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Classic French Profiteroles

Classic French Profiteroles

These Classic French Profiteroles are light, airy puffs of choux pastry filled with creamy vanilla filling or ice cream, then topped with a silky chocolate ganache. Elegant, impressive, and surprisingly simple to make — they’re the perfect dessert for dinner parties or a romantic night in. A must-try for fans of French desserts, homemade pastries, and elegant baking.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cooling Time: 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • For the Choux Pastry:
  • ½ cup 115g unsalted butter
  • 1 cup 240ml water
  • 1 cup 125g all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar optional
  • 4 large eggs
  • For the Filling:
  • 1 ½ cups pastry cream or vanilla ice cream
  • For the Chocolate Ganache:
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven:
  2. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Make the dough:
  4. In a saucepan, combine butter, water, salt, and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, then stir in flour all at once.
  5. Form the paste:
  6. Stir constantly until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  7. Add eggs:
  8. Beat in eggs one at a time until the dough is smooth, glossy, and pipeable.
  9. Pipe and bake:
  10. Pipe small mounds (about 1½ inches wide) onto the baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden and puffed.
  11. Cool and fill:
  12. Allow puffs to cool completely. Slice in half and fill with vanilla pastry cream or ice cream.
  13. Prepare ganache:
  14. Heat heavy cream until hot but not boiling. Pour over chocolate chips, let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth and glossy.
  15. Assemble:
  16. Drizzle the chocolate ganache over filled profiteroles and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Avoid opening the oven during baking — this causes the puffs to collapse.
  • Fill just before serving to keep them crisp.
  • Store baked, unfilled puffs in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
  • Add whipped cream or custard as filling alternatives.