In a milk pot, add water, butter and salt.

Heat the butter until it’s melted. Off the fire when it starts to boil.

Add in the flour. Mix until it comes together. Meanwhile, put the heat back on, continue mixing until it comes together like a dough. Remove from the heat.

While it’s still hot, add in the eggs, one at a time. Mix until the mixture is sticky and hanging on your spatula, dropping very slow. This consistency is important, not too watery and not too dry or hard.

Divide the batter into two 6x6 inch pan, lined with parchment paper. You can also use a round pan is fine. Using a weighing scale is optional. Spread the batter evenly and all the way to the edges.

*Remark: if you only have one pan, you can bake the first one first, then bake the second one later.

Bake in preheated oven at 190°C/375°F for 30 minutes or until it’s browned.

Remove the pastries from the pans, let it cool completely.

In a milk pot, add the milk and heat it up until it’s hot.

In another pot, add the egg and sugar, mix well. Sift in the cornstarch. Mix until combined.

Gradually pour in the hot milk.

Cook the mixture over a low heat. Constantly stir the mixture. Cook until the mixture is thickened. Off the heat. Add in the vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

Transfer the cream into a bowl. Cover with a cling film directly on top of the cream to prevent formation of skin. Set aside until it is completely cool before using.

*Remark: you can speed up the cooling process by refrigerating it (be careful not to put into the fridge immediately as it’s too hot, it will spoil your fridge. Or you can also put the bowl over another bowl of ice cubes to bring down the temperature fast.

 6.     In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until creamy and pale.

7.      Add in the cooled pastry cream in 3 batches. Mix until combined. Use a spatula to scrape the bowl to ensure even mixing.

8.      Add in the chopped strawberries, fold until incorporated.

In a 6x6 pan, line the plastic strips around the sides.

Place one layer of choux on the base.

Add in the pastry cream. Reserve some to spread on the other layer (the hollow space beneath). Spread the cream evenly.

Spread some remaining cream onto the hollow space beneath the other layer. Place the layer on top of the pastry cream. Press the sheet down so that it’s packed.

Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight.

Dust some powdered sugar on the top surface.

The cake is ready to serve.