Vanilla slice
A recent unexpected discovery: the vanilla slice at Miss Maud Pastry House. Layers of glorious sweet indulgence.
It’s labelled “Vanilla slice” at Miss Maud but it’s so much more
I have a great fondness for the simple Australian bakery vanilla slice, known colloquially and affectionately to some by the unappetising name of “snot block”. It’s typically a single thick slab of vanilla custard between puff pastry layers with icing on the top that can be sugary white, pink, or passionfruit-flavoured and speckled with crunchy black pips. There’s a cheat’s version of the vanilla slice made with SAO crackers instead of pastry, the “custard” made with instant vanilla pudding – Jac’s mum has made this version on several occasions and it’s pretty tasty.
I’ve enjoyed the vanilla slice’s sophisticated cousin and source of inspiration, the mille-feuille, at hotel high teas and French pâtisseries. But this was my first Napoleonbakelse, the vanilla slice’s glamorous Swedish cousin. It was magnificent and surprising. I had to stand back and admire before tasting:
- fondant icing with currant jelly on top
- thin layers of surprisingly crispy puff pastry
- light and fluffy whipped cream
- custard
- more puff pastry
- raspberry jam
- even more puff pastry
Did cream, custard and jam ooze out with every bite? Oh yeah. With every bite, beauty turned to beast. It was messy, decadent and totally delicious.
The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph 2012 will be held on 18 August in Merbein, the most Northern town in the state of Victoria. This is the first time the competition will be held outside of the Victorian town of Ouyen since its inception in 1998.
See images and listen to audio (a really great listen!) from the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph 2011.
Are you a fan of the vanilla slice / mille-feuille / Napoleon pastry? Where do you get your favourite vanilla slice?
The vanilla slice featured in this post was purchased at Miss Maud Pastry House in Cannington. I love their club sandwiches too.
Miss Maud Pastry House
Westfield Carousel Shopping Centre
Cannington
Telephone: (08) 9458 8894
Opening hours
Mon to Wed and Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm
Thurs 8.30am to 9.00pm
Sat 8.30am to 5.00pm
There are 15 Miss Maud Swedish Pastry Houses across Perth.