How to Make Profiteroles

The ingredients for profiteroles are:

• 1/2 cup milk
  
• 1/2 cup water
  
• 3 oz. unsalted butter
  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
  
• 1 tsp sugar
  
• 1/4 tsp salt
  
• 4 to 5 eggs
  
• Vanilla ice cream (or any desired flavor), for filling
  
• Chocolate ganache or powdered sugar, for topping
  

You'll also need the following cooking equipment:

• Medium-sized pot
• Spreading knife
• Large spoon
• Shallow bowl
• Small mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Pastry bag with a straight metal tip or a plastic resealable bag
• Cylindrical container, like a measuring cup
• Baking sheet covered with parchment paper
• Bread knife
• Ice cream scoop

1. Combine water, milk and butter in a pot. Bring mixture to a boil.
2. Measure the flour by using a large spoon to scoop flour into one-cup measuring cup. Use  straight edge of a spreading knife to scrape excess flour off the top.
3. Dump flour into a small mixing bowl and add sugar and salt. Stir dry ingredients together with spreading knife.
4. Crack eggs into a shallow bowl.
5. When the butter and milk mixture begins to boil, stir it briefly with the wooden spoon, then add dry ingredients. Keep flame at a medium to medium-high heat and stir dough together until it forms a paste.
6. After paste forms a ball, remove it from heat and continue stirring it for one to two minutes. (Test dough's temperature by touching it lightly with the back of your hand. If it feels lukewarm, it's cool enough to use.)
7. Add eggs to the dough, one at a time, by pouring in one yolk at a time. Stir dough well after each addition. 

1. Put a straight metal pastry tip into a pastry bag and push it to the end. Cut off a small corner from the end of the bag to expose the metal tip. Alternatively, you can use a plastic resealable bag.
   
2. Put pastry bag into a cylindrical container and fold edges over the sides. Use a wooden spoon to transfer dough into the bag. 
3. Remove bag from the container and lay it flat on counter. Use your fingertips to work the dough all the way to the end of the bag. If you are using a plastic resealable bag, you can cut off the tip of the bag to make a piping hole.
4. Holding bag about a half an inch from the top of the parchment-covered baking sheet, squeeze dough out into one and a half to two-inch pastry circles. Flick the bag away at the top to break the dough.
5. Continue squeezing pastry circles over baking sheet, placing them one to two inches apart.
6. After you've squeezed out all the dough, moisten a fingertip with water and lightly pat down the top of each pastry circle to remove the "peak."

1. Bake the dough circles for 10 minutes at 450°F, then reduce the heat to 375°F and continue baking for 15 minutes more. The puffs are done when they have risen and are golden-brown in color.
   
2. Slice each puff in half lengthwise using a bread knife. The pastry should be sliced similar to a hamburger bun and there should be a large hole inside each puff.
3. Use an ice cream scoop to place a small amount of ice cream inside the bottom pastry half. Place the top pastry half over the ice cream.
4. Top the finished profiteroles with a chocolate ganache sauce that has been thinned with a little milk or cream. Spread the ganache over the top of the profiteroles using a spreading knife. Powdered sugar can be used instead of chocolate.

Traditional profiteroles have ice cream in the middle and chocolate syrup drizzled on top. However, you can add any filling you want:

• Chocolate, vanilla or a favorite pudding flavor
• Sweet whipped cream: This filling is made by combining 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Using a high speed mixer, continue beating until you see soft peaks form.
• Thick cream: To make, combine 2 tablespoons butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup flour and 2 beaten eggs in a double boiler. Add 2 cups of warm milk slowly while stirring continuously. Heat the mixture over the hot water until it becomes thick and smooth. This thick cream filling can be used as a base in which any fruit flavoring can be added with an extract or 1 cup of fruit. You can use strawberry, blueberry, orange, lemon, pineapple, fig, etc. Don’t forget to add the zest when using citrus for an extra zing of taste.