cookies in this mixture.
Then, place the moistened biscuits in a glass dish in such a way that the entire bottom of the container can be filled.
Finally, over the cookies, add chocolate shavings, chopped cherries and cover with a layer of white cream.
Afterwards, repeat this step forming several layers until the white cream runs out.
Finally, the last layer of your Christmas pavé must be decorated with chocolate shavings and whole cherries.
Then, put it in the fridge for about 3 hours so that the dessert acquires consistency.
Ready, now just enjoy this deliciousness!
Bonus Recipe
Chestnut pave
Ingredients
250g chestnuts
1 package of cornstarch biscuits or Maria
1 cream
6 egg yolks
2 cups of sugar
300ml of milk
250g of milk butter
Preparation Mode
To start your Christmas pavé, take the chestnuts and then place them in a blender or a food processor to grind everything.
After that, place the chestnuts in a pan along with the cream and then add a pinch of salt.
Mix everything so that it is homogeneous and then let it cool.
Next, sift the egg yolks and then mix with the butter and sugar.
Mix with chestnuts and cream.
Place some milk and cream in a container so that you can soak the cookies before assembling your Christmas pavé.
Then, on a platter, start assembling the pavé, interspersing layers of biscuit and cream until it reaches the desired height.
So, just put your Christmas pavé in the freezer and let it rest for about 4 hours and, finally, enjoy this wonder.
Did you like this delicious article about Christmas pavé? So, you will also like to check out these other Christmas recipes: Christmas Recipes – 10 options for a super economical dinner
