Paris-Brest Cream Puff Ring

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🍰✨ Paris-Brest Cream Puff Ring (La Paris-Brest)

Light, crisp choux pastry filled with luscious praline cream — a French pastry masterpiece.

🧁 Introduction & Origin

The Paris-Brest is a luxurious French dessert made from choux pastry (the same dough used for éclairs and profiteroles), shaped into a ring and filled with praline-flavored pastry cream or mousseline cream. It’s named after the historic Paris–Brest–Paris bicycle race and was invented in 1910 by a French pâtissier, Louis Durand, to celebrate the event.

Its wheel-like shape honors the bicycle, and the rich yet airy texture has made it a bakery favorite for over a century.

🌍 Cultural Significance

The Paris-Brest represents French culinary elegance — combining technical skill with visual beauty and balanced flavor. It’s a staple in pâtisseries across France, often served during holidays, celebrations, or as a refined dessert at dinner parties.

It’s not just a treat — it’s a symbol of how pastry can become edible art.

🥣 Ingredients & Quantity (Makes one 9-inch ring / serves 6–8)

🥄 For the Choux Pastry:

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • 4 large eggs

🍮 For the Praline Mousseline Cream:

  • 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) whole milk
  • 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup (30g) cornstarch
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (120g) unsalted butter, cold
  • 1/2 cup (120g) praline paste (hazelnut or almond)

🍬 Toppings:

  • Powdered sugar (for dusting)
  • Sliced almonds (optional)

✨ Optional Additions

  • Nutella or chocolate ganache for a twist
  • Caramel drizzle
  • Berries inside the cream layer
  • Swap praline paste with peanut butter for a playful variation
  • Add coffee extract for a mocha version

🧠 Tips for Success

  • Use a piping bag for neat choux rings and consistent size.
  • Don’t open the oven too soon — it may deflate the pastry.
  • Chill the cream completely before whipping and assembling.
  • For extra crispiness, dry the choux shells in the oven after baking with the door slightly ajar.
  • Use room-temperature butter when beating into the cooled pastry cream for a silky mousseline.

🍳 Instructions

🥯 Step 1: Make the Choux Pastry

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment and draw a 9-inch circle as a guide.
  2. In a saucepan, heat water, milk, butter, sugar, and salt over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
  3. Remove from heat and add flour all at once. Stir until a dough forms and pulls from the sides.
  4. Return to heat for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly to dry it slightly.
  5. Transfer to a bowl and beat in eggs one at a time, until the dough is smooth and pipeable.
  6. Pipe into a ring on your baking sheet (double layer for extra height if desired). Sprinkle with almonds.
  7. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and puffed. Let cool completely on a rack.

🍮 Step 2: Make the Praline Mousseline Cream

  1. In a saucepan, heat milk until just simmering.
  2. In a bowl, whisk yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Slowly pour in hot milk, whisking constantly.
  3. Return mixture to the pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until thickened (2–3 minutes).
  4. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and half the butter.
  5. Chill completely (cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent skin).
  6. Once cool, beat remaining butter until fluffy. Slowly add chilled pastry cream and praline paste. Beat until smooth and mousseline-like.

🎂 Step 3: Assemble the Paris-Brest

  1. Slice the choux ring horizontally.
  2. Pipe or spoon cream generously onto the bottom half.
  3. Top with the other half and dust with powdered sugar.
  4. Chill for 30–60 minutes before serving for clean cuts.

🎨 Description

The Paris-Brest is a showstopping ring of airy choux, filled with silky, nutty praline cream that melts on the tongue. The outer shell is crisp and golden, the center rich but light — a harmonious contrast in every bite. A dusting of powdered sugar adds a final touch of elegance.

🧮 Nutritional Information (Per slice, based on 8 servings — approximate)

  • Calories: 390–450
  • Fat: 28g
  • Carbs: 30g
  • Sugar: 15g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sodium: 150mg

✅ Conclusion

The Paris-Brest is a dessert that blends tradition, flavor, and finesse. While it requires a few steps, the process is rewarding and the result is stunning. Whether you serve it at a special occasion or simply to impress yourself — it’s worth every bite.

💬 Recommendation

Make this when you want to impress — birthdays, tea parties, anniversaries, or holiday meals. Prepare components in advance for easier assembly. Once you’ve mastered it, try variations like chocolate cream, pistachio praline, or even fruit-infused fillings.

🌱 Embracing Healthful Indulgence

While the Paris-Brest is indulgent, it’s made from real ingredients — butter, eggs, milk, nuts — with no preservatives or artificial flavors. Savor it as part of a joyful lifestyle that celebrates both wellness and pleasure. True balance means room for beauty and treats — and this pastry is both.

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