Chocolate Cream Puffs With Chocolate Filling And Ganache Topping Food

CHOCOLATE CREAM PUFFS (WITH CHOCOLATE FILLING AND GANACHE TOPPING)

Steps:

• In a medium heat-proof bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Place the bowl next to the stove.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the milk and heavy cream to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly.
• Decrease the heat to low and whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture to slowly temper it. Then, slowly whisk the tempered egg yolk mixture into the saucepan and cook, whisking constantly, until the filling is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt until smooth and fully incorporated, 1-2 minutes.
• Pour the custard into a strainer placed on a medium heat-proof bowl, and use a spatula to press the cream through the strainer into the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent it forming a skin. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Also, prepare the egg wash by combining the egg and water in a small bowl and set aside.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the water, butter, sugar, and salt to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook for about 2-3 minutes until a film forms on the bottom of the pan. Stir constantly while cooking.
• Then transfer the dough to a large heat-proof bowl and let cool for about 2 minutes.
• Still using the wooden spoon, stir in one egg at a time. You will notice that after every egg, the dough will separate. Keep stirring until the dough comes together again before adding the next egg. Repeat until all the eggs are incorporated. Once all eggs are incorporated, the dough will be sticky but firm enough to hold a stiff peak.
• Transfer the dough to a piping bag, pipe 1.5" (3.5-4cm) circles on the 2 prepared baking sheets, and spin the tips. You can stick a bit of dough to the baking sheets underneath the parchment paper to hold the paper in place and make piping easier. Press down the tips of the dough with wet fingers to even them.
• Lightly brush with egg wash and bake one sheet at a time for about 30-32 minutes until puffed and golden brown. Don't open the oven while the choux pastry is baking, or it will collapse. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Transfer the filling to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Using the tip of a sharp knife, cut a little X into the bottom of each choux pastry, then pipe the filling into the puffs. Set aside.
• Place the chopped chocolate in a large heatproof bowl, pour the hot whipping cream over the chocolate and let rest for 1-2 minutes. Stir until smooth and the chocolate has completely melted. Add the corn syrup and stir until combined. Let rest for about 5 minutes.
• Dip the tops of the filled puffs into the glaze and place them on a wire rack to let dry. Store leftover cream puffs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE-FILLED CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, bring water and butter to a boil. Add flour and salt all at once; stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat until smooth. , Cover a baking sheet with foil; grease foil. Drop batter into six mounds onto foil. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 30 minutes longer. Remove puffs to a wire rack. Immediately cut a slit in each for steam to escape. , In a bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and cocoa, beating until almost stiff. Split puffs and remove soft dough. Add filling; replace tops. Melt chocolate and butter; stir in sugar and water. Drizzle over puffs. Chill.

CLASSIC CREAM PUFFS WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the pastry cream: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in the egg yolks until combined, then whisk in the milk. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until it starts to thicken, 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat.
• Whisk in the butter and vanilla bean paste. Transfer to a bowl, then press a sheet of plastic wrap on the surface of the pastry cream. Let cool, then refrigerate until chilled through, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Start the cream puff dough: In a medium saucepan, bring the milk, butter and salt to a simmer over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture comes together. Cook until the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the pan into a ball and looks dry, 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Finish the cream puff dough: Using a wooden spoon, beat in the eggs, one at a time, waiting until they are fully incorporated before adding the next. Mix until the batter is shiny and stiff. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-low speed to incorporate the eggs. Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round pastry tip.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Form and bake: On the prepared baking sheet, pipe rounds of dough that are 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide and about 1 inch high, allowing 1 inch between each. Alternatively, measure out a scant 1/4-cup dough for each puff. Wet your finger and press down any pointed tops on the cream puffs. Bake for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 350 degrees F and bake until firm to the touch, another 15 to 20 minutes.
• Finish baking: Shut the oven off. Let the puffs dry inside the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
• Assemble: Using a paring knife, hollow out a hole in the bottom of each of the puffs. Pipe the pastry cream into the hole. Alternatively, you can cut the top off each puff and remove any undercooked dough in the center, then fill with the pastry cream and top with the top again. Hold in the refrigerator until ready to garnish and serve.
• Make the chocolate sauce: In a small pot, heat the cream. In a small bowl that fits over the pot of cream (without the bottom of the bowl touching the cream), combine the chocolate with the cinnamon. Use the pot of cream as the bottom of the double boiler and melt the chocolate over the cream. When the chocolate is melted, add the heated cream to the bowl with the chocolate and whisk to combine. Keep warm.
• Top the cream puffs with a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar and some of the chocolate sauce.

CHOCOLATE CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet lightly with some shortening. Put beaters into the freezer to chill.
• Combine water and shortening in a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Add flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt all at once and reduce heat to low. Stir mixture vigorously until it leaves the sides of the pan and forms a ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, with chilled beaters, beating vigorously after each addition until batter is smooth and glossy. Drop dough into 6 mounds on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and dry, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and pierce the side of each puff with a knife to allow steam to escape. Transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely, abut 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine sugar, cocoa powder and whipping cream in a bowl for the filling. Beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until needed.
• Cut cooled puffs in half horizontally. Fill with cocoa whipped cream.
• For the glaze, pour whipping cream into a small pot and heat until hot. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted. Allow to cool slightly. Drizzle chocolate glaze over the cream puffs and refrigerate until serving.