Croquembouche (Puff, Christmas Tree) π
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 20
Description:
Indulge in the creation of a magnificent Croquembouche, a delightful dessert that doubles as a stunning centerpiece, perfect for festive occasions. This versatile recipe opens the doors to culinary creativity, allowing for various adaptations such as using chocolate instead of caramelized sugar, filling the puffs with luscious custard or whipped cream, and adorning with charming almond paste holly leaves. Prepare this masterpiece ahead of time to alleviate the last-minute rush, ensuring a stress-free celebration.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Water | 1 1/2 |
| Unsalted butter | 3/4 |
| Sugar | 2 |
| Salt | 1/4 |
| Flour | 1 1/2 |
| Eggs | 6 |
| Sugar | 1 1/2 |
| Fresh lemon juice | 2 |
| Cherry halves (for decoration) | 16 |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 176.6
- Fat Content: 8.4g
- Saturated Fat Content: 4.9g
- Cholesterol Content: 74.1mg
- Sodium Content: 52.2mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 22.8g
- Fiber Content: 0.3g
- Sugar Content: 15.5g
- Protein Content: 2.9g
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Puffs:
- Preheat your oven to 400Β°F.
- In a large saucepan, bring water, unsalted butter, sugar, and salt to a rolling boil.
- Add flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan clean. Remove from heat.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, with a wooden spoon until the paste is shiny and smooth.
- Drop pastry by well-rounded teaspoonfuls, about 1 1/2 inches apart, onto two ungreased cookie sheets.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until puffed and golden.
- Cool the puffs on a wire rack.
-
Prepare Caramelized Sugar:
- Heat sugar and fresh lemon juice in a heavy medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon until the sugar is melted and light golden brown. Be careful not to let it burn. Remove from heat.
-
Assemble the Croquembouche:
- Place 14 puffs in a 9-inch circle on a platter.
- Fill in the center of the circle with about 5 more puffs.
- Working quickly and carefully, dip the bottom of the remaining puffs in the caramelized sugar (avoiding contact with your skin) one at a time, and place each on top of the base puffs in a slightly smaller circle. Fill in the center with puffs.
- Continue making each circle smaller to form a tree shape.
- Drizzle the remaining sugar over the tree and decorate with the cherry halves.
- Refrigerate for 1-2 days if not serving immediately.
Indulge in the festive spirit with this show-stopping Croquembouche, a delightful dessert that will leave your guests in awe of your culinary skills. Experiment with different fillings and decorations to customize it to your taste and occasion. Enjoy! π°π
