Tiramisu Choux au Craquelin Recipe

Dreamy Tiramisu Choux au Craquelin Recipe for Sweet Cravings

Crafting a delectable tiramisu choux au craquelin requires patience and culinary creativity.

Soft, delicate pastry shells meet rich Italian-inspired flavors in this decadent dessert.

Professional bakers and home cooks alike will find joy in mastering these elegant cream puffs.

Crisp craquelin topping adds a delightful crunch to the silky smooth filling.

Each bite promises a symphony of textures and complex coffee-infused notes.

Delicate layers of mascarpone cream nestled within buttery choux pastry create a dessert that feels both sophisticated and comforting.

Let your baking adventure begin with this irresistible sweet masterpiece.

Why Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin Is A Showstopper

  • Elevate Dessert Experience: Transform a classic French pastry into an Italian-inspired treat that combines delicate choux pastry with rich tiramisu flavors.
  • Master Gourmet Baking Skills: Challenge yourself with a recipe that teaches advanced pastry techniques like craquelin topping and precise choux preparation.
  • Impress with Stunning Presentation: Create elegant, Instagram-worthy desserts that look professionally crafted with minimal culinary expertise.
  • Perfect for Special Celebrations: Ideal for dinner parties, birthdays, or gourmet gatherings where you want to showcase your baking prowess and delight guests with a sophisticated dessert.

Ingredients For Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin

Main Ingredients:
  • Water: Essential liquid for creating the choux pastry base.
  • Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps create a smooth pastry texture.
  • Flour: Structural component that gives the choux pastry its distinctive shape.
  • Eggs: Binding agent that helps the pastry rise and maintain its structure.
Dairy Components:
  • Mascarpone Cheese: Creamy Italian cheese that creates a luxurious filling with a smooth texture.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize the mascarpone filling.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Espresso, Rum: Provide deep, complex flavor that transforms the choux pastry into a tiramisu-inspired dessert.
  • Cocoa Powder: Adds a classic tiramisu finish with a rich chocolate note.
Pastry Topping:
  • Craquelin: Creates a crispy, caramelized sugar layer on top of the choux pastry.
Baking Essentials:
  • Parchment Paper: Prevents the pastry from sticking to the baking sheet and ensures even baking.

Step-By-Step Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin

Step 1: Prep the Oven and Baking Surface

Crank up your oven to a toasty 400F (200C). Grab a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper for a smooth, non-stick experience.

Step 2: Create the Choux Pastry Base

In a saucepan, bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Dump in the flour and stir like crazy until the mixture transforms into a compact, smooth ball. This is your magic pastry foundation.

Step 3: Incorporate Eggs into Pastry

Take the pan off the heat and let it cool down for a few minutes. Now, beat in eggs one by one, ensuring each is fully blended before adding the next. You want a silky, glossy dough that’s ready to become something spectacular.

Step 4: Shape the Choux Pastry

Transfer your dreamy dough into a piping bag. Pipe adorable little rounds onto the prepared baking sheet, giving each enough space to puff up and become amazing.

Step 5: Add Craquelin Topping and Bake

Sprinkle the craquelin topping over each choux pastry round. Pop the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until they’re golden brown and beautifully puffed up.

Step 6: Prepare Mascarpone and Espresso Mixtures

Ingredients for Mascarpone Mixture:
  • Mascarpone cheese
  • Powdered sugar
Ingredients for Espresso Mixture:
  • Espresso
  • Rum

In one bowl, whip the mascarpone and powdered sugar until smooth. In another bowl, blend the espresso and rum.

Step 7: Fill the Choux Pastries

Once the choux pastries have cooled completely, slice off their tops. Fill each pastry with the luscious mascarpone mixture, creating little clouds of deliciousness.

Step 8: Final Touches and Serving

Dunk each filled choux into the espresso mixture for a flavor punch. Dust the tops with cocoa powder, creating a final layer of delectable elegance. Serve and watch everyone swoon.

Top Tips For Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin

  • Add a silky craquelin topping by mixing butter, sugar, and flour to create a crispy, golden-brown crust on your choux pastry.
  • Ensure eggs are at room temperature for smoother incorporation into the choux dough, preventing lumps and creating a more uniform texture.
  • Pipe uniform choux rounds using a star tip for a professional bakery-style appearance and consistent baking.
  • Soak choux gently in espresso mixture to prevent soggy pastry, allowing brief contact for maximum flavor absorption.
  • Dust cocoa powder just before serving to maintain the powdery texture and prevent moisture from making the topping clump.

Creative Variations For Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin

  • Chocolate Lover's Dream: Replace espresso with melted dark chocolate and add chocolate shavings on top for an intense cocoa experience.
  • Fruit Fusion: Swap espresso with orange liqueur and add zested orange peel into mascarpone cream for a citrusy kick.
  • Nutty Elegance: Mix crushed pistachios into craquelin topping and sprinkle ground almonds over filled choux for extra texture and nutty flavor.
  • Seasonal Berry Bliss: Incorporate raspberry puree into mascarpone cream and garnish with fresh berries for a fruity summer version.

Best Pairings For Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin

  • Elevate Coffee Companion: Rich, dark espresso perfectly complements the sweet, creamy tiramisu choux, enhancing the dessert's deep flavor profile.
  • Dessert Wine Pairing: Select a sweet Marsala wine or Pedro Ximénez sherry to mirror the rum and coffee notes, creating a luxurious taste experience.
  • Flavor Amplifier: Serve alongside a small scoop of vanilla gelato to balance the intense espresso and mascarpone richness, adding a cool, smooth contrast.
  • Textural Enhancer: Sprinkle crushed amaretti cookies around the plate to provide a crunchy element that complements the soft, delicate choux pastry.

How To Store Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin

  • Store filled tiramisu choux in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Cover gently to prevent condensation from making the pastry soggy.
  • Wrap individual choux carefully in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator overnight before serving.
  • Warm choux briefly in a preheated oven at 300F for 3-5 minutes to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving, which will make the pastry soft and lose its crunch.
  • Allow chilled choux to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to soften the filling and restore optimal texture.

Tiramisu Choux Au Craquelin FAQs

  • What is craquelin and why is it used in this recipe?

Craquelin is a crispy, caramelized sugar topping that adds a delightful crunch and decorative texture to the choux pastry, creating a beautiful golden-brown surface when baked.

  • Can I make the choux pastry dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the choux pastry dough in advance and store it in a piping bag in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking, which helps save time during preparation.

  • Do I need any special equipment to make these tiramisu choux?

You’ll need a piping bag, a saucepan, and a baking sheet with parchment paper. An electric mixer can help with beating eggs and mixing mascarpone, but it’s not absolutely essential.

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Tiramisu Choux au Craquelin Recipe

Tiramisu Choux au Craquelin Recipe


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4.6 from 34 reviews

  • Total Time: 35-40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Heavenly French-Italian fusion Tiramisu Choux au Craquelin combines delicate pastry with rich coffee-soaked elegance. Delicate layers of creamy mascarpone and crisp craquelin create a sophisticated dessert that promises pure indulgence for passionate bakers.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
  • 1/4 cup (57 g) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs

Cheese and Sweet Components:

  • 1/2 cup (120 g) mascarpone cheese
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) powdered sugar

Liquid and Finishing Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) brewed espresso
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) rum
  • Cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions

  1. Prepare the oven to 400F (200C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal pastry performance.
  2. Combine water and butter in a saucepan, bringing to a rolling boil. Swiftly incorporate flour, stirring vigorously until the mixture transforms into a cohesive dough ball.
  3. Remove from heat and allow the dough to cool slightly for 2-3 minutes. Gradually incorporate eggs, beating thoroughly after each addition to ensure a silky, uniform texture.
  4. Transfer the choux pastry to a piping bag fitted with a round tip, carefully forming uniform small rounds on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Delicately apply the craquelin topping over each pastry round, ensuring even coverage for a beautiful crackled finish.
  6. Bake the choux for 20-25 minutes, rotating midway, until they achieve a golden-brown color and dramatic puffed appearance.
  7. Whip mascarpone cheese and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
  8. Prepare the espresso and rum mixture in a separate bowl, creating a rich, aromatic soaking liquid.
  9. Once pastries have completely cooled, gently slice off the tops to create a cavity for filling.
  10. Generously pipe the mascarpone cream into each choux pastry, ensuring a full but neat fill.
  11. Carefully dip the filled pastries into the espresso-rum mixture, allowing them to absorb the liquid briefly.
  12. Finish by dusting the tops with a delicate layer of cocoa powder, creating an elegant presentation.

Notes

  • Swap rum with coffee extract for a non-alcoholic version that maintains the classic tiramisu flavor profile.
  • Ensure eggs are at room temperature to help them incorporate smoothly into the choux pastry dough for a more consistent texture.
  • Use a digital kitchen scale for precise measurements, especially when measuring flour, to guarantee perfect choux pastry rise and structure.
  • Cool choux completely before filling to prevent soggy bottoms and maintain the delicate crisp texture of the pastry shell.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 225 kcal
  • Sugar: 9 g
  • Sodium: 70 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 90 mg
Samantha Lee

Samantha Lee

Recipe Developer & Content Creator

Expertise

Plant-based and vegetarian recipes, Recipe testing and development, Food blogging and digital content creation, Culinary education and workshops​

Education

Oregon Culinary Institute (Portland, OR)

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Emphasized plant-based cooking, global cuisines, and recipe testing methodologies.​

Samantha sees cooking like painting, every fresh herb, every juicy tomato, a new splash of color on a canvas.
After graduating from Oregon Culinary Institute, she blended her love of global cuisines and plant-based cooking into recipes that feel fresh, fearless, and full of heart.
Samantha’s kitchen is a place where comfort food gets a modern remix and every meal feels like a little adventure. When she’s not cooking, she’s out exploring farmers’ markets, sketching new recipe ideas, or getting her hands dirty in a community garden.

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