Chocolate Orange Cream Puffs Food

CHOCOLATE ORANGE CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• In a sturdy saucepan or pot, combine all the choux ingredients, except the flour, vanilla and eggs. Set the pot on low heat and stir until the butter has melted and the mixture comes to a simmer.
• Add the flour and use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to stir the mixture quite fast. It will begin to come together and form a ball at which point keep stirring it around slowly for another minute, pressing it against the sides of the pot to cook the flour. The left-hand side picture below the recipe is the dough at this stage.
• Take it off the heat and transfer to a mixing bowl. Let cool for a few minutes. Stir the vanilla into the beaten eggs and slowly pour into the bowl while you use either a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the dough. At first it will look like scrambled eggs, but it will come together and become smooth, thick and shiny in just a couple of minutes. When this happens, stop adding the eggs, even if you have some left. Depending on the weather, the egg size and other factors, you will likely not need to use all of it. Keep the remainder aside for the egg wash. The dough will be thick, but it should be a pipe-able consistency. The right-hand side picture below the recipe is the dough at this stage.
• Preheat the oven to 200 C. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat. I tried baking paper, but the puffs stuck to the sheet and I ended up with some bottomless ones so I really recommend a silicone mat here.
• Fill a piping bag with the mixture and pipe 8 to 10 equal sized mounds, roughly 2 inches in diameter. A swirly piping pattern results in cute baked puffs, but make sure you are piping in consistent circles, leaving no gaps at the bottom because that will result in your filling leaking out.
• Moisten your finger and smoothen the tops of the little dough mounds. Brush lightly with the remaining beaten egg.
• Bake for 20 minutes at 200 C, then leave the tray in the oven and lower the temperature to 175 C. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the puffs are golden brown. Avoid opening the oven door because it will cause the puffs to deflate.
• When the puffs are done, let them cool in the oven itself so that the sudden colder air outside doesn't 'shock' them. After 30 minutes, take them out and let them cool completely at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, whip the cream with the sugar and half the orange zest (save the rest for the chocolate) until soft peaks form and the cream is nice and thick. It helps to chill your bowl and beaters before whipping and the cream MUST be very, very cold. Keep refrigerated till you're ready to fill the puffs.
• For the chocolate topping, combine the cream, chocolate and the rest of the orange zest from above in a small microwave-safe bowl. This isn't a traditional ganache, more of a quick chocolate sauce. Microwave for about 5 to 10 seconds, then stir to make a smooth, glossy topping. Overheating will cause the chocolate to seize, so it's best to heat in increments and let the warm of the mixture melt any lumps of chocolate. If it seems too thick, add more cream but don't reheat the mixture unless necessary.
• Now gently split open the puffs, and add a dollop of cream in the center. Place the 'lid' back on and drizzle with the chocolate topping. Decorate with more orange zest. Ta da! These are best eaten immediately though you can store them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. They will soften and will last a couple of days longer if you haven't filled them yet. Happy baking!

ORANGE-CHOCOLATE PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease cookie sheet; lightly flour. Heat 1 cup water, the butter and salt to a rapid boil in 2 1/2-quart saucepan. Stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat. Cool 5 minutes.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time with wire whisk, until smooth. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart into 16 mounds onto cookie sheet.
• Bake about 30 minutes or until puffed and golden brown; cool. Cut off tops; reserve. Pull out any strands of soft dough.
• Beat whipping cream, powdered sugar, cocoa and orange peel in chilled medium bowl on high speed until stiff. Fill puffs with whipped cream mixture; replace tops. Mound puffs on large serving plate.
• Heat remaining ingredients over low heat until smooth; drizzle over puffs. Refrigerate any remaining puffs.

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.

CHOCOLATE CREAM PUFFS WITH ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• ALMOND CREAM: In a nonreactive saucepan, combine the almond paste, 1 cup half-and-half and sugar. Whisk to dissolve. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
• In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks, cornstarch and remaining 1/4 cup half-and-half. Whisk well.
• Remove the milk from the heat and add some of the hot liquid to the egg mixture and mix well. Add the egg mixture back to the simmering milk and place over the heat.
• Bring to a boil, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Pour into a bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pastry cream. Cool completely before using.
• CHOCOLATE PUFFS: Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, combine water, butter, sugar and stir until butter is melted.
• Add flour and cocoa powder all at once; stir vigorously until mixture pulls away from side of pan. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Place or pipe 1/4 cup of mixture onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 2" apart. Bake for 30-40 minutes until puffed and firm. Allow to cool to room temperature before proceeding.
• ASSEMBLY: Using a pastry bag with a star tip, fill bag with Almond cream. Using the tip, pierce the side of a chocolate puff and begin squeezing almond cream into the center, slowly removing the tip and ending with a swirl as it exits the puff. Repeat with remaining puffs. (You can also opt to cut them in half horizontally and fill with the almond cream, then replace the tops like a sandwich).
• Place on a silver platter (metal will help keep them cool), cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Remove plastic wrap and dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F and lightly butter a baking sheet.
• Chop chocolate and in a small bowl stir together with zest. In another small bowl lightly beat egg. Trim any uneven edges from pastry sheet and cut into 4 squares. Brush edges of pastry squares with some egg. Put one fourth chocolate mixture on center of each pastry square and fold each square diagonally in half, forming triangles. Seal edges by gently pressing together and crimp decoratively.
• Brush tops of turnovers with egg and sprinkle with sugar. With a sharp knife cut a small steam vent in top of each turnover. On baking sheet bake turnovers in middle of oven until golden, about 12 minutes. Cool turnovers slightly on a rack. Serve turnovers warm.

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.

CHOCOLATE CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, bring water, butter and salt to a boil. Add the flour and cocoa all at once; stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat until smooth and shiny., Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 3 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until set and browned. Remove to wire racks. Immediately split puffs open; remove and discard soft dough from inside. Cool puffs completely., In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream and strawberries. Fill bottom halves of puffs; replace tops. Serve immediately.