Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this step-by-step guide to making coffee cream puffs will help you create a dessert that's as delicious as it is beautiful.
Prep Yolks: Whisk yolks in a bowl, then mix in cornstarch and the remaining sugar.
4 egg yolks, 4 tablespoons cornstarch
Temper Eggs: Gradually add a few tablespoons of hot milk to the yolk mixture, whisking constantly to avoid curdling. Repeat until all milk is incorporated.
Thicken Cream: Return mixture to the pot and cook on low/medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and bubbles (2-4 minutes).
Off Heat Whisking: Once thick, remove from heat and whisk for another minute.
Add Butter: Stir butter into the mixture until melted and integrated.
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Taste and Adjust: Taste the cream and add more sugar or vanilla if needed.
Chill: Cover with plastic wrap touching the cream's surface to avoid crust formation. Cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate.
Streusel:
Soften Butter: Cut the butter into cubes and let it soften at room temperature for about an hour.
2 oz unsalted butter
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine sugar and flour.
2 oz light brown sugar , 2 oz all-purpose flour
Add Butter: Incorporate the softened butter using a fork or mixer until evenly mixed.
Roll Out Dough: Between parchment papers, roll dough to a thickness of 2-3mm. Peel and replace paper as needed for easier rolling.
Refrigerate: Refrigerate the rolled dough (still between sheets) for about 30 minutes, ideally on a cutting board that will retain temperature for longer.
Cut Shapes: Cut the dough into 1.5 to 2-inch disks quickly before it softens, remove the excess, and return the disks to the fridge.
Choux Pastry:
Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 390°F (200°C).
Boil Butter Mixture: In a pot, mix butter, milk, water, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil, ensuring the butter melts completely.
¼ cup water , ¼ cup milk , 3 tbsp unsalted butter , ¼ tsp salt, 1¼ tsp sugar
Add Flour: Off the heat, add the flour and stir. Return to low heat, stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes until the dough is thick, glossy, and leaves a thin film on the pot bottom.
2½ oz all-purpose flour
Cool Dough: Transfer dough to a bowl and let it cool for 10 minutes, spreading it out to cool faster.
Whisk Eggs: Beat eggs in a separate bowl.
2 large eggs
Mix Dough: With the dough slightly cooled, mix with a hand mixer. Gradually add half the eggs, mix, then add the remaining eggs bit by bit until the dough forms a 'V' shape when lifted with a whisk or spatula.
Bake:
Prepare Tray: Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Pipe Dough: Fill a piping bag and pipe dough onto the tray in 2-inch mounds, leaving 1¼ inches space between each.
Add Streusel: Place refrigerated streusel discs on each dough mound.
Bake: Place the baking tray in the oven, immediately reduce temperature to 356°F (180°C), and bake for 40 minutes until slightly browned. Open the oven door slightly for the last 5 minutes of baking.
Assembly:
Whisk Pastry Cream: Cut up the stiff cream with a fork, then whisk until it's fairly smooth.
Pipe Cream: Pipe the coffee pastry cream right into each puff or cut them in half and pipe the cream onto the bottoms.
Serve: Enjoy the cream puffs immediately for best taste.