Buzz
Making cream puffs with a crispy shell is not overly challenging, but to successfully create these delightful small pastries with a refreshing cream filling and a crispy exterior, you need some special secrets. Save these tips from Mytour, and ensure your success from the very first attempt.
1. About cream puffs
Cream puffs, renowned throughout history, are a delectable French dessert. Each small pastry, charming and satisfying even the most discerning palate, can be made with simple, readily available ingredients. Try making these at home with the detailed A-Z guide below.
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2. Recipe for Chocolate-Flavored Crispy Cream Puffs
Chocolate craquelin cream puffs are the cold version of the traditional cream puff with a crispy cookie-like outer layer. Particularly, this outer layer resembles the texture of papparoti bread, making it extremely visually appealing. Dive into the preparation with the following method for making crispy cream puffs.
| Khẩu phần | Thời gian chuẩn bị | Thời gian nấu | Tổng thời gian |
| 5-6 người | 3 tiếng | 40 phút | 3 tiếng 40 phút |
Prepare the ingredients
Banh Topping Section
- Unsalted animal fat: 80g
- Brown sugar: 100g
- All-purpose flour: 100g
Banh Crust Section
- Unsalted animal fat: 60g
- Water: 120ml
- Sugar: ½ teaspoon
- Salt: ⅛ teaspoon
- All-purpose flour: 65g
- Eggs: 2
Filling Section (Chocolate Flavor)
- Egg yolk: 1
- Sugar: 15g
- All-purpose flour: 10g
- Unsweetened fresh milk: 100ml
- Chocolate (50-60% cacao): 20g
- Cold fresh cream (30-40% fat): 150ml
- Sugar: 20g
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Processing Method
Step 1: Prepare the Cake Topping
- Blend butter and sugar using a food processor or the slowest speed of an egg beater.
- Add flour to the processor and blend for an additional 30-60 seconds.
- Take it out and knead the mixture into a smooth, elastic dough, avoiding over-kneading or kneading for too long.
- Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper, and roll it thin 1mm. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes to firm up the dough.
- Cut the dough into small circles about 2cm or 3-3.5cm (you can use a round mold for easier cutting).
- Knead the leftover dough, roll it thin, and continue cutting.
- Prepare small pieces of parchment paper and place the cut dough on top. Wrap the dough tightly, stack it, and store it inside the freezer compartment of the refrigerator for about 2 hours until the dough firms up.
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Step 2: Prepare the Cake Crust
- Heat a pot on the stove, add butter, water, sugar, and a pinch of salt to the pot. Boil the mixture until the butter is completely melted, and the mixture is boiling vigorously. Stir well and then remove the pot from the stove.
- Add 65g of flour to the pot, use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Beat the eggs and then add them to the dough. Mix the dough mixture until it is well combined.
- Put the dough into a pastry bag, then pipe the dough into round shapes. The diameter of the dough base should be equivalent to the diameter of the cake topping (prepared in step 1).
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Step 3: Bake the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 210-220 degrees Celsius. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper underneath.
- Take the cake toppings from the freezer and place them on the dough base.
- Bake the cake at around 200-220 degrees Celsius for about 10-15 minutes.
- Reduce the temperature to around 180-190 degrees Celsius and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cake is cooked.
- The cake topping will gradually soften and evenly cover the surface of the cake during baking.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely.
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Step 4: Prepare the Filling
- Beat the eggs with a little sugar in a bowl until the egg yolks are thick and pale yellow.
- Sift flour into the egg bowl and mix the mixture well.
- Bring the milk to a boil and pour it into the egg and flour bowl. Pour it slowly while stirring until the milk is fully incorporated.
- Pour the mixture into a pot and bring it to a boil over low heat. When the mixture thickens, remove the pot from the heat, stir until the mixture thickens into a creamy texture. Add salt, butter, and chocolate and mix well by hand.
- Once cooled, put it into a pastry bag. Cut a hole in the cake base or the side of the cake and squeeze the filling inside the cream puff.
Finished Product
Indulge in the art of creating this exquisite creamy choco-filled choux pastry. The golden, crispy shell encapsulates the cool, velvety chocolate goodness within. Experience the delightful crunch of the pastry, paired with the rich and smooth sensation that tantalizes your taste buds.
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3. Recipe for Crispy Vanilla Choux Pastry with Cream
Discover a tantalizing twist with this crispy vanilla choux pastry, boasting an enticing aroma. The crunchy shell will captivate you, complemented by the delightful creaminess inside. Embark on the journey to create this dessert masterpiece using the following recipe.
| Khẩu phần | Thời gian chuẩn bị | Thời gian nấu | Tổng thời gian |
| 5-6 người | 3 tiếng | 40 phút | 3 tiếng 40 phút |
Prepare the Ingredients
Filling Section
- Egg Yolk: 1
- Sugar: 30g
- Cornstarch: 13g
- Unsweetened Milk: 120ml
- Whipping Cream: 80ml
- A few drops of Vanilla
Crunchy Shell Section
- Softened Butter: 60g
- Sugar: 50g
- All-Purpose Flour: 60g
Cream Puff Shell Section
- Filtered Water: 130ml
- Softened Butter: 50g
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon
- All-Purpose Flour: 70g
- Chicken Eggs: 2
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Recipe Preparation
Step 1: Making the Cream Filling
- Whisk together egg yolk and sugar. Add cornstarch and mix well.
- Heat the unsweetened milk and gradually pour it into the mixture while stirring.
- Transfer the mixture to a pot and heat it until it thickens. Then, pour it into a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
- During the wait, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form, as a stiff mixture may cause it to become watery.
- After 2 hours, take the mixture out of the refrigerator, add a few drops of vanilla, and beat the mixture for about 1 minute until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture into a piping bag and refrigerate in the cool compartment of the refrigerator.
Step 2: Making the Crispy Shell
- Combine butter and sugar in a bowl, mix well. Then add flour to the mixture, stir until it forms a smooth dough.
- Place the mixture on parchment paper. Cover it with another sheet of parchment paper, then roll the dough thinly to about 2mm thickness.
- Chill the mixture in the freezer for approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Use a mold to cut it into round shapes.
Step 3: Making the Cream Puff Shell
- Combine a mixture of butter, a pinch of salt, and water in a pot, then heat until the butter melts into a liquid mixture.
- Turn off the heat, add flour to the pot, and stir until it forms a smooth dough.
- Beat the eggs and add them to the dough, then mix by hand until it forms a smooth and shiny batter.
- Transfer the mixture into a piping bag.
- Pipe the mixture into evenly sized shells.
- Place the crispy layer on top of the cream puff shells.
Step 4: Baking and Finalizing the Pastry
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and bake the pastry for about 25-30 minutes.
- Once the pastry is baked, remove it from the oven and poke a hole underneath to inject the cream inside. Make sure the pastry is completely cool before filling it with cream.
Finished Product
With this recipe for crispy cream puff pastry, each piece features a crunchy exterior and a delightful, cool, and smooth vanilla cream filling. This pastry is perfect as a snack or a thoughtful gift for friends.
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4. Tips for Making Cream Puffs
- Prepare a large batch of pastry dough and store it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator for later use.
- In addition to making classic vanilla or chocolate cream puff pastry, experiment with other flavors like green tea or cinnamon.
- Use all-purpose flour or bread flour for a soft and chewy texture. Avoid using cake flour for the pastry shell.
- Avoid overmixing the cream filling as excessive mixing can cause the butter to melt and affect the taste.
- Let the pastry dough cool before adding eggs to prevent the eggs from cooking and the proteins from coagulating.
- Spray a layer of water on the pastry before baking. After baking, let the pastry cool gradually inside the oven to prevent sudden temperature changes that may cause it to collapse.
With these two crispy cream puff recipes, you can enjoy delicious treats or pair them with a cold cup of tea. Wishing you success in creating delightful pastries for your family to savor.
