Tompouce is a rectangular pastry consisting of layers of puff pastry, cream, and icing, similar to the French napoleon. Its name may have been inspired by a dwarf named General Tom Thumb. The traditional recipe has remained unchanged and is a staple in Dutch and Belgian cuisines.
A tompouce is a type of pastry that is considered a staple in Dutch and Belgian cuisines. It usually consists of layers of puff pastry with soft cream in between and icing on top. It is also described as rectangular or “brick-shaped”, similar to a Twinkie, a popular snack. This pastry is similar to a Dutch version of the French pastry, the napoleon. Tompouce can also be written as “tompoes”.
The origins of the name “tompouce” are uncertain, but one interesting account suggests that the Dutch pastry was first invented in the 1840s by a baker in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. During that time, an American circus show was performing that had stopped in town. One of the leading actors was a dwarf named Charles Sherwood Stratton, who used his stage name “General Tom Thumb”, or “General Tom Pouce” in French. The baker was so impressed with Tom Pouce that he borrowed the name for his new bakery. Interestingly, the French Napoleon was named after the famous General Napoleon Bonaparte, who was known to have a short stature, just like General Tom Thumb.
The basic structure of tompouce includes a few layers of thin flaky pastry at the bottom with a thick, generous amount of pale yellow cream in between. These are topped with another layer of sandwich dough la crema. The pastry is finished with a spread of pink icing, sometimes with a trailing streak or dollop of white icing on top. On special occasions when the Netherlands national football team participates in international events, the pink icing is replaced by orange in honor of the team.
Going around just got easier with the advent of precooked puff pastry, which is available in the freezer cases of many grocery stores. Bakers who make their own puff pastry need large quantities of butter to achieve the layered look common to croissants. Custard is usually made from milk, eggs, and flour, as well as some salt and lots of sugar. To add flavor, you can also add a few tablespoons of vanilla or some fruit extracts, such as lemon or strawberry, but be careful not to add too much liquid, which could prevent the cream from thickening. Pink icing is usually made with butter, milk, and powdered sugar, with a little red food coloring.
Since the time of its invention, the traditional recipe and the ingredients for the composition have changed very little, making it an iconic and classic Dutch pastry dish. Some bakeries sell jelly-filled tompos, but many customers don’t even consider these genuine tompoes. The sweetness of tompouce cakes makes them perfect to eat with a cup of coffee or tea.
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