Chocolate Raspberry Cream Puff Ring Food

RASPBERRY CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• For the cream puffs: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Put the butter, granulated sugar, salt and 3/4 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. As soon as it boils, take off the heat and add the flour. Mix vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixtures comes together and pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until slightly cooled. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. After adding the last egg, beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Use a 1 1/2-inch cookie scoop to place rounds about 1/2 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the cream puffs for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and continue to bake until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool completely, then use a serrated knife to cut the puffs in half.
• For the filling: Beat the cream, mascarpone and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until it just holds stiff peaks, then gently fold in the jam.
• When ready to serve, use a large spoon to dollop the cream on the bottom half of the puffs and add 1 raspberry to each. Then top with the other half of the puff.

SIMPLE RASPBERRY CREME PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, or silicone mat.
• In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar and salt. Slowly heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently to dissolve sugar and melt the butter. Once sugar is dissolved and butter is melted, increase the heat to medium high heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
• When the mixture is boiling, remove the saucepan from heat and add flour all at once. Quickly mix the mixture until all the flour is absorbed. (We just made panade!)
• Replace the saucepan back to burner and reduce the heat to medium. Cook the dough, continuously mixing with a wooden spoon. The dough will start to form into a ball. Keep mixing for another 3-4 minutes until light crust forms on the bottom of the pan. (Note: It's important to cook for at least 3-4 minutes to dry out the panade.)
• Transfer the dough into a mixing bowl with paddle attachment and mix it for a few minutes on low speed until the mixture is at room temperature, about 2 minutes. (No mixer? No problem. You can mix it with a wooden spoon!)
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This will help to get egg absorbed into the dough quicker. Don't add more than 2 eggs at a time! This is important, as you might not need to add all the eggs. The dough should be smooth and shiny, thin enough to slowly fall into a ribbon, but too runny. (Read more details in this post!)
• At this point choux pastry is done and ready to be piped into whatever size you want. Uncooked dough can also be refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
• Transfer the batter into a pastry bag and pipe into 1.5-inch rounds couple inches apart. Level peaked tops with a wet fingertip.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, one baking sheet at a time. The pastry shells should be golden brown, crispy and puffed up. (Note: If the creme puffs go flat as they come out of the oven, it means they are slightly undercooked and needs to be bake a bit longer. Simply put them back in the oven and bake for a few more minutes.) Transfer the shells onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• To make raspberry whipped cream, pour cold heavy whipping cream in a mixing bowl with whisk attachment.
• Beat the cream on low speed (speed 2 or 4 on stand mixer) until slightly thickens.
• Add raspberry jelly. Continue to mix on medium speed (speed 4) for a minute or two. You can increase the speed to 6 on stand mixer until the mixture reaches hard peaks. Keep a close eye on it, you don't want to over-beat it, or it'll turn into sweet butter. Transfer the filling into a pastry bag fitted with a piping tip of your choice. (I used Wilton here.)
• To assemble, using a sharp pairing knife, slice top of each creme puff horizontally. You don't have to cut all the way through.
• Pipe the filling into each pastry shell and place the top of the creme puffs back.
• Arrange the filled creme puffs on a platter and dust with powdered sugar and serve.

CREAM PUFFS WITH RASPBERRY CRAQUELIN AND WHIPPED CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• For the chocolate mousse: Whip the cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Set aside.
• Whisk together the whole egg, egg yolks, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, salt and 1 tablespoon water in a medium heatproof bowl until combined. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Whisk constantly until the mixture is pale, hot to the touch and has almost doubled in volume, 4 to 6 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a silicone spatula, if necessary. Remove from the heat and continue whisking until cooled, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Put the chocolate in another medium heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir occasionally with a silicone spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and gently stir for about 3 minutes to cool slightly.
• Whisk the egg mixture into the melted chocolate in 3 additions until combined. (The mixture may get very thick.) It's important that the chocolate mixture is not warm or it may seize up when combined with the whipped cream. Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 3 additions with a rubber spatula until it is fully incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled through, about 1 hour and up to overnight.
• For the raspberry craquelin: Pulse the brown sugar and freeze-dried raspberries together in a food processor until finely chopped and bright pink. Add the butter and a pinch of salt and pulse until blended and smooth. Add the flour, then continue to pulse until moist. Pulse in the vanilla until combined. The mixture should be crumbly but hold together when pinched. Scrape the dough onto a sheet of parchment and form into a disk. Top with another sheet of parchment and roll the dough between the 2 sheets until about 1/8 inch thick (see Cook's Note). Freeze until chilled through, about 30 minutes, then stamp out 40 rounds with a 1 1/2-inch cutter. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until ready to assemble.
• For the cream puffs: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment.
• Combine 1 cup water with the butter, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When the mixture boils, immediately add all the flour at once and stir with a wooden spoon until it is fully incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 30 seconds more.
• Scrape the mixture into a large bowl. Add 1 of the eggs at a time and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed after each addition until completely incorporated and the dough is thick and smooth.
• Transfer the dough to a pastry bag with a medium round tip. Pipe 40 circular mounds of dough (about 1 1/2 inches wide and 1 inch tall), about 1 inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Dip your finger in water and dab each mound to smooth the top. Top each with a round of raspberry craquelin.
• Bake until the bottoms of the puffs are lightly golden brown and the craquelin spreads and crackles over each puff, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, 20 to 25 minutes (see Cook's Note). Let the puffs cool completely on the baking sheets.
• Whip the chilled chocolate mousse with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, lightened and pipeable. Transfer to a pastry bag with a medium star tip.
• Assemble the cream puffs: Cut each puff in half horizontally with a sharp serrated knife. Pipe the mousse onto the bottom halves, then sandwich with the top halves and serve.
• Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
• Make sure to roll the craquelin into a thin layer, about 1/8-inch thick. Any thicker and the craquelin won't melt and crack over the puffs like a traditional craquelin.
• Do not overbake the craquelin, or the color will change from a beautiful merlot color to brown.

CHOCOLATE CREAM PUFF RING

Steps:

• CREAM PUFF. Preheat oven to 400°F Lightly butter a cookie sheet, set aside.
• In medium saucepan over high heat, heat water with butter, sugar, and salt until mixture boils. Turn heat to low and add flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until dough leaves the side of the pan in a smooth compact ball about 1 minute.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; continue beating until dough is smooth and satiny (it should have a sheen to it). You can also transfer the dough to your KA mixer and use your paddle to beat in each egg.
• Drop heaping spoonfulls of dough in a large oval, making sure each dropful touches the one next to it (this is what will hold your ring together once baked).
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and firm. Pierce the ring with a skewer or narrow knife in about 4 or 5 places and let cook for a few more minutes (this allows steam to escape, which keeps the ring crisper).
• Cool on a rack. Ring can be prepared 1 day ahead and wrapped when cool.
• FILLING. Prepare while baking the ring or earlier in the day.
• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in chocolate and vanilla.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Continue to beat until sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Chill for a least one hour.
• GLAZE. In top of a double boiler, melt butter and chocolate together, stirring until smooth (you can use a microwave).
• ASSEMBLY. Slice cream puff in half horizontally, gently move the top and set aside, fill the bottom of the ring, then replace the top of the ring. Drizzle glaze over the top of the ring. Chill until ready to serve.
• Serves 6. Double the recipe for 12 servings.
• For bite size puffs (great for buffets) use a teaspoon or small ice cream scoop, puffs should be about the size of a walnut or a little smaller. To fill- snip open tops and pipe in filling, Drizzle on Glaze.
• I have made slightly larger puffs and served 3 on a plate, or divided dough into 6 puffs for a full size serving.

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED RASPBERRY CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Make 1 recipe large Pastry Puffs. Use a toothpick or skewer to make a 1/4-inch-wide hole in bottom of each puff. In a medium bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream to firm peaks; fold in raspberry jam and brandy (if using). Transfer mixture to a large zip-top bag and snip a 1/4-inch opening in one corner. Place cut corner of bag in hole in puff and squeeze to fill puff with cream mixture. Place filled puffs, hole side down, on a rimmed baking sheet. (Refrigerate while you make the glaze.)
• In a medium heatproof bowl, combine chocolate and corn syrup. In a small saucepan, bring remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream just to a boil. Immediately pour over chocolate and let sit 2 minutes. Stir until mixture is smooth. Dip top half of each puff into chocolate glaze (or pour on top) and place, glaze side up, on baking sheet. Refrigerate, uncovered, 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours).

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED RASPBERRY CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• 1. Make 1 recipe of "Easy Pastry Puffs" recipe, please see that recipe.
• 2. Use a toothpick to make about an 1/4 inch hole in the bottom of each puff. In a medium bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream to firm peaks; fold in 1/4 cup raspberry jam and 1 tbsp brandy (optional). Transfer mixture to a large zip-top bag and snip 1/4 inch hole in one corner. Place the corner of the bag in the hole and fill puff with mixture. Place filled puffs, hole side down, on a rimmed baking sheet.
• 3. In a medium heatproof bowl, combine chocolate and light corn syrup. In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup heavy cream just to a boil. Immediately pour over chocolate and let sit 2 minutes. Stir until mixture is smooth. Dip top half of each puff into chocolate glaze, and place glaze side up, on a baking sheet. Refrigerate, uncovered, 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours).

RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Toss together chocolate chips, baking chips and pecans. On a lightly floured surface, roll each pastry sheet into a 12-in. square; cut each sheet into quarters, making four 6-in. squares. , Place squares on ungreased baking sheets; top each with about 1/3 cup chocolate mixture. Lightly brush edges of pastry with water; bring together all corners, pinching seams to seal., Bake until golden brown, 18-20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool slightly. Puree frozen raspberries with 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor. Strain to remove seeds., To serve, dust pastries with confectioners' sugar. Serve with raspberry sauce and, if desired, fresh berries and additional chips.