8
*Note: Due to the consistency of this cookie dough, we recommend
using discs 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10.
Nutritional information per cookie:
Calories 51 (42% from fat) • carb. 7g • pro. 1g • fat 2g • sat. fat 1g
• chol. 11mg • sod. 25mg • calc. 2mg • fiber 0g
Pâte à Choux – Cream Puffs
Very versatile, pâte à choux can be used for both sweet and
savory preparations.
Makes about 40 two-inch choux or puffs
½ cup water
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons bread flour
2 large eggs, plus 2 more if necessary
1. Preheat oven to 500°F.
2. Put the water, butter, salt and sugar into a small or medium
saucepan and set over medium heat. Once the mixture comes to
a boil, remove from heat and stir in all of the flour. Return to the
burner and raise the heat to medium-high. Using a wooden spoon,
continuously stir the mixture until it dries out. You will know it is
done when the dough leaves a thick hard film on the bottom of the
pot. It is better to overcook at this stage, than not enough.
3. Remove from heat and put mixture into the bowl of a Cuisinart®
Stand Mixer, fitted with the mixing paddle. Mix on a low speed to
release steam and cool.
4. Once the dough has cooled, after about 2 to 3 minutes, start
adding the eggs, one at a time, mixing each until fully incorporated
before adding the next. The dough is ready when it becomes a
pale yellow color and is thickened. Typically, pâte à choux batter
should drop from the paddle in a slow and steady stream, but for
use in the cookie press, the desired consistency is between a thick
cake batter and a soft cookie dough. If the dough is too thick,
beat the remaining two eggs together and, with the mixer running,
slowly begin to add them, little by little, until the dough is correct.
Be sure not to make the dough too runny or it will not hold its
shape.
5. Fit the Cuisinart® Electric Cookie Press with the pastry tip
assembly, using the basic round tip (#1) as instructed on page 5.
Load the batter to the MAX fill line. Pipe the batter out into 2-inch
rounds onto a parchment paper-lined baking pan, about
1 inch apart. To achieve the best results, instead of holding the
On/Off button down, pulse and let the batter slowly come
out of the press.
6. Place the pan of piped choux in the preheated oven. Turn the oven
off and let sit in the hot oven for 10 minutes. Turn the oven back
on and set to 300°F. Let bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the
choux are hollow, nicely browned, and not wet inside. To ensure
even color, turn baking sheet halfway through baking.
7. Let choux cool, and then fill with desired filling. For a beautiful hors
d’oeuvre, we suggest the Herbed Cheese Spread on page 13.
For a sweet finish to your meal, the Lightened Pastry Cream
(recipe follows) or the Simple Chocolate Mousse on page 9 – both
work well.
Nutritional information per choux:
Calories 26 (60% from fat) • carb. 2g • pro. 1g • fat 2g • sat. fat 1g
• chol. 21mg • sod. 38mg • calc. 3mg • fiber 0g
Lightened Pastry Cream
The essential filling for cream puffs, this is also delicious in
fresh fruit tarts or as a cake filling.
Makes about 3½ cups
1½ cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream, divided
½ cup granulated sugar, divided
½ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, halved and seeds scraped*
4 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1. Put the milk, ½ cup cream, ¼ cup sugar, salt, vanilla extract,
vanilla bean seeds and pod into a saucepan over medium heat.
Bring mixture to a heavy simmer.
2. Put egg yolks, remaining sugar and cornstarch into a large mixing
bowl. Using either a Cuisinart® Hand or Stand Mixer, fitted with