How to prepare the pan di stelle cake: the original recipe and 10 variations (including the protein one)

The Pan di Stelle cake is a much loved dessert for its simplicity and irresistible taste, ideal for those looking for a sweet treat without cooking. In this article, you will discover the original recipe for the Pan di Stelle cake and ten variations, including a protein version. Each recipe is easy to make, perfect for surprising with few ingredients and great imagination.

Have you ever tasted it star cake? It is a truly delicious chocolate cake, garnished with sugar stars and sometimes filled with cocoa and hazelnut spreadable cream. It owes its name, which has now become commonly used, to the successful biscuits of a well-known brand.

We can prepare it at home star cake in different versions depending on our tastes and dietary needs, too without using the packaged biscuits from which it takes its name. However, the sugar paste stars that distinguish it from any other chocolate cake cannot be missing.

Here are many recipes for prepare the pan di stelle cake in the original version and in its numerous variations.

Pan di stelle cake, the original recipe

The original Pan di Stelle cake is a simple and delicious dessert, which is prepared without cooking. To make it, start by whipping 500 ml of cream and set it aside in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, soak 500 g of cocoa biscuits in milk, dipping them quickly to prevent them from softening too much.

Place a layer of soaked biscuits on the bottom of a 24cm cake tin, creating a compact base. Lightly melt 500 g of Nutella in a bain-marie, making it more fluid, and spread a layer on the biscuits, followed by a layer of whipped cream. Continue alternating biscuits, Nutella and cream until you have completed three layers, finishing with a layer of whipped cream. Dust the surface with bitter cocoa and decorate as desired with whole biscuits or sugar stars.

Leave to rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight to obtain a perfectly compact and fresh cake, ready to be enjoyed.

No-bake pan di stelle cake

Here is an irresistible Pan di Stelle cake, ideal for surprising with minimal effort. Only four ingredients are needed and it does not require cooking: Pan di Stelle biscuits, vegetable whipping cream, milk and Nutella (or Pan di Stelle cream). To prepare it, just place a circle of a springform pan on a tray, which will act as a guide. Lightly soak the biscuits in the milk and arrange them on the bottom, covering all the spaces also with pieces of biscuits, if necessary. Spread a generous layer of Nutella or Pan di Stelle cream on the biscuits, followed by a layer of whipped cream. Repeat this sequence for at least three layers. Then let the cake rest in the refrigerator for a few hours, or better yet overnight, before removing the circle and decorating it as you wish.

Crumbled pan di stelle cake

This crumbled Pan di Stelle is a simple and irresistible dessert, perfect for any occasion. For the base, blend 350 g of biscuits until you obtain a sandy consistency, then mix them with 120 g of melted butter. Press the mixture onto the bottom and edges of a 20cm aluminum cake tin to form the base and place in the fridge to firm up.

For the cream, mix 200 g of mascarpone with 150 g of cocoa spread and 40 g of icing sugar until you obtain a smooth mixture. Whip 200 g of fresh cream separately and gently fold it into the mascarpone cream together with 10 g of bitter cocoa.

Pour half the cream onto the biscuit base, add a generous layer of spreadable cream (about 150-180 g) and cover with the remaining cream. Leave to harden in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving

Pan di stelle cake with ricotta

Pan di stelle cake without eggs and flour

This Pan di Stelle cake with just three ingredients is ideal for a quick and simple sweet treat, perfect for when you’re short of flour and eggs in the pantry! To prepare it, you only need biscuits, milk and baking powder.

Start by blending 700 g of biscuits until you obtain a fine powder. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and add 400 ml of milk, mixing well to obtain a smooth and homogeneous mixture. Add a sachet of baking powder, mix again and pour the mixture into a buttered and floured cake tin. Bake in the oven at 180°C for approximately 30-35 minutes.

Once cooked and cooled, you can enrich the cake with a layer of cream of your choice, such as Nutella or whipped cream, for an even more delicious touch. Decorate with sugar stars to make it spectacular. Happy preparation!

Protein star cake

This protein Pan di Stelle cake is perfect for those looking for a dessert without too many calories, rich in proteins and low in sugar. Start by whisking 2 eggs, 150 ml of egg white and 25 g of sweetener until you obtain a frothy mixture. Add a little vanilla to flavor and, little by little, incorporate 200 g of protein ricotta, 100 g of rice flour (better if chocolate), 15 g of bitter cocoa and 8 g of instant yeast, sifting each ingredient and continuing to mix to avoid lumps.

Finally, crumble 4 biscuits and add them to the dough. Pour the mixture into an 18 cm pan lined with baking paper and cook in a preheated static oven at 180°C for about 40 minutes, until the cake is well cooked and compact. Let it cool and have a good snack.

Tree-shaped star pan cake

The Pan di Stelle Tree is a very quick dessert to prepare and perfect for parties! Start by whipping 300g of fresh cream with 30g of icing sugar until you get a stiff consistency. Meanwhile, in a cup, prepare some cold milk or coffee and milk to soak all 48 biscuits (or less, depending on the desired height).

Take one biscuit at a time, quickly dip it in milk and start creating a round base on the serving plate. Once the first layer is complete, spread a layer of Nutella (125 g) over the biscuits and add a layer of whipped cream. Continue like this, alternating biscuits, Nutella and cream, and slightly reducing the quantity of biscuits in each layer to create the shape of a tree. Finish with a layer of cream and, if you want, decorate with star-shaped biscuits on the tip for an extra festive touch. Let the Pan di Stelle tree rest in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving, so it will be compact and delicious.

Pan di stelle cake with cream and Nutella

Here is a delicious and rich cake, perfect for chocolate and coffee lovers. Start by melting 60 g of dark chocolate with 100 g of butter in a bain-marie, then leave to cool. In the meantime, whisk 3 eggs with 180 g of sugar for about 10 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then add the melted and cooled chocolate, 100 ml of milk, 2 cups of coffee (about 80 ml), and incorporate 270 g of flour sifted with a sachet of yeast.

Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured 22cm pan, and cook in the oven at 180°C for 30-35 minutes, adapting the cooking time to your oven. Once cooked and cooled, cut the cake into two layers and moisten them with a mixture of coffee or milk, to taste. Fill the first layer with 500 ml of whipped cream and Nutella to taste, but you can also use hazelnut or vegan Nutella. Crumble some biscuits soaked in coffee and add them on top of the cream.

Cover with the second layer, fill again with whipped cream and Nutella and complete with a topping of cream and biscuits. Let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving to obtain a well-compact and fresh cake.

Pan di stelle cake with coffee

This soft and delicious cake is perfect for those who love chocolate desserts! Start by whipping 4 eggs with 150 g of sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, working for at least 5 minutes. Then add 70 g of melted butter and half a glass of milk, mixing well. Sift 150 g of flour, 3 tablespoons of bitter cocoa and a sachet of yeast, and add them to the mixture. After having buttered and floured a 24 cm pan, pour the mixture and bake in the oven at 160°C for about 30 minutes.

Once cold, cut the cake in half and lightly moisten the base with a little milk (without exaggerating). Spread a generous layer of hazelnut cream, previously softened in the microwave, and cover with 250 g of fresh whipped cream. Place the upper half of the cake, also slightly moistened with milk, and decorate the surface with small sugar or chocolate stars.

Pan di stelle cake with hazelnut cream

This soft and delicious cake is perfect for those who love chocolate desserts! Start by whipping 4 eggs with 150 g of sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, working for at least 5 minutes. Then add 70 g of melted butter and half a glass of milk, mixing well. Sift 150 g of flour, 3 tablespoons of bitter cocoa and a sachet of yeast, and add them to the mixture. After having buttered and floured a 24 cm pan, pour the mixture and bake in the oven at 160°C for about 30 minutes.

Once cold, cut the cake in half and lightly moisten the base with a little milk (without exaggerating). Spread a generous layer of hazelnut cream, previously softened in the microwave, and cover with 250 g of fresh whipped cream. Place the upper half of the cake, also slightly moistened with milk, and decorate the surface with small sugar or chocolate stars.

Pan di stelle cake with mascarpone

This creamy Pan di Stelle and mascarpone is a delicious and easy to prepare dessert, perfect for surprising everyone! For a 24cm diameter baking tray, you will need 500g of Pan di Stelle biscuits, 500ml of liquid cream, 250g of mascarpone, 3 cups of bitter coffee, 2 cups of milk and a few drops of chocolate.

Start by whipping the cream in a large bowl, then add the mascarpone and continue whipping until the cream becomes smooth and fluffy. In another bowl, mix the bitter coffee with the milk. Dip the biscuits in the coffee and milk mixture and arrange them in a 24 cm baking dish, creating a compact layer of biscuits. Fill any empty spaces with moistened biscuit pieces. Pour a layer of mascarpone cream and cream over the biscuits and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Continue alternating layers of biscuits, cream and chocolate chips up to the edge of the baking dish (three layers are usually enough).

Place your creamy sauce in the refrigerator for at least two hours. For a perfect consistency, take it out of the fridge about ten minutes before serving.

You know other recipes to suggest for preparing the pan di stelle cake?