Description
A light and elegant dessert featuring crisp pastry shells filled with silky coconut cream and crowned with toasted coconut. These puffs deliver a delicate balance of textures—a crispy exterior yielding to a luxuriously creamy center—that make them a memorable finale for any meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup coconut cream (or full‑fat coconut milk)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a saucepan, bring water, butter, and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once, stirring vigorously until the mixture forms a smooth ball and pulls away from the pan.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly (2–3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next, until batter is glossy and thick.
- Pipe or spoon small mounds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake 20–25 minutes, until golden and puffed. Turn off oven, crack door, and let puffs dry for 5 minutes to prevent collapse. Cool completely.
- In a chilled bowl, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. In another bowl, combine coconut cream, vanilla, powdered sugar, and half the toasted coconut. Gently fold whipped cream into coconut mixture until smooth.
- Fill éclairs or choux by piping or spooning coconut cream into the base or bottom half. Top each puff with a sprinkle of remaining toasted coconut.
Notes
- For dairy-free shells, use dairy-free butter or coconut oil, and substitute water with coconut milk.
- For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free blend formulated for baking in equal measure.
- To toast shredded coconut, spread it evenly on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 5–7 minutes, stirring once.
- To preserve crispness, store unfilled shells and coconut cream separately. Assemble just before serving.
- If storing, keep for up to 2 days refrigerated. The pastry shell may soften as the coconut cream sits.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 puff
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 60mg