Ready to impress? A dramatic tower of cream puffs filled with Tiramisu cream, held together with melted chocolate. Then finally dusted with lots of confectioners sugar.

It is not as difficult as it looks, but it does require a few steps. I like to make the cream puffs the day before assembling to divide the work. You can also make the filling the day before, whatever works for you best.

Leftover cream puffs can be frozen for up to two months.

A stunning dessert for any special occasion!

INGREDIENTS:

Cream Puffs:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1-1/3 cups water
• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs, room temperature

FILLING:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1-2 tsp instant coffee granules
• 2 tsp instant gelatine powder
• 1 recipe pastry cream, home made or store bought (about 2 cups)

GLAZE:

• 1/3 cup butter, cubed
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. instant coffee granules
• 3 to 6 tablespoons hot water
• Additional confectioners’ sugar, optional

DIRECTIONS:

In a large saucepan, bring water, milk and butter to a boil. Add flour and salt all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes to cool a little. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. Place mixture in a piping bag fitted with a large nozzle and pipe puffs onto baking sheet, about the size of a ping pong ball. You can press the tip of the puffs down with a wet finger to make them nice and round. Bake at 200C / 400F for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Cut a small slit in the side of each puff to allow steam to escape. Cool puffs.
For filling, Prepare creme patisserie, see below if making home made.

In a large bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form add sugar, coffee and intant gelatine powder beat until stiff. Fold in creme patisserie. Place filling in piping bag fitted with a pointed tip and pipe about 1 tablespoon into each puff.

For glaze, in a small saucepan, combine butter and chocolate. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Remove from the heat. Using a whisk, stir in the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and coffee granules and enough water to make desired consistency for dipping. Stir until smooth and no lumps appear.

To assemble tree: Dip the bottoms of the puffs into glaze to start building your tree. Start with four puffs in the middle and then form a circle around them That’s your first layer, now continue for the second layer by dipping puffs in chocolate and placing them on the first circle. Continue all the way up until you are at the top. Drizzle remaining glaze over the tree, dust with confectioners sugar just before serving.

Enjoy!

Creme Pattiserie:

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 1 1/4 cup milk

Method:

• Beat the egg yolks and sugar for a few minutes until pale and slightly thickened.
• Whisk in the flours.
• Heat the milk in a saucepan until stating to boil.
• Whisk the milk into the egg mix.
• Put the whole lot back into the pan, stirring all the time until thick and boiling.
• Take the pan off the heat – cover with cling-film to prevent a skin from forming.