Raspberry Chocolate Paris-Brest a.k.a. Cream Puff Wheels

Raspberry Chocolate Paris-Brest a.k.a. Cream Puff Wheels

Based upon the very famous French pastry, created in 1891 to commemorate the Paris–Brest–Paris bicycle race, this version uses chocolate and raspberry in perfect harmony when combined with the light cream puff wheel. They look very impressive on a dessert display and are sure to be the first things snapped up at any morning coffee event. Choux pastry dough is the base for these pastries and really is not difficult to master at all and once you do the rest of this impressive dessert is just basically whipping cream and melting chocolate. Put this one on your to-try lest for sure.

Makes about 1 dozen

Choux Pastry

For the cream puff pastry combine add to a saucepan

1 cup water
½ cup butter

And bring to a boil. Reduce to medium flame and add, all at once

1 cup all purpose flour
¼ tsp salt

Cook this mixture stirring constantly for an additional 3 minutes. Allow this mixture to cool slightly for about 10 minutes before adding, one at a time

4 large or extra large eggs

Beat well after adding each egg until batter is smooth
Cover and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Pipe circle shapes about 3 inches wide long onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. The opening of the piping bag or Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off, should be about a half inch wide or slightly bigger.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 10 - 15 minutes until the puffs are golden brown and do not collapse when removed from the oven. These should be uniformly golden all over with no pale sides and sound hollow when tapped. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Raspberry Whipped Cream

1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (approximately)

Puree the raspberries in a food processor or blender then press them through a sieve to remove the seeds.

Whip to firm peaks:

2 cups whipping cream
4 tbsp icing sugar (powdered sugar)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Fold the raspberry puree into the whipped cream a couple of tablespoons at a time. Only use enough to flavor the cream without it becoming too soft.

Split the pastry wheels in half with a sharp knife, then pipe in some of the raspberry whipped cream. Replace the tops. Top with chocolate ganache.

Chocolate Ganache

Gently melt together over low heat or in a double boiler:

1 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup whipping cream

Spread on top of pastry wheels.