How To Make A Croquembouche (Cream Puff Tower)

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: whipped topping

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

caramel

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: sugar syrup

Honey provides sweetness with fewer processed ingredients

Add the milk and vanilla beans to a pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.

Let the milk infuse for 15 minutes after boiling, without touching it.

Beat the egg yolks and sugar together at medium speed until pale yellow and fluffy.

Add cornstarch and mix until fully incorporated.

Remove vanilla beans from the milk, then mix a half cup of the milk into the batter, followed by the rest of the milk until smooth.

Whisk the mixture over medium heat for 7 to 10 minutes until it thickens, stirring constantly.

Add butter to the thickened custard, mix until melted, and strain into a bowl if desired.

Cover the custard with plastic wrap pressed to the surface and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

In a pot, add butter, water, sugar, and salt; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Once boiling, turn off the heat and add flour, mixing quickly until a ball forms.

Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer and add eggs one at a time, mixing until thick and glossy.

Fill a piping bag with the dough and pipe 1-inch circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Dip your fingertip in water and press down the tips of the dough to flatten them, then brush with egg wash.

Bake the cream puffs without opening the oven door until golden brown, then cool completely.

Poke a small hole in the bottom of each cream puff with a wooden skewer.

Fill each cream puff with custard using a piping bag until firm.

In a pot, bring sugar, corn syrup, and water to a boil over medium-high heat, then cover for 5 minutes.

Remove the lid and insert a candy thermometer, heating until the caramel reaches 300 degrees and a deep amber color.

Turn off the heat, add heavy cream, and whisk until smooth and glossy.

Dip the tops of filled cream puffs in caramel and arrange them into a circle, building a tower.

Drizzle caramel threads around the tower using a fork to create a caramel cage.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens