Rabu, 31 Oktober 2018
Learn how to make cream puffs from scratch using the basic pate a choux pastry. Fill with chantilly cream or pastry cream.
That whole Pate A Choux thing is still going on over here at Baker Bettie headquarters. I hope that’s okay. I know I’m cool with it, even though my thighs aren’t. But seriously, the more I play with this pastry dough, the more obsessed with it I am getting.
CLASSIC CREAM PUFFS
yield: ABOUT 24 CREAM PUFFS prep time: 20 MINUTES cook time: 25 MINUTES total time: 45 MINUTES
This is the basic recipe for making cream puffs using the classic french pastry- pate a choux.
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE SHELLS
1 cup (8 fl oz, 240 ml) water
1 stick (1/2 cup, 4 oz, 113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
large pinch kosher salt
2 TBSP (0.8 oz, 24 grams) granulated sugar
1 cup (4.5 oz, 127 grams) all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
FOR THE CREAM CHANTILLY
1 1/2 cups (12 oz) heavy cream, cold
3 TBSP powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
INSTRUCTIONS
For the Shells
Place water, butter, sugar, and salt in a sauce pot over medium high heat. Stir until butter is melted and everything comes to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium. Add flour into the mixture all at once while stirring quickly. Continue to stir and cook off the moisture in the dough until it pulls away from the sides and starts to form into a ball. This should take about a minute.
Place dough into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a large bowl if using a hand mixer. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
With the mixer on medium-low speed, add eggs in one at a time. Do not add another egg until the one before has been completely absorbed into the batter. The batter will look smooth and glossy when ready. (Alternatively, you can mix in the eggs by hand. This just takes a bit longer. Mix each egg until completely absorbed before adding the next).
Place batter in a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip or a zip top bag with the tip cut off. Preheat oven to 425F. Line baking sheets with parchment or silpat.
Hold the pastry bag over the baking sheet and squeeze over one area until you have about a 2 inch round. Release the pressure from the bag and pull up to release the dough mound. You will have a little peak on the each that can be smoothed out with a wet fingertip. Keep the mounds about 2 inches apart. (about 9 per baking sheet)
Place the baking sheet in the oven and turn to heat up to 450F. Bake for 10 minutes (without opening the oven) then drop the heat down to 350F and bake for 13-15 more minutes until the shells are crispy on the outside and set.
Fill cooled pastries with creme chantilly (recipe follows) and dust with powdered sugar.
For the Creme Chantilly
Whip cream by hand, in stand mixer with whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer until just starting to thicken.
Add sugar and vanilla and continue whipping until soft to medium peaks form.
Fill a pastry bag with the cream, and pipe into the bottom of the puffs until filled.