"A giant cream puff, who cares?" was my first thought about making the Paris-Brest. I wasn't even the one who was going to make it. The honors go to my pastry chef daughter.
I thought the story of the dessert was charming.. made to resemble a bicycle wheel to be served at the end of a race from Paris to Brest that has been taking place since 1891… yes, but it was still just a cream puff.
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| http://gccfla.org/brevet/brevets.html |
Quelle surprise! This dessert was nothing short of orgasmic… a simple puffed pastry dough filled with vanilla pastry cream, who would have guessed it would bring so much pleasure. The cream was not too sweet, not too much vanilla flavor…a perfectly rich consistency. The pastry.. light and buttery with a little flake to it, but not sticky.. just a wonderful eating experience.
We didn't even have almonds on ours because of my daughter's nut allergy. I kept cutting another little piece…an another little piece, until the wheel disappeared.
Thank goodness there was a little bit of dough and cream left over to make cream puffs.
I can assure you these quickly disappeared too…
Here is a Paris-Brest Recipe… but if you want Dorie's, and you do, you really do… get the cookbook: Around My French Table.
Note: As a member of French Friday's with Dorie I am not allowed to print the recipe. I invite you to take a look at this wonderful cookbook "Around My French Table" if you are interested in this or any other recipe I review.
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| Click here to see how the other Dorista's did. |
This post is shared on the following food/craft parties:
Organizing/Healthy Recipes/Inspiration:
Random Recipe Round-up @ My Mixing Spoon (Sunday)
Meal Plan Monday Organizing Junkie
Mix it Up Monday @ Flour Me With Love's
Tuesday Food:
Hearth & Soul Blog Hop @ 21st Century Housewife
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More
Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen
Tasty Tuesday #Anyonita Nibbles
Share your Stuff Tuesday @ Table for Seven
Wednesday Food:
From Dream to Reality @ DYI Dreamer
Wednesday Whatsit @White Lights on Wednesday
Fresh Foods Wednesdays @ Gastronomical Sovereignty
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Look What I Made @ Creations by Kara
Thursday Food:
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity
Friday Food:
Foodie Friday @ Home Maid Simple
Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home
Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club
Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie
Freedom Fridays @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Inspiration Spotlight @ Dear Creatives
Hearth & Soul Blog Hop @ 21st Century Housewife
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More
Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen
Tasty Tuesday #Anyonita Nibbles
Share your Stuff Tuesday @ Table for Seven
Wednesday Food:
From Dream to Reality @ DYI Dreamer
Wednesday Whatsit @White Lights on Wednesday
Fresh Foods Wednesdays @ Gastronomical Sovereignty
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Look What I Made @ Creations by Kara
Thursday Food:
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity
Friday Food:
Foodie Friday @ Home Maid Simple
Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home
Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club
Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie
Freedom Fridays @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Inspiration Spotlight @ Dear Creatives
They look absolutely DELICIOUS !!
ReplyDeleteWith me around they'd all disappear in seconds :)
It was a marvelous thing while it lasted.
DeleteDelicioso Diane
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to try this Victoria.
DeleteDiane, love the look of this recipe. read you bio. keep bees and make honey. so cool. do you sell or share it? Peter @Feed Your Soul Too
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had enough honey to sell, though the local market would love to have some. These last few years have been bad for bees. We will be tapping our maple trees soon. We got a lot of syrup last year. We are having a cold winter with is good for syrup.
Deleteoh those look delicious!
ReplyDeleteMake this Adelina. You won't regret it… unless you are alone at the time and you end up eating the whole thing.
DeleteDear Diane, MY mother made cream puffs for holidays when I was little. It always was such a treat. I have never attempted to make these. I know just how delicious these are. I understand just another little bite...
ReplyDeleteI must really give these a try.
I hope you are feeling much better.
Blessings dear and keep warm and cozy. Catherine xo
Thanks Catherine,
DeleteMy energy is still low but I have recovered. Please, please give this a try... if you like cream puffs you will love the Paris-Brest.
That's looks so yummy and divine! =]
ReplyDeleteIt was divine… truly a heavenly dessert.
DeleteIt really was tasty wasn't it! Glad you enjoyed and thanks for indulging my choice this month!
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome Mardi for suggesting this… I would have never guessed from reading the recipe that it would taste soooo good.
DeleteYour daughter is quite the little baker, it looks delicious. I have only had individual cream puffs, I have never made a large ring before. I might have to try that, it looks so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteShe had trouble piping the ring… we probably didn't have a large enough piping tip. She ended up rolling it out… but the ring makes a beautiful presentation. You should try it.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed this more than you expected. I like custard, so I was in.
ReplyDeleteI never think much about custard… but I loved this filling. I think a lot of times store bought is too sweet.
DeleteThis was tasy - it is always nice to be pleasantly surprise, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI was more than pleasantly surprised. I was shocked. That can be good to when it involves dessert.
DeletePeople seemed to love the cream puffs as much as the wheel. The fact that this wasn't too sweet was what endeared it to me. I don't want to taste 'sugar'. I want to taste custard. This one really delivered.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more.. which is why I usually don't like store bought cream puffs. Way too sweet.
DeleteGlad you ended up making this! Sounds like it was a hit!
ReplyDeleteSuper surprised… planning on making this again for Easter.
DeleteNow that you say it, you're right, this wasn't all that sweet. Surprising, really, but probably why I liked it more than I expected. How funny that you kept eating slices until it vanished. Your daughter did a great job on this one.
ReplyDeleteShe really had a hard time working with the dough and piping it. Kept getting air bubbles. But I told her this was truly a challenging thing to make. She doesn't seem to realize what a high level she bakes on for her age. I will let her know you were impressed. Thanks.
DeleteIt sure can be addictive, can't it? I made cream puffs, and I keep sneaking them out of the kitchen. So tasty. Lovely work by your daughter - a job well done!
ReplyDeleteI would have really had a hard time controling myself if my daughter just made cream puffs. You notice more when a large wheel disappears than little balls.
DeleteWell worth the work when you end up with a delicious treat!
ReplyDeleteTruly surprising.
DeleteYour daughter always amazes when you show off her baking! That looks just delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I am in awe of her skills.
DeleteI am so impressed with your daughters talent! That was quite a grown-up project to take on…she definitely aced it!! It was amazingly delicious…loved the custard filling because it wasn’t too sweet! Great post! Happy weekend, Diane! And high five to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteShe was almost in tears trying to pipe the dough. I am trying to make her realize that this is a professional dessert to make, not easy for anyone. I am letting her know about all compliments. Thanks so much.
DeleteWow, Diane, she is quite the talented young lady. What an accomplishment to just get it made let alone have it look beautiful and taste delicious. And, besides that, she is pretty handy with the sword! And why didn't Mom have the right-sized tip? I feel lucky that I waited to bake this because I can use all the suggestions learned from everyone this week. However, I just cannot wait until springtime to make this - going to give it a go next week. Again, an inspirational effort by your daughter.
ReplyDeleteI got so many great tips, pun intended, for this recipe too. I hope my daughter will attempt it again for Easter, or maybe I'll give it a try.
DeleteYour daughter did a fabulous job! I think I would have liked it with the vanilla pastry cream even better, but Bill liked the chocolate just fine :)
ReplyDeleteMy son who is normally a "chocolate only guy" loved this... so try the vanilla Bill might suprise you.
DeleteYour daughter is a very talented baker! Congratulations! I really liked this one but I like all sweets anyway it was tricky but really very good!!
ReplyDeleteTrue.. very tricky.. I'm glad she stuck it out, though I would have been happy with cream puffs.
DeleteThis looks amazing! There's nothing better than French pastry cream and choux pastry!
ReplyDeleteI agree... the only other thing we made like this was eclairs... and they were incredible too.
DeleteI am so impressed by your daughter's skills! This is beautiful. I didn't bother piping the pastry cream. She did a great job.
ReplyDeleteShe feels a lot better about the job she did on this pastry after all the great compliments from the Doristas.
DeleteI love cream puffs too much! A whole ring of cream puff might just be too much! Mmmmmm
ReplyDeletehttp://woodsofbelltrees.com/
Oh tell me about it... that ring disappeared much to quickly and I couldn't blame it on the kids.
DeleteWhat success for you! Great to have a daughter that can help out in the kitchen too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks we all have our specialties in my family, I'm savory, my daughter's desserts, and my husband is the bread baker... my son eats.
DeleteThis looks amazing. The one time I tried making cream puffs didn't work so well but this makes me want to try it again.
ReplyDeleteThey don't always look great, but they still usually taste delicious. Micha you should try again.
DeleteCream puffs are one of my absolute favorite things, they make me think of childhood. My dad used to make them by hand. So good! Love your blog, found you over on Weekend Potluck :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a pretty cool dad... making cream puffs that's awesome. Thanks for visiting Jessica.
DeleteYour Paris-Brest Cream Puff Ring looks beautiful, Diane! There's nothing like a proper pastry like this :-)
ReplyDeleteOh my I wish I has these right now!! Would love for you to come over and join our link party that just started! http://mommyondemand.com/happiness-homemade-6/
ReplyDeleteSure thing... always up for a party.
DeleteAnother winner Diane! Wish I could come taste test. Stopping by as co-host of Happiness is Homemade Link Party
ReplyDeleteThis really was a winner and a surprise... so incredibly tasty. Thanks so much for coming by.
DeleteSeriously looks amazing!! Was it hard to make? I have never made cream puffs or a pastry like that. Inspired to try. Thanks for sharing @DearCreatives party and hope to see you again soon. Theresa
ReplyDeleteThis looks so delicious :x I think I could eat it up in no time!
ReplyDelete