Pamper your guests (and yourself) with a huge mountain of home made profiteroles! Profiteroles are a well-known and popular dessert, also called in France "choux à la crème". These cream puffs are incredibly indulgent and beautiful at the same time, that is the reason why they are amazing.
First of all, make a choux pastry: work together, in a nonstick saucepan, butter, water, sugar, a pinch of salt and put on a low heat. Bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and quickly add the flour. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture is well combined and comes away from the sides. Use a pastry bag to pipe the mixture into balls over a baking tray. Preheat the oven, then bake for 15 minutes at 200°C, for 10 minutes at 180°C, and for 8 minutes at a lower temperature with the fan on. Let your pastries cool down. In the meanwhile, make your custard: work egg yolks and sugar until foamy. Pour over milk and sifted flour. Put on a low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to steam and thicken. Use a piping bag to fill your pastries with the custard. Melt your chocolate on a low heat adding two tablespoons of water. Once melted, pour it over the profiteroles previously nicely arranged on a serving tray. Complete with some flakes of whipped cream.
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Bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and quickly shoot in the flour. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture is well combined and comes away from the sides
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View the step by step
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The choux pastry is ready when it comes away from the sides.
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View the step by step
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Use a pastry bag to pipe the mixture into balls over a baking tray. Preheat the oven, then bake for 15 minutes at 200°C, for 10 minutes at 180°C, and for 8 minutes at a lower temperature with the fan on. Let your pastries cool down.
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View the step by step
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In the meanwhile, make your custard: work egg yolks and sugar until foamy. Pour over milk and sifted flour. Put on a low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to steam and thicken. Use a piping bag to stuff your pastries with the custard.
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View the step by step
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Use a pastry bag to pipe the mixture into balls over a baking tray.
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View the step by step
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Arrange the profiteroles in a pyramid
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On a low heat, melt the chocolate with two spoons of water
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Decorate with some whipped cream
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Profiteroles, also known as cream puffs, are a beloved dessert with disputed origins between France and Italy. This classic profiteroles recipe involves golden choux pastry filled with luscious cream and topped with rich chocolate sauce. Whether served at elegant dinners or festive gatherings, profiteroles are always a hit.
If you’re new to baking, don’t worry—this profiteroles recipe easy version is beginner-friendly and delivers impressive results. The base is made with choux pastry, a light and airy dough that puffs up beautifully in the oven. Once baked, simply fill them with sweetened whipped cream or pastry cream and finish with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
Profiteroles are made from choux pastry, which requires only water, butter, flour, and eggs. The filling typically includes pastry cream, whipped cream, or custard. Toppings often feature chocolate sauce, caramel, or powdered sugar. Some gourmet versions even include a hint of liqueur in the filling for extra depth of flavor.
Looking for the best profiteroles recipe? The secret is in the details: perfect pastry texture, balanced sweetness in the cream, and high-quality chocolate for the topping. Whether you opt for classic vanilla pastry cream or experiment with coffee, chocolate, or hazelnut fillings, homemade profiteroles are guaranteed to impress.
Make your holiday celebrations extra special with a Christmas profiteroles recipe. Add seasonal flair by incorporating orange zest into the cream filling, drizzling white chocolate over the top, or decorating with edible gold leaf and berries. Arrange your profiteroles in a wreath or tower shape to create a festive dessert centerpiece.
Though often used interchangeably, cream puffs are generally filled with whipped cream and kept simple, while profiteroles may contain richer pastry cream or custard and are usually topped with chocolate. The difference mainly lies in presentation and filling.
Both desserts use choux pastry, but differ in shape and style. Éclairs are elongated and topped with glaze, while profiteroles are round and typically filled and topped more generously. Profiteroles are often served cold and are a staple of celebratory meals.
Want to make a show-stopping dessert? Try assembling your profiteroles into a layered profiteroles cake or an elegant profiteroles tower. Secure the pastries with caramel or melted chocolate and decorate with fresh fruit or edible glitter for maximum visual impact.
While the pastry itself is fairly light, the fillings and toppings—typically made with cream, sugar, and chocolate—add to the dessert’s calorie count. However, like all treats, profiteroles can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Yes, eggs are a core ingredient in both the pastry and some fillings. Traditional recipes do not contain alcohol, but some variations may include liqueurs like Grand Marnier or rum in the cream or sauce for enhanced flavor.
The origins of profiteroles are contested between French and Italian culinary traditions. Both countries have historical versions of cream-filled choux pastries, and today they are enjoyed across Europe and beyond as a refined and indulgent dessert.