Nutritional information per cookie:
Calories 51 (42% from fat) • carb. 7g • pro. 1g • fat 2g • sat. fat 1g
• chol. 11mg • sod. 25mg • calc. 2mg • fiber 0g
Pâte à Choux – Cream Puffs
Very versatile, pâte à choux can be used for both sweet and
savory preparations.
Makes about 40 two-inch (5 cm) choux or puffs
½ cup (125 ml) water
4 tablespoons (60 ml) unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon (1 ml) fine sea salt or table salt
½ teaspoon (2 ml) granulated sugar
½ cup (125 ml) plus 2 tablespoons (30 ml) bread flour
2 large eggs, plus 2 more if necessary
1. Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C).
2. Put the water, butter, salt and sugar into a small or medium saucepan
and set over medium heat. Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove
from heat and stir in all of the flour. Return to the burner and raise
the heat to medium-high. Using a wooden spoon, continuously
stir the mixture until it dries out. You will know it is done when the
dough leaves a thick hard film on the bottom of the pot. It is better to
overcook at this stage, than not enough.
3. Remove from heat and put mixture into the bowl of a Cuisinart®Stand
Mixer, fitted with the mixing paddle. Mix on a low speed to release
steam and cool.
4. Once the dough has cooled, after about 2 to 3 minutes, start adding
the eggs, one at a time, mixing each until fully incorporated before
adding the next. The dough is ready when it becomes a pale yellow
colour and is thickened. Typically, pâte à choux batter should drop
from the paddle in a slow and steady stream, but for use in the cookie
press, the desired consistency is between a thick cake batter and a
soft cookie dough. If the dough is too thick, beat the remaining two
eggs together and, with the mixer running, slowly begin to add them,
little by little, until the dough is correct. Be sure not to make the dough
too runny or it will not hold its shape.
5. Fit the Cuisinart®Electric Cookie Press with the pastry tip assembly,
using the basic round tip (#1). Load the batter to the MAX fill line. Pipe
the batter out into 2-inch (5 cm) rounds onto a parchment paper-lined
baking pan, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. To achieve the best results,
instead of holding the On/Off button down, pulse and let the batter
slowly come out of the press.
6. Place the pan of piped choux in the preheated oven. Turn the oven off
and let sit in the hot oven for 10 minutes. Turn the oven back on and
set to 300°F (150°C). Let bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the choux
are hollow, nicely browned, and not wet inside. To ensure even colour,
turn baking sheet halfway through baking.
7. Let choux cool, and then fill with desired filling. For a sweet finish to
your meal, the Lightened Pastry Cream (recipe follows) or the Simple
Chocolate Mousse on page 6 – both work well.
Nutritional information per choux:
Calories 26 (60% from fat) • carb. 2g • pro. 1g • fat 2g • sat. fat 1g
• chol. 21mg • sod. 38mg • calc. 3mg • fiber 0g
Lightened Pastry Cream
The essential filling for cream puffs, this is also delicious in
fresh fruit tarts or as a cake filling.
Makes about 3½ cups (875 ml)
1½ cups (375 ml) whole milk
1 cup (250 ml) heavy cream, divided
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar, divided
½ teaspoon (2 ml) salt
½ tablespoon (7 ml) pure vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, halved and seeds scraped*
4 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornstarch
1. Put the milk, ½ cup (125 ml) cream, ¼ cup (50 ml) sugar, salt, vanilla
extract, vanilla bean seeds and pod into a saucepan over medium
heat. Bring mixture to a heavy simmer.
2. Put egg yolks, remaining sugar and cornstarch into a large mixing
bowl. Using either a Cuisinart®Hand or Stand Mixer, fitted with the
whisk attachment, whisk the ingredients until light in colour and
thickened.
3. Once the milk/cream mixture has reached a heavy simmer, add one
third slowly to the yolk/sugar mixture while whisking. Whisk until
completely combined. Add the remaining mixture slowly while mixing.
4. Return mixture to the saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil
and cook while whisking continuously, being sure to whisk the entire
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