Windbeutel (Choux Pastry) with Vanilla Cream
Ingredients
For the Choux Pastry:
- 250 ml (1 cup) water or milk
- 1 pinch of salt
- 60 g (4 tbsp) butter
- 150 g (1 ¼ cups) flour
- 4 eggs
- 1 pinch of baking powder
For the Lemon Vanilla Cream:
- 250 ml (1 cup) milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 75 g (⅓ cup) sugar
- 1 vanilla bean (seeds scraped) or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tsp flour
- 100 g (½ cup) quark or cream cheese
- 100 g (½ cup) whipping cream
- Zest of 1 lemon
Additionally:
- Piping bag with a star tip
- Parchment paper
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F).
- Boil water or milk, butter, and salt in a saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in the flour all at once.
- Cook the dough over medium heat, stirring until a dough ball forms and a film develops at the bottom of the pan.
- Cool the dough slightly before adding eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Add the baking powder last.
- Pipe 12 small mounds of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool completely before filling.
- Make the vanilla cream:
- Simmer the milk while whisking egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and flour in a separate bowl.
- Slowly add the hot milk to the egg mixture, then return it to the saucepan to thicken over low heat.
- Stir in quark after the mixture has cooled, and fold in whipped cream.
- Fill the choux pastries with vanilla cream, top with powdered sugar, and serve.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar and fresh berries.
- Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea for a delightful afternoon snack.
- These pastries also pair beautifully with a drizzle of melted chocolate or fruit coulis.
Cooking Tips
- For the best rise, avoid opening the oven door during baking.
- Make sure to cool the pastries completely before filling them, or the cream will melt.
- When adding eggs to the dough, make sure the dough is not too hot to prevent cooking the eggs.
Nutritional Benefits
- Lemon zest adds a dose of vitamin C and antioxidants to the dessert.
- Eggs provide protein and essential vitamins like vitamin D.
- Quark or cream cheese offers calcium and probiotics for digestive health.
Dietary Information
- Vegetarian
- Can be made gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour mix.
- Contains dairy, eggs, and gluten.
Nutritional Facts (Per Serving)
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Protein: 7 g
- Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Sugar: 12 g
Storage
- Store filled pastries in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Unfilled choux pastries can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.