Sunday, December 30, 2012

Croquembouche




From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I know few desserts that speak more to the Christmas holiday than croquembouche. This cone-shaped French marvel is made with filled cream puffs, caramel and spun sugar. It is always delicious and when made by experienced hands it can be a visually stunning addition to the holiday table. Until this year, the ones that graced my table were the creation of pastry chefs who charged dearly for their efforts. It would have been ever thus, had I not found a video on the Fine Cooking website that clearly detailed how to make one. While I've included a recipe with this post, there are times when pictures are more helpful, so, if you are inclined to try to make a croquembouche, please take 5 minutes to watch the video, found here, before you start. It will save you a boat load of grief. My clumsy creation won't strike fear in the hearts of pastry chefs, but it was a good first effort and, appearances aside, it was delicious and I can now strike it, along with suckling pig, from my must-do list. If you share my insanity and would like to make a croquembouche, if only once, take a peek at the video then follow the directions below.

Croquembouche...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Fine Cookingmagazine

Ingredients:
For the pastry cream
1-1/2 cups whole-milk ricotta
3 cups whole milk
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
Table salt
1 cup granulated sugar
6 Tbs. cornstarch
1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract
2-1/4 oz. (4-1/2 Tbs.) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
For the pâte à choux puffs
7-1/2 oz. (15 Tbs.) unsalted butter
2-1/2 Tbs. granulated sugar
Kosher salt
11-1/4 oz. (2-1/2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour, sifted
10 large eggs
For assembly
2-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 Tbs. sea salt
One 4x12-inch (approximately) foam cone, covered in foil (ideally gold)
Toothpicks

Directions:
1) To make pastry cream: Drain the ricotta in a fine sieve set over a small bowl in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
    Warm the milk in a heavy-duty 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until steaming, 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, and 1/2 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the sugar. Whisk in the cornstarch and vanilla until smooth.
    Slowly whisk a little of the hot milk into the egg mixture to warm it, then whisk the mixture into the pot of milk. Whisk in the butter and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the pastry cream is very thick and registers 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, 2 to 3 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it onto the surface of the cream, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
    Purée the ricotta in a food processor until very smooth, about 8 minutes. Stir it into the pastry cream and refrigerate until ready to use or for up to 1 day.
2) To make  and fill the pâte à choux puffs: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F.
     Bring 2-1/2 cups of water and the butter, sugar, and 1-1/4 tsp. salt to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. When the butter melts, remove from the heat and add the flour. Set the pan over low heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a smooth ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on low speed until cool to the touch. On medium-low speed, beat in the eggs one by one, mixing until each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
     Let the dough cool for about 10 minutes. Transfer half of the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip. Onto 2 parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets, pipe small, 1-1/2-inch-high mounds (like chocolate kisses) at 2-inch intervals. Smooth the surface of the mounds with a wet finger.
     Lower the oven temperature to 375°F and bake, rotating the sheets from top to bottom after 10 minutes, until the puffs are evenly golden-brown, 20 to 25 minutes total. Turn off the oven and remove the puffs from the oven. Prick the side of each puff with a paring knife to release the steam. Return the puffs to the turned-off oven with the door ajar to dry them for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the puffs from the baking sheets and transfer to a rack to cool.
     Repeat with the remaining dough on freshly lined baking sheets.
3) To assemble the croquembouche: Sort the puffs according to size: small, medium, and large. Transfer about half of the pastry cream to a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip. Poke the tip into the bottom of each puff and fill with the pastry cream, being careful not to overfill. Refill the pastry bag as needed.
    Have a large bowl of ice water ready. Put the sugar and salt in a 3-quart heavy-duty saucepan. Add 2/3 cup water and swirl to moisten the sugar. Cover and boil over high heat until starting to turn golden around the edges, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the lid and cook, swirling occasionally, until the caramel is light golden, 1 to 2 minutes more. Immediately put the bottom of the pot in the ice water to stop the cooking. Remove the pot from the water and put it on a heatproof surface.
    Have a small bowl of ice water nearby. Put the foil-wrapped cone on a serving platter. Insert a toothpick about 1 inch from the base of the cone. Dip the side of a large cream puff into the hot caramel to coat the side and about a third of the top of the puff. Immediately press the cream puff onto the toothpick, with the top facing out. Insert another toothpick parallel to the first pick, positioning it so that the next puff will fit snugly against its neighbor. Dip another cream puff and nestle it against the first. Repeat, making your way up and around the cone, working from the largest to the smallest puffs. If you get any hot caramel on your fingers, immediately dip them into the ice water to stop the burn.
    As the caramel cools and thickens, it will begin to spin into long, thin threads as you pull the puffs from the pot. Before attaching the puff, circle the cone with the puff so the spun caramel drapes the croquembouche. When the caramel becomes too thick to dip, swirl it over low heat to thin it—it will darken a little each time you do this.
    When the cone is completely covered with puffs, dip a fork into the caramel and continue to pull the caramel threads from the pot and spin them around the croquembouche until you’re happy with its appearance. Serve any extra cream puffs on the side.


Cook's  Make Ahead Tips
The pastry cream can be made up to one day ahead and refrigerated, covered. The puffs are best used the same day they're made, but they can be made one day ahead and stored (unfilled) in an airtight container at room temperature. You can assemble the croquembouche up to 2 hours ahead provided it’s not too humid; a moist environment will cause the caramel to soften. Don’t refrigerate the croquembouche.






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19 comments :

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

For a first try, I'm quite impressed, especially with your spun sugar threads. I once watched a chef use a modified whisk that had the rounded ends of the wires cut off. Not a bad idea if you don't mind sacrificing a perfectly good whisk.

Anonymous said...

it is a magnificent desert but I think I'll leave this one to the chef, the length of the instructions scares me!

Alessandra said...

Simply fantastic, brava Mary!!!

Rhodesia said...

This sounds quite delicious. I have to say I have not only never seen one here in France, but I have not heard of them either. Maybe this is the sort of thing you would see in Paris but not in the country. I might just remedy that if I can get through the video on my slow connection. Keep well. Happy new Year Diane

Alicia Foodycat said...

I cannot believe you made that! Clumsy effort, hardly! Your spun sugar looks extremely professional. Funny that you associate it with Christmas, I've always had it as a wedding cake.

What's Baking?? said...

Mary, you have never failed to amaze me with your cooking and baking skills. Although I'm new to this mouthful pronunciation, I think yours look fabulous.

QembarDelites said...

Lovely creation Mary...I know I'll never dare to attempt that! Happy New Year:D

Kim said...

I'm a huge huge fan of pate à choux!!!! It's so good! Croquembouche, it's a great piece of art. Yours is stunning. I like it Mary!!!! Have a great 2013 year!

Mostly Food and Crafts said...

GORGEOUS!

Janice said...

Stunning!

Ginny Hartzler said...

WOWZERS!!!! Well, it does not surprise me that you made this successfully. Very cool, edible artwork. I have seen them made on T.V, but never one in person. Phil and I have burned up two pots this year, necessitating unscheduled extra spending, so I think I will just look and drool from afar on this one.

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

I am very very impressed. I saw this made on tv once and it looked fun but hard.

Three cheers for you.

Fondly,
Glenda

Priya Suresh said...

Very impressive and beautiful croquembouche.

sonia said...

So pretty. I made the Martha one years ago and while it was tasty I went a bit crazy with sugar and it looked a bit wonky. Yours looks lovely.

Pondside said...

This is something I've never tried to make, but it is absolutely the most festive dessert! There is always on on new Year's eve and it is a treat.

lindalou said...

How brave of you and it looks lovely and yummy all at the same time. Great job.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

I think it's spectacular! Very impressive! Best wishes for a Happy New Year, Mary!

Joanne said...

This is definitely on my to-make...someday...list. Yours is gorgeous!

Claudia said...

Did you ever speak to me? It was my intention to make this Christmas Eve and didn't happen but it will happen and I saw the recipe in Fine Cooking and will save this and heed your advice. It's just a beauty. Happy New Year, Mary to you and the Silver Fox. May 2013 bring goodness and light.

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