Homemade Choux Pastry Recipe (Pâte á Choux)
Published February 2, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This easy-to-make homemade choux pastry recipe comes together in a matter of minutes and is perfect for all your pastry needs. You will love how quickly this is made.
If you’re unfamiliar with choux pastry, it can be used in many recipes, but the most popular ones are Profiteroles or Cream Puffs.
Choux Pastry
Choux pastry, which is also known as éclair paste, choux paste, or Pâte à Choux, is a dough made by combining flour with boiling water, salt, and butter, then vigorously whisking in eggs, making it sticky and paste-like. This method is very different from other pastry dough procedures.
Choux pastry is said to have been invented in 1540 by a chef named Pantanelli. However, when baked, it was known as Pâte à Pantanelli. It did not get its current name until the 18th century. This is a very quick-to-make delicious dough with many pastry uses.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Eggs – Chilled or room-temperature eggs work perfectly.
- Water – Tap water is fine for this Choux Pastry.
- Butter – I always use unsalted butter to control the salt content in cooking and baking.
- Flour – All-purpose flour is what’s needed. You can use bread flour, but you must increase the amount of water by 5%.
- Salt – I always use coarse salt in my cooking and baking.
How to Make Choux Pastry from Scratch
Add the water, salt, and butter to a medium-sized sauce pot.
Bring the mixture to a boil and make sure the butter is completely melted in.
Remove the pan and whisk in the flour until it is combined.
Return the pan to the cooktop over low to medium heat and vigorously whisk it until it forms a dough ball.
Take the pan off the heat and whisk in 1 egg at a time until it is completely combined. See Chef Notes.
Use the choux pastry dough in any manner that you see fit.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this choux pastry dough up to 2 days ahead for freshness.
How to Store: Keep it in a container and cover it in the refrigerator for 3 days. This will freeze well-wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator until it is soft and pliable. You can also freeze the choux pastry for up to 3 months after it’s baked. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day.
Chef Notes + Tips
- This is also the same dough used in gougéres and churros.
- Be patient when whisking the eggs into the dough. It will appear like it is overhydrated and pulling away from the pan, but after a few seconds, it will incorporate into the dough.
- Instead of whisking the eggs by hand, you can do it in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low to medium speed.
More Dough Recipes
Homemade Choux Pastry Recipe (Pâte à Choux)
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoons coarse salt
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 large eggs
Instructions
- Add the water, salt, and butter to a medium-sized sauce pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and ensure the butter is completely melted in.
- Remove the pan and whisk in the flour until it is combined.
- Return the pan to the cooktop over low to medium heat and vigorously whisk it until it forms a dough ball.
- Take the pan off the heat and whisk in 1 egg at a time until it is completely combined. See the notes.
- Use the choux pastry dough in any manner that you see fit.
What is the temperature and cook time?
This is just for the dough, from there it can be turned into a number of different things such as churros, profiteroles, etc.
How much time do we have to bake them and in how many degrees?
All that information is in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
I follow you on FB, And I just saw this recipe on Google 💕I have been making choux pastry for years now and your recipe is the best I’ve ever made. Thank you Chef.
Hi, I’m based in the uk, what weight does a stick of butter amount to???
Kind regards
113 g