Ohhh you’re gonna love this one! The most loved cake in Italy is hands-down the Torta della Nonna — aka Grandma’s Cake — and once you taste it, you will want to make it every week. It’s a rich, creamy custard-filled tart with a buttery shortcrust and pine nuts on top. Classic, comforting, and incredibly delicious
Torta della Nonna (Italian Grandma’s Cake)
“So good, you’ll start baking it on autopilot.”
Serves: 8–10
Prep Time: 25 min | Chill: 1 hr | Bake Time: 40–45 min
Ingredients
For the pastry (pasta frolla):
- 2 1/2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup (115g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1–2 tbsp cold water or milk (only if needed)
For the custard (crema pasticcera):
- 2 cups (500ml) whole milk
- Zest of 1 lemon (peeled in strips)
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
- 1/4 cup (30g) cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping:
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- Powdered sugar, for dusting