Profiteroles

Profiteroles
  • Author: Mary Berry

These delectable red velvet profiteroles are an exquisite fusion of French pastry and American dessert. A choux dough base filled with a luscious red velvet-infused creme patissiere, topped with a rich chocolate icing. Perfect for any special occasion or as an indulgent treat.

— Constant Cookbook

Ingredients

  • 55g/2oz butter
  • 65g/2¼oz plain flour
  • 2 large free-range eggs
  • 250ml/9fl oz full-fat milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 medium free-range egg yolks
  • 40g/1½oz caster sugar
  • 10g/¼oz cornflour
  • 10g/¼oz plain flour
  • dash of red food colouring
  • 100g/3½oz chocolate
  • 30g/1oz butter
  • 150g/5½oz icing sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7. Lightly grease two baking trays.
  • To make the pastry, put the butter and 150ml/5fl oz water in a small pan. Heat gently until the butter has melted. Bring slowly to the boil, and then remove from the heat. Quickly add the plain flour and, using a wooden spoon, beat until the mixture forms a soft ball. Return to the heat and beat for a further minute.
  • Leave to cool slightly. Add the beaten eggs a little at a time, mixing well between each addition until you have a smooth pipeable mixture. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm/½in plain nozzle. Pipe 20 small mounds onto the prepared baking trays, leaving room for them to spread. Flick water over the tray to create steam when baking.
  • Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5. Cook for a further 10 minutes, or until well-risen and a deep golden-brown. Remove and make a hole in the bottom of the buns to allow the steam to escape. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
  • For the filling, put the milk and vanilla extract in a heavy-based pan and slowly bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 30 seconds.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and caster sugar until pale, then whisk in the cornflour and plain flour. Pour the vanilla-infused milk over the eggs, whisking continuously, then pour back into the pan.
  • Bring to the boil, whisking continuously over a medium heat and cook for one minute, or until thickened. Add a dash of red food colouring and stir thoroughly until it has an even colour. Pour into a bowl and cover with cling film. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to the fridge to chill.
  • For the the icing, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water (making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Add the butter and 4 tablespoons water. When the chocolate is melted and well combined with the butter, remove it from the heat and beat in the icing sugar until smooth.
  • When the profiteroles are cold, spoon the red crème patissiere into a piping bag fitted with a small plain nozzle. Fill the profiteroles then dip each one into the icing to coat the top. Leave to set, then serve.

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Cook Time

1H

Prep Time

PT1H

Yield

Makes 20 small profiteroles