Puff pastry horns filled with golden pastry cream are Italian bakery classics. These elegant mediterranean pastries are a family teatime indulgence.
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease metal cannoli molds.
Unfold the puff pastry and cut into 1-inch wide strips. Carefully wrap each strip around the cannoli form, overlapping slightly, and place seam-side down on the baking sheet.
Brush the pastry lightly with water and bake for 15–18 minutes until puffed and golden. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before carefully sliding off the molds. Cool completely.
To prepare the pastry cream: In a saucepan, combine milk and half the sugar, heating over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
In a bowl, whisk eggs, yolks, remaining sugar, flour, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Gradually whisk in the hot milk. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and just bubbling—about 3–5 minutes. Scrape into a bowl, cover with plastic touching the surface, and chill until cold.
Transfer the chilled pastry cream to a piping bag. Pipe the cream generously into the cooled pastry horns.
Dust with powdered sugar right before serving for a classic finish.