Chestnut Cream Eclairs and Profiteroles

The mildly sweet chestnut cream eclairs and profiteroles are a deliciously light dessert to have with coffee or tea. 

Eclairs were one of my favorite desserts growing up. I would love to sneak into the refrigerator when no one was around to grab one (or two). I loved the thick, creamy pastry cream and the way that delicate pastry would give way when I bit down. So it comes as a surprise that this is only my second eclair recipe on the site. I found chestnuts at my local produce store and knew I needed to make a chestnut recipe. I wanted something incredibly simple that would highlight the mild flavors of the chestnuts and so these chestnut cream eclairs and profiteroles seemed like the great way to do it.

I planned on only making eclairs, but since profiteroles use the same pate a choux recipe and I was starting to feel lazy by the time I reached my third batch so dolloping dough for profiteroles was an easy way out. Why should I - or you - have to choose? No matter what shape they are, these chestnut cream eclairs and profiteroles are beyond delicious.

Chestnuts have a surprisingly delicate flavor in that it is easily masked by other flavors. I decided to pair the chestnuts with two flavors that work really well with the chestnuts, but still allow them to shine: coffee and chocolate. Instead of making a pastry cream for the eclairs, I used pureed chestnuts and lightened it with coffee-infused fresh whipped cream, then topped with a creamy chocolate ganache. Trust me, you won't be able to have just one of these. I had about three or four before I even took pictures. And even more while I continued to take photos!

This particular shoot was especially fun because my daughter did 90% of the styling. We've determined she isn't really into baking, but she loves making things beautiful, so she took on the task of adding ganache to the eclairs and profiteroles and arranging them for me. What a star. My mother-daughter blogging team is well on its way to becoming a reality!

These chestnut cream eclairs and profiteroles are perfect for having with coffee and tea - perhaps when you need to sneak away from the Christmas mayhem!

Recipe Card

Chestnut Cream Eclairs and Profiteroles

Amanda Powell

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Prep Time 35 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  

For the Chestnut Filling

• 1 lbs chestnuts
• ⅔ cups sugar
• 1 ½ cups water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• ⅔ cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee

For the Pate a Choux

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup whole milk
• 1 stick unsalted butter cut into pieces
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup flour sifted
• 4 eggs large

For the Ganache

• 4 oz semi sweet chocolate
• ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

 

• Start the chestnut puree. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. On the flat sides of your chestnuts, create an "X" though the shells. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 15 - 20 minutes. Allow to cool, then remove the shells from the chestnuts.
• In a saucepan, add the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Add the chestnuts and cook until the liquid is halfway gone. Add in the vanilla and salt. Remove the chestnuts and reserve the liquid. Puree the chestnuts in a food processor or blender, then slowly add the reserved liquid until the chestnuts are a smooth, creamy paste. If you find you need more liquid, you can add water one tablespoon at a time.
• Allow to cool completely.
• In a clean and chilled mixer, add the whipped cream and beat until soft peaks form. Whip in the coffee.
• Take ⅔ of the chestnut puree (you won't need the remaining puree, save it for adding to your hot chocolate or use as a spread on toast!) and gently fold the whipped cream into the puree. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• Make the pate a choux. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place parchment on two baking sheets. Add the water, milk, and butter into a saucepan and heat until the butter is melted and the liquid is hot and steaming, but not boiling. Take off from the heat and add the sugar, salt, and flour. Mix until well combined.
• Add in the eggs one at a time, beating until each egg is fulling incorporated before adding the next.
• Fit a piping bag with a large plain round tip and fill with the pate a choux. Pipe 5-inch lengths on the parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of space between them. You can also pipe large rounds about the size of golf balls for profiteroles. Use a moistened finger to pat down any point where you piped the dough.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then crack the oven open (I used a wooden spoon to pry open my oven door) for 25 minutes.
• Remove and transfer to a wire rack. Cut open lengthwise, or use the back of a wooden spoon to spear through the eclairs.
• Make the ganache. Heat the chocolate and heavy cream together in a double boiler, or in a microwave at 50% power for 30 second intervals, mixing between each interval. Mix until the chocolate and heavy cream are completely combined.
• Fill a piping bag with the chestnut cream filling and fill the eclairs and/or profiteroles.
• Top with the ganache and serve immediately. May store in an air tight container for up to 5 days.

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