Pate a Choux

(519)
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Yield:
3 dozen cream puffs

A classic French recipe, choux pastry or pâte à choux is used for both sweet and savory delicacies such as profiteroles, cream puffs, eclairs, and gougères. The simple dough is made with butter, flour, and water and cooked on the stovetop. Off the heat, eggs are added and the dough is beaten until smooth. Usually, pâte à choux is piped into circles or rectangles and baked. When cool, these puffs are filled with pastry cream, whipped cream, ice cream, or savory fillings, such as crab or cheese.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  • 4 large eggs, plus 1 large egg white

Directions

  1. Bring butter, sugar, salt, and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Using a wooden spoon, quickly stir in flour. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture pulls away from sides and a film forms on bottom of pan, about 3 minutes.

  2. Transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until slightly cooled, about 1 minute. Raise speed to medium; add whole eggs, 1 at a time, until a soft peak forms when batter is touched with your finger. If peak does not form, lightly beat remaining egg white, and mix it into batter a little at a time until it does.

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, November 2005

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