Preparation

• Leave the necessary butter at room temperature for at least 30 minutes until it softens completely.
• Cut the vanilla pod lengthwise in half and use a knife to scrape out the inner pulp. Reserve the pulp and the pod for the next step.
• Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat together with the vanilla pulp and the whole pod. Bring the milk to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Once the milk reaches a boil, remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it with a lid, and let it sit for 15 minutes to cool slightly and infuse.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until you achieve a creamy and fluffy mixture with a whitish color. This can take about 5-7 minutes with an electric mixer.
• Add the cornstarch and stir well until completely integrated. Reserve this mixture.
• Remove the vanilla pod from the saucepan with the milk and return the milk to medium heat until it comes back to a boil.
• Incorporate one third of the hot milk into the bowl of egg yolks, stirring vigorously to prevent the yolks from curdling.
• Add this yolk and milk mixture to the saucepan with the rest of the milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the cream thickens, which may take about 5-7 minutes.
• Remove the cream from the heat just before it comes back to a boil and let it cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.
• After 10 minutes, but while the cream is still hot, add half of the butter and stir until it melts completely and is well integrated.
• Transfer the cream to a large tray so it cools more quickly. Cover it with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the cream to prevent a thick film from forming. SET Aside at room temperature.
• Once the cream has reached room temperature, transfer it to a large bowl and beat it with a whisk until you achieve a smooth and homogeneous texture.
• Add the other half of the softened butter and continue mixing until the butter is completely incorporated into the cream. Note: To fill cakes, use a piping bag with a plain tip to achieve a clean and professional finish.