Puff the Magic Dessert Ring

So, our next in the Incredible Edible Egg series -- Choux Paste!  Okay, we know it sounds all French and fancy, but it's actually quite easy to make and very versatile too.  For our example today, we've gone with a sweet dish but once baked, you can use the choux paste for savory or sweet dishes.  You can create small puffs to fill with chicken or tuna salad, perfect for a brunch or to fill with pudding or creme for little bite-sized treats. 

Strawberry Puff Ring

Choux paste puff ring (see recipe)
Homemade vanilla pudding (recipe below) or can use instant or pre-made pudding
2 cups fresh sliced strawberries, chilled
Simple glaze

Choux paste

6 tbsp butter
3/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs

In a medium saucepan, over high bring butter and pre-heated water to a boil.

Add flour and salt all at once and drop heat to medium.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture leaves the sides of the pan in a smooth compact ball.

Remove from heat and add eggs one at a time, beating vigorously until mixture is smooth and glossy.

Spoon dough into an 8” ring shape on a greased cookie and bake at 425° for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.

Turn off oven and leave pastry ring in for an additional 20 minutes to dry out center.

Remove and let cool to room temperature.

Vanilla pudding

2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp butter

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk until bubbles form around the edge of the pan.

In a bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Pour mixture into hot milk, a little bit at a time, stirring constantly to dissolve.

Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon – DO NOT BOIL!

Once thickened, removed from heat. Stir in vanilla and butter until butter is melted.

Put into a bowl and cover with plastic so that the plastic touches the pudding itself, this will prevent a pudding skin from forming. Chill well.

Simple glaze

3 tbsp powder sugar
2 tsp milk or water

Combine powder sugar until it reaches a slightly thickened consistency. If too thin, add more powder sugar, if too thick at a tidge more liquid.

To Assemble Puff Ring

Once cooled, slice the puff ring horizontally. Set aside the top half.

On the bottom half, spread a layer of vanilla pudding. Cover the pudding with the sliced strawberries.

(okay, thought this was a really tasty strawberry photo so had to include)

Place the top half of the pastry back on top of the strawberries and drizzle with glaze.

Slice up and serve.

Variations

Make individual pastry puffs by dropping 2-3 spoonfuls of pastry together and baking as individual portions.

Use chocolate pudding with strawberries or raspberries, and make the simple glaze chocolately by adding a bit of powdered cocoa to the mix.

Add other berries (blue, black, rasp) to the strawberries to add color or be crazy and substitute fresh peaches for berries.