Champagne Cream Puffs
Makes about 45 cream puffs
It you would prefer to make half as many puffs, halve the recipes for the pastry cream and chocolate glaze and freeze the other half the of the pate a choux puffs for later. You can also skip the chocolate glaze in favor of a dusting with powdered sugar.
These cream puffs are best served within a few hours of assembly, but if necessary hold up fairly well when chilled in the refrigerator overnight.
Ingredients
1 batch of Champagne Pastry Cream, below
1 batch of Pate a Choux Puffs, below
1 batch of Chocolate Glaze, below
* 1 metal decorating tip with a wide opening, such as Wilton 1M, 2A, or 230
1 batch of Champagne Pastry Cream, below
1 batch of Pate a Choux Puffs, below
1 batch of Chocolate Glaze, below
* 1 metal decorating tip with a wide opening, such as Wilton 1M, 2A, or 230
Directions
Prepare the pastry cream first. Chill for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
Prepare the pastry cream first. Chill for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
Pate a choux puffs can be prepared several hours before serving, or prepared ahead of time and stored in the freezer. If using immediately, let the puffs sit at room temperature. If frozen, thaw puffs at room temperature, then rewarm in a 350°F oven until warm and crisped.
Prepare the chocolate glaze an hour or so before assembly to allow time to firm up.
When ready to assemble the puffs, cut a small X in the side of each puff about halfway between the top and bottom. (You can do this in the same place you poked to release steam.) Fill a pastry bag fitted with wide-opening decorating tip with the champagne pastry cream. Insert tip into the X in the side of each puff and gently fill with pastry cream.
Once filled, dip the top of each cream puff in the chocolate ganache and set on a rack to firm up.
Serve within a few hours, or if necessary refrigerate overnight.
Champagne Pastry Cream
Adapted from Sprinkle Bakes
Resist the temptation to replace part of the heavy cream with milk. The acidity of the champagne will curdle the milk.
Ingredients
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup heavy cream, divided
1 cup champagne or prosecco
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 whole large eggs
4 large egg yolks
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup heavy cream, divided
1 cup champagne or prosecco
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 whole large eggs
4 large egg yolks
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Set aside.
In a saucepan, combine remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream, champagne or prosecco, and sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar, then remove from heat.
Beat the eggs and egg yolks into the cornstarch mixture. While whisking constantly, slowly pour about 1/4 cup of the hot heavy cream mixture into the cornstarch mixture to temper the eggs. Return the rest of the heavy cream mixture to heat and return to a boil. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the pot, whisking constantly until the pastry cream reaches a pudding-like consistency. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla extract.
Pour pastry through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl to remove any lumps. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
Pate A Choux Puffs
Adapted from Ready for Dessert by David Lebovitz
Makes about 45 small puffs
Makes about 45 small puffs
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 cup water
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat mats.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat mats.
Bring water, butter, sugar and salt to a boil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. As soon as the butter has melted and the mixture boils, using a spatula, stir in the flour all at once until a thick paste forms and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat. Cool for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Briskly beat the eggs in one at a time with a spatula, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next, until dough is smooth and shiny.
Fill a large zip-top food storage bag (or pastry bag) with the dough. Snip 1/2 inch off the bag tip and pipe small mounds of dough about as wide as a quarter and 1 inch high (about 1 inch apart) on the prepared baking sheets. You should get 20-24 (5 or 6 rows of 4) per baking sheet.
Bake one sheet at a time at 425°F for 15 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 375°F. Continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until puffs are golden brown on top and sides. Turn off oven and let puffs sit in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and poke each puff on the side with a paring knife to release steam. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Use puffs the same day they are baked, or freeze them in a zip-top freezer bag for up to a month.
Chocolate Glaze
Ingredients
4 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons milk
4 ounces bittersweet (dark) chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
4 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons milk
4 ounces bittersweet (dark) chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Directions
Combine heavy cream, milk and chopped chocolate in a bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir well. Continue microwaving in 10 second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in confectioners’ sugar. Set aside to rest until spreadable but not runny. (You can pop it in the fridge for a little bit to speed this part up.)
Combine heavy cream, milk and chopped chocolate in a bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir well. Continue microwaving in 10 second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in confectioners’ sugar. Set aside to rest until spreadable but not runny. (You can pop it in the fridge for a little bit to speed this part up.)
I was counting down the days wrong. Today is the tenth day of Christmas. :)
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