Ready to get cooking? Follow these steps to bring a touch of my family kitchen to yours.

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into squares approximately 3 inches wide. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown and puffed. Let them cool completely.
3. While the pastry bakes, prepare the vanilla custard. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Gradually add a small amount of the hot milk mixture to the yolks, whisking continuously to temper them.
5. Pour the tempered yolks back into the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring until the mixture thickens (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and butter until smooth.
6. Allow the custard to cool slightly, then refrigerate until fully chilled.
7. To assemble, gently split the puff pastry squares in half. Spoon or pipe the chilled custard onto the bottom half, then place the top half over the custard. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.
8. Optional: Garnish with fresh berries for an added touch of color and flavor.

Remember, patience is key when thickening the custard — a lesson in perseverance I’ve learned time and again in my culinary journey.