Best Swan Puff Chocolate Sauce Recipes

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CLASSIC CREAM PUFFS WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE



Classic Cream Puffs with Chocolate Sauce image

My mom made this dish once the entire time I was growing up and I remember the texture, the taste of the eggs (in a good way) and the perfect balance of textures and sweetness. I think I have been chasing that very cream puff ever since. I had some great ones in Paris but none quite like Mom's... Cream puffs are made from classic choux pastry, which is also used to make sweet éclairs and savory, cheesy gougères. The choux pastry gets its name from chou, meaning cabbage, and it refers to the round shape of this cream-filled pastry. Note about substitutions: If you don't have vanilla paste, simply sub 3 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli

Time 2h45m

Yield 20 cream puffs

Number Of Ingredients 16

3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch kosher salt
6 large egg yolks
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1/2 cup whole milk
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups chopped semisweet chocolate
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish

Steps:

  • Make the pastry cream: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in the egg yolks until combined, then whisk in the milk. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until it starts to thicken, 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat.
  • Whisk in the butter and vanilla bean paste. Transfer to a bowl, then press a sheet of plastic wrap on the surface of the pastry cream. Let cool, then refrigerate until chilled through, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
  • Start the cream puff dough: In a medium saucepan, bring the milk, butter and salt to a simmer over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture comes together. Cook until the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the pan into a ball and looks dry, 3 to 5 minutes more.
  • Finish the cream puff dough: Using a wooden spoon, beat in the eggs, one at a time, waiting until they are fully incorporated before adding the next. Mix until the batter is shiny and stiff. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-low speed to incorporate the eggs. Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round pastry tip.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Form and bake: On the prepared baking sheet, pipe rounds of dough that are 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide and about 1 inch high, allowing 1 inch between each. Alternatively, measure out a scant 1/4-cup dough for each puff. Wet your finger and press down any pointed tops on the cream puffs. Bake for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 350 degrees F and bake until firm to the touch, another 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Finish baking: Shut the oven off. Let the puffs dry inside the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
  • Assemble: Using a paring knife, hollow out a hole in the bottom of each of the puffs. Pipe the pastry cream into the hole. Alternatively, you can cut the top off each puff and remove any undercooked dough in the center, then fill with the pastry cream and top with the top again. Hold in the refrigerator until ready to garnish and serve.
  • Make the chocolate sauce: In a small pot, heat the cream. In a small bowl that fits over the pot of cream (without the bottom of the bowl touching the cream), combine the chocolate with the cinnamon. Use the pot of cream as the bottom of the double boiler and melt the chocolate over the cream. When the chocolate is melted, add the heated cream to the bowl with the chocolate and whisk to combine. Keep warm.
  • Top the cream puffs with a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar and some of the chocolate sauce.

CHOCOLATE SWAN, TREASURE CHEST, PICTURE FRAME, CHOCOLATE SLEIGH, AND DRESSY CHOCOLATE BOX



Chocolate Swan, Treasure Chest, Picture Frame, Chocolate Sleigh, and Dressy Chocolate Box image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     dessert

Time 4h

Yield 1 each: Chocolate Swan, Treasure Chest, etc.

Number Of Ingredients 6

5 pounds white chocolate, tempered
5 pounds bittersweet chocolate, tempered
8 pounds milk chocolate, tempered
Cocoa butter
Powdered food coloring as desired
Modeling chocolate, white

Steps:

  • To mold the swan: Use a ladle to fill a mold with white chocolate. When it is full, empty it into the bowl of chocolate. The inside of the mold should be evenly coated with chocolate. Wipe the edge of the mold clean on the side of the bowl and place it upside down on a wire rack placed over a baking sheet. Once the chocolate starts to harden, about 5 minutes, scrape the edge clean with a paring knife. When the chocolate sets, it shrinks or retracts from the sides of the mold. A clean edge will keep it from sticking and cracking as it shrinks. You can place the mold in the refrigerator for several minutes to help the chocolate to harden. Depending on the thickness of the chocolate, you may want to repeat this step to make the swan thicker. Unmold the chocolate swan. When the chocolate has completely set, the swans are ready to fill with candy. To mold the treasure chest: Use a clean paintbrush or pastry brush to apply dark chocolate to the inside details of the mold. I painted the hinges and fasteners dark chocolate. Use a ladle to fill a mold with milk chocolate. Use the same molding technique as used in the swan. You can fill the chest with candy or any special treat. Tie it closed with a ribbon. To make the picture and frame: This technique can be used to make any painted design. I downloaded a clipart image from the internet. A simple design with a lot of color makes the best result. Place your design underneath a piece of acetate. Mix together a few tablespoons of the cocoa butter with a small amount of powdered food color. It will be easier if you use a yogurt machine to store and warm your paints. Use a fine-tipped paintbrush to trace the outline of the painting with a dark-colored paint. Use other paint colors to fill in the design. This will certainly remind you of paint-by-number. Use and airbrush if you want to give it an antique finish. Allow the paint to dry. Pour some white chocolate at the edge of the painted acetate. Pull the raplette through the chocolate pulling the chocolate over the painted drawing. This will spread an even 1/8-inch thick layer of chocolate over the painting. When the chocolate begins to set, use a sharp paring knife to cut the paint canvas to the finished size of the painting. Let this cool until the chocolate sets. When the chocolate has set completely, simply peel off the acetate. Use a brush dipped in dark chocolate to brush a very light layer of dark chocolate over the relief of the picture frame mold. Use a ladle or cornet filled with white chocolate to fill the mold with white chocolate. When the chocolate sets, unmold the picture frame. The dark chocolate will leave an antique effect. Use tempered white chocolate to glue the chocolate canvas into the frame. It is ready for display. Make the sleigh: Make a template for the sleigh skis and the sleigh bottom. You can make this any size that you like. The bottom of my sleigh measured 11 inches wide by 17 inches long. I used a wood grain tool normally used in house painting to give the sleigh the texture of wood. To make the wood grain chocolate, pour a little dark chocolate at the edge of a piece of parchment paper that measures at least 11 inches wide by 17 inches long. Use a back and forth rocking motion as you pull the wood grain tool through dark chocolate. Be sure to spread this chocolate all the way to the edge of the paper. Repeat the process until the paper is completely filled with the pattern. Repeat on more parchment to create enough wood grain pattern for all of the pieces in your sleigh.
  • Use an offset spatula to spread a 1/4-inch-thick layer of tempered milk chocolate over all of the pieces that have the dark chocolate wood grain pattern. When cutting out the skis, use a paring knife to cut through the chocolate while tracing around the template. When the chocolate has set completely, remove the excess chocolate. When the chocolate is set, peel off the parchment. Make the sleigh handle: Roll parchment paper into a tight roll that is about 1/2-inch in diameter. Use a cornet filled with milk chocolate to fill the roll. Be sure to pinch the bottom to keep the chocolate from escaping. Set aside until the roll has set. When the chocolate is hard, remove the parchment paper. Use a hot knife to cut the sleigh handle to the size that will fit onto your sleigh. Assemble: Lay a ski pattern-side down on the work surface. Place tempered milk chocolate in a large cornet and trim the tip. Draw a line of chocolate along the edge of the sleigh bottom. Position the sleigh bottom onto the ski. Draw a line of chocolate on the other edge of the sleigh and position the other ski on top. When the chocolate sets, stand the sleigh upright. Use tempered milk chocolate to glue the sleigh handle into place. The sleigh is ready for any display. Make the Dressy Gift box: To make the strips on the top, you can use a tiling spatula with square teeth cut from it. My box measured 7 inches wide by 10 inches long. Use an offset spatula to spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of tempered milk chocolate over a sheet of acetate. Pull the slotted spatula through the chocolate along the longest side. This will leave long straight lines. When the chocolate begins to set, use an offset spatula to spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of tempered white chocolate over strips, being careful not to press into the milk chocolate strips. Let the chocolate set completely. To make the base, use an offset spatula to spread a 1/4-inch-thick layer of tempered dark chocolate over a sheet of parchment paper. Use a paring knife to cut a rectangle that measures 7 inches wide by 10 inches. Then cut 2 strips that measure 61/2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Cut 2 more strips that measure 91/2 inches long and 11/2 inches wide. When the chocolate has set completely, remove the base and strips. Use tempered chocolate to glue the strips onto the base to form a box. Place the strips just inside the edge of the base. Make the box decorations: Use white modeling chocolate to make the tie, collar, pocket and pocket square. I colored some modeling chocolate red for the pocket square. Get creative and have fun. Dust the work surface with cornstarch. Use a rolling pin to roll out the white modeling chocolate until it is about 1/8-inch thick. Use a paring knife to cut out the details of the shirt or blouse. Place the pieces on top of the striped chocolate box top. If you are inspired to do so, paint some patterns on the tie. When the chocolate has set completely on all of the pieces, the box is ready to be filled with any treat. Simply fill the box and cover with the top piece. SOURCES: Chocolate Melter: Demarle New Jersey, Demarle.com Chocolate Cold Spray: PCB in France 011 33 0388 587333 Swan mold: Tomric Plastics Treasure chest mold: Tomric Plastics Wood grain tool: hardware/paint store Grout spatula for tiling: hardware Modeling chocolate: Beryls

SWAN CREAM PUFFS ON A CHOCOLATE POND



Swan Cream Puffs on a Chocolate Pond image

Cream puffs have been around forever. My mom made them when I was a child. And I've been making them for my family since my first baby was born. We now have 8 children, one son & seven daughters & 35 grandchildren. We've made cream puffs for all sorts of occasions. We all absolutely LOVE them! But what is really fun is when...

Provided by Nancy Judd

Categories     Other Desserts

Time 1h30m

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 c water
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c butter cut into pieces
1 c all-purpose flour
4 eggs
2 pkg (3.4 ounces each) vanilla or cheesecake flavor...your choice... i personally like the vanilla the best)
2 c milk
1 c heavy cream
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar for dusting swans
10 - 12 thin red ribbons cut about 12-15 inches in length for neck bows and streamers
14 green candy 'holly' - two pieces per swan (from a bottle of christmas sprinkles)
21 red candy 'berries' - 3 pieces per swan (from a bottle of christmas sprinkles)
1 tsp white corn syrup for 'glue' (or icing can be substituted)
1 c or more chocolate or hot fudge sauce (warmed to be pourable) from a bottle or homemade
3 fresh strawberries with leaves attached, washed and dried

Steps:

  • 1. In a saucepan, bring the water, butter and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously until a smooth ball forms. Remove the sauce pan from the heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until incorporated. Beat until smooth and shiny.
  • 2. Cut a small hole in the corner of a heavy-duty freezer resealable plastic bag (like ziplock.) Fill bag with about ½ cup of batter. On a greased baking sheet, pipe 10-12 three inch long "S" shapes for the swan necks. Make a small dollop at one end of each S for the head. Bake at 425° for about 5-8 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven to cool. Don't over bake and get overbrowned.
  • 3. For swan bodies, put large spoonfuls of batter onto greased baking sheets. With a spoon spread each out to form an oval about 3 ½ inches long and 2 ½ inches wide. (There should be 10-12 using all the batter). Bake at 425 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Do NOT UNDERBAKE. NOTE: Don't overbrown. The tops of the puffs should be hard to the touch when ready. If they are too soft they will collapse. If necessary at this point turn off oven and let sit in oven for a half hour. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks. NOTE: This can be done a day in advance.
  • 4. Meanwhile put pudding mixes into a medium to large bowl. Add the milk and mix well. Set aside to 'set' about 5 minutes. Whip the cream adding the sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold in the whipped cream into the pudding. Chill.
  • 5. Carefully slice off top third of swan bodies; set tops aside. Remove any soft dough inside. Spoon or pipe pudding mixture into bottoms of puffs dividing mixture evenly. Cut reserved tops in half lengthwise to form wings; set wings at an angle in filling. Dust with powdered sugar. Meanwhile tie a ribbon around the neck of each swan underneath the head making a bow with small streamer. With a small dab of white corn syrup or frosting, 'glue' the green candy holly leaves and red candy berries on the knot of the red bows. Carefully put a neck in each swans body at the top of the angled wings into the filling. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar again.
  • 6. Pour the chocolate sauce or warmed hot fudge onto a round or oval platter. Carefully set seven of the Swans in a circle facing out on the outward edge of the chocolate 'pond.' Arrange strawberries in center of the 'pond.' Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • 7. Makes 10-12 Christmas Swans on a chocolate pond. Expect raves. These are delicious and make a 'Wow' presentation. Both kids and adults love them.

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