by Kathy Hunt (Zester Daily)

Cinnamon Chouquettes Recipe
Cinnamon Chouquettes Recipe

While I appreciate the convenience of walking a few blocks to fetch a bag of fresh chouquettes, I continue to bake my own Cinnamon Chouquettes, too. Quick and simple to make, this Cinnamon Chouquettes recipe always dazzle my friends and family.

At one time, if I wanted a handful of airy, pearl-sugar-encrusted chouquettes, I'd have to either scrimp and save for a trip to France or break down and make these Cinnamon Chouquette sweets myself.

For centuries these petite, round pastries have been a mainstay of French bakeries and patisseries. Like clockwork, each day bakers tumble a dozen or so soft chouquettes into small paper bags and, handing over the baked goods, send hungry but happy customers on their way. Simple yet satisfying, chouquettes have long served as an afternoon snack or a means of tiding over famished French diners until dinnertime.

In recent months I started to notice these beloved Cinnamon Chouquettes appearing in bakeries and shops in my New York City neighborhood. Piled high on trays inside glass cases or displayed in wicker baskets, as they are in France, chouquettes have begun to insinuate their way into international markets and hearts.

Like many newcomers to the chouquette, I originally mistook it for a French take on the American doughnut hole. Because the two were comparable in size and shape, I assumed they would also have a similar taste. One bite of the Cinnamon Chouquettes's soft, mildly sweet and eggy dough and its crunchy sugar topping, and all comparisons to that greasy, occasionally gooey confection ended.

Chouquettes Born During the Renaissance

Unlike doughnuts, which are a relatively modern creation, chouquettes date back to Renaissance France. Historians point to the 16th century and a chef, a man known as Panterelli, whom Catherine de Medici had brought with her to France, as the inventor of the first chouquette.

Panterelli had crafted an unusual dough that consisted of flour, water, eggs and butter. Although it lacked such leavening agents as yeast, baking powder or baking soda, the dough still rose in a hot oven. This resulted from its high moisture content, which, when heated, produced steam that, in turn, caused the pastry to swell. Note that his dough, or pâte, is not to be confused with puff pastry, which contains layers of buttery dough and, as a result, has a flaky texture.

In the 18th century, French bakers began shaping this pâte into tiny buns that, after baking, resembled little cabbages. The French word for "cabbage" is choux. Pair that with Panterelli's pâte and you have the classic dough for chouquettes and assortment of other desserts, pâte a choux.

During the 19th century, the renowned Parisian chef Marie-Antoine Carême tweaked this recipe yet again. It is his take on pâte a choux that I enjoy today in my neighborhood chouquettes.

While I appreciate the convenience of walking a few blocks to fetch a bag of fresh chouquettes, I continue to bake my own, too. Quick and simple to make, they always dazzle my friends and family.

Then again, who wouldn't be impressed by a platter of homemade, pearl-sugar-studded French pastries?

A Different Kind of Dough

Pâte a choux is the rare dough that is cooked before being baked. To make a batch of chouquettes, I first melt butter in a saucepan with water, sugar and salt. To this I add flour. I then stir the ingredients together until a soft, malleable dough forms. The eggs are the final addition to the saucepan and make the dough wet and a bit sticky. This moisture is what gives chouquettes their light consistency.

After being spooned onto parchment paper and decorated with pearl sugar, the chouquettes are baked until puffy and golden brown. If, after being removed from the oven, the pint-sized treats collapse, I just put them back in the hot oven for a few more minutes.

Because chouquettes are hollow inside, they can be filled with an array of ingredients, such as custard, chocolate or jam. I, however, am a purist and prefer to leave them as they are. I love them most when they've been adorned with those chunky, white sugar crystals and, if I'm feeling really adventurous, a smidgen of ground cinnamon.

Cinnamon Chouquettes Recipe

    Prep Time: 10 minutes

    Cook time: 25 minutes

    Yield: Yields 3 Dozen

Cinnamon Chouquettes Recipe Ingredients

    For the dough:

    1 cup water

    1 tablespoon granulated sugar

    1/8 teaspoon salt

    4 tablespoons unsalted butter

    1 cup all-purpose flour

    4 large eggs, at room temperature

    For the topping:

    1 egg yolk

    1 teaspoon water

    2/3 cup pearl sugar

    2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Chouquettes Recipe Directions

    Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

    Place the water, sugar, salt and butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium. Stir the ingredients together until the butter has melted.

    Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the flour. Mix until a soft, malleable dough has formed.

    Add the eggs one at a time, stirring briskly with each addition until the eggs are completely incorporated. When finished, the dough will be sticky.

    Using a tablespoon or a small disher that holds roughly 1 tablespoon, scoop out and place equal portions of dough on the parchment-lined baking sheets. Leave about 1 inch between each chouquette.

    In a small bowl whisk together the egg yolk and water. In another small bowl mix the pearl sugar with the ground cinnamon.

    Brush the tops of the chouquettes with egg wash, then sprinkle cinnamon sugar over top of each.

    Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the chouquettes are puffed up, golden brown and dry in appearance. Remove them from the oven and cool for 1 to 2 minutes before serving.

Note: When stored in an airtight container, chouquettes will keep for up to three days. However, they are best when consumed on the day they're baked.

 

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Cinnamon Chouquettes Recipe - French Dessert Recipe

Article: Copyright ©, Kathy Hunt via Zester Daily and Reuters Media Express

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