Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, cornstarch, and Dutch-process cocoa powder. Gradually whisk in the egg yolks until smooth.
- In a saucepan, heat the milk with the remaining sugar over medium heat until it simmers. Slowly add the hot milk to the egg mixture while whisking continuously to prevent scrambling.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan, stir in the chopped bittersweet chocolate, and cook until thick and bubbling, around 3-5 minutes.
- Strain the mixture to remove lumps, then stir in the unsalted butter and vanilla extract. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours.
- In a separate medium bowl, cream the unsalted butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt until fully combined.
- Roll the mixture out between two sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of about 1/8-inch. Freeze the rolled craquelin for at least 30 minutes until firm.
- In a saucepan, combine the milk, water, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and kosher salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
- Once boiling, remove from heat and stir in the all-purpose flour and cake flour all at once, mixing vigorously until a dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 1-2 minutes.
- Allow the dough to cool slightly for 5-10 minutes before adding the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until the pastry is smooth and glossy.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a piping bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe the choux pastry into mounds about 1.5 inches wide, spaced apart on the baking sheet.
- Remove the frozen craquelin from the freezer and cut into circles to place atop each puff. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
- Let the cream puffs cool completely on a wire rack before filling them with the chocolate pastry cream.
Notes
These cream puffs can be frozen unfilled for up to a month, providing convenience for future desserts.
