Profiteroles are a classic French pastry made from choux dough, filled with cream, and often topped with a rich chocolate sauce.
These delightful treats are not only elegant but also surprisingly easy to make, making them a perfect addition to any dessert table or special occasion.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about making profiteroles from scratch, including how to prepare the choux pastry, fill them with delicious cream, and create a decadent topping. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, you’ll be able to impress your friends and family with these exquisite pastries.
1. Making the Choux Pastry
The foundation of any good profiterole is the choux pastry, which is light, airy, and slightly chewy. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients:
1 cup (240 ml) water
½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
Steps:
1. Prepare the Mixture: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, ensuring that the butter melts completely.
2. Incorporate the Flour: Once boiling, remove the pan from the heat and add the flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
3. Add the Eggs: Allow the dough to cool slightly for about 5 minutes. Then, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. The dough should be smooth and glossy.
4. Pipe the Dough: Transfer the choux pastry to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, pipe small mounds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Each mound should be about 1 inch in diameter.
2. Baking the Profiteroles
The baking process is crucial for achieving the right texture:
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Bake the Pastries: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the profiteroles are puffed and golden brown. Avoid opening the oven door during baking, as this can cause them to collapse.
Cool the Pastries: Once baked, remove the profiteroles from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. This will help them maintain their shape and prevent them from becoming soggy.
3. Filling and Topping the Profiteroles
Now that you have your choux pastry, it’s time to fill and decorate:
Preparing the Filling:
Pastry Cream: You can fill profiteroles with a variety of fillings, such as whipped cream, pastry cream, or ice cream. For pastry cream, use the following ingredients:
2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
4 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons (30 g) unsalted butter
Steps for Pastry Cream:
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan until steaming.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks until smooth.
3. Gradually add the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
4. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly.
5. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and butter, and let it cool completely before using.
6. Filling the Profiteroles: Once cooled, use a piping bag to fill each profiterole with your chosen filling. If you prefer, you can slice the tops off and spoon in the filling before replacing the tops.
Making the Chocolate Sauce:
Ingredients:
4 ounces (113 g) semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
Steps:
1. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it just begins to simmer.
2. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for a minute. Then, stir until smooth and glossy.
3. Drizzling the Sauce: Drizzle the warm chocolate sauce over the filled profiteroles or dip the tops in the sauce for a more decadent presentation.
Making profiteroles at home may seem daunting, but with this step-by-step guide, you can create these delightful French pastries with ease. From crafting the airy choux pastry to filling them with luscious cream and topping them with rich chocolate sauce, each step is straightforward and rewarding. Perfect for special occasions or as a treat for yourself, homemade profiteroles are sure to impress anyone lucky enough to enjoy them. So roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and get ready to indulge in these exquisite pastries!
