Kremna rezina

Kremna rezina or Kremsnita is a popular traditional dessert in Slovenia and Croatia, particularly recognized as a symbol of the town of Bled. It is a creamy and light pastry made of a thick layer of vanilla custard sandwiched between layers of crispy puff pastry, topped with a layer of whipped cream and a dusting of powdered sugar.

History

The Kremna rezina has its roots in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where similar types of cream cakes were popular. The specific recipe for the Bled version of the dessert was developed by István Lukačević, a pastry chef at the Park Hotel in Bled, in the 1950s. Since then, it has become a signature dessert of the region, with the hotel alone reportedly selling over 10 million slices to date.

Preparation

The preparation of Kremna rezina involves several steps. First, puff pastry is baked and then cut into squares. A thick layer of custard cream, made from egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and flour, is spread over one layer of the pastry. This is then topped with a layer of whipped cream, and then another layer of puff pastry. The top layer of pastry is dusted with powdered sugar.

Variations

While the traditional Kremna rezina from Bled is the most famous, there are several regional variations of the dessert. In Croatia, the dessert is known as Samoborska kremsnita, which features a layer of sponge cake in addition to the custard and cream layers. In Hungary, the dessert is known as Krémes, and is typically made with a lighter custard and without the whipped cream layer.

See also

• List of desserts
• Cuisine of Slovenia
• Cuisine of Croatia