Saint-Honoré Cake
A showstopping French dessert with crispy choux buns arranged on a pastry base, bound together with caramel and topped with whipped cream. Impressive but achievable with store-bought puff pastry.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Servings
- 8
- Calories
- 385
- Protein
- 6g
Ingredients
- 1 sheet (9×12 inches) puff pastry (thawed)
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large, divided eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream (cold)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 2
Place puff pastry on one sheet. Prick all over with a fork to prevent puffing.
- 3
Combine butter and water in a saucepan. Heat over medium until butter melts and mixture boils, ~2 minutes.
- 4
Remove from heat. Stir in flour until a thick dough forms, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
- 5
Cool dough 3 minutes, then beat in 3 eggs one at a time, stirring until each is fully incorporated.
- 6
Transfer choux to a piping bag fitted with a 0.5-inch tip. Pipe 16–20 small mounds onto the second sheet, spacing 1 inch apart.
- 7
Beat remaining egg. Brush each choux bun lightly with beaten egg.
- 8
Bake both sheets at 400°F for 20 minutes until puff pastry is golden and choux are light brown.
- 9
Remove from oven and cool both sheets on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
- 10
In a heavy saucepan, melt 0.5 cup sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly, until amber-colored, ~6 minutes. Do not stir after sugar liquefies—just swirl the pan.
- 11
Working quickly, dip base of each choux bun into hot caramel. Arrange in a circle atop the puff pastry base, pressing lightly to adhere.
- 12
Drizzle remaining caramel over the choux buns and pastry base, letting it cool and harden, ~15 minutes.
- 13
Whip cold cream with 1 tablespoon sugar until stiff peaks form, ~2 minutes.
- 14
Transfer cake to a serving plate. Spoon whipped cream into center or dollop on top. Serve immediately.
Tools you’ll need
- two baking sheets
- parchment paper
- fork
- medium saucepan
- wooden spoon
- piping bag
- 0.5-inch pastry tip
- heavy saucepan
- wire rack
- electric mixer or whisk
- serving plate
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