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IndyAssa Japan

This is my 8th online pastry course, and I’d like to introduce to you to one of my favorite desserts, Cream puffs.

Cream puff, or Choux a la crème in French is a popular dessert all over the world. I learned how to make authentic cream puffs in both Japan and France, and made them in the pastry shop I worked at. It was one of the most popular menu items at the pastry shop where I used to work in Japan.

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This is my 8th online pastry course, and I’d like to introduce to you to one of my favorite desserts, Cream puffs.

Cream puff, or Choux a la crème in French is a popular dessert all over the world. I learned how to make authentic cream puffs in both Japan and France, and made them in the pastry shop I worked at. It was one of the most popular menu items at the pastry shop where I used to work in Japan.

We will be making French choux pastry batter, Crème pâtissière which is usually referred to as pastry cream or custard cream in English and four different delicious cream fillings. Then I will explain how to assemble them.

I’ll also be showing you how to make one of the more trendy versions, choux au craquelin which is crackled cream puff.

This cake is perfect for a party, and would likely be one of the most popular menu items in your shop.

I’m going to show you not only the recipe, but common mistakes and the solutions, and other helpful tips. Unlike when you just watch the average cooking video, you can ask me questions anytime on my Q&A page.

Are you ready to make the perfect cream puff, together to impress your family and friends?

Let’s get started.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Become an expert at making the perfect cream puff.
  • Learn how to make basic choux pastry.
  • Learn how to bake choux au craquelin which is crackled cream puff.
  • Learn how to make creme patissiere. (custard cream)
  • Learn how to make matcha cream, chocolate cream and caramel cream.

Syllabus

Welcome to INDY ASSA Japan!
Introduction
Pate a Choux
Pate a Choux - Part 1 -
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on choux pastry, a foundational skill that can be applied to éclairs, profiteroles, and other classic desserts, expanding one's baking repertoire
Explores variations like choux au craquelin, matcha cream, chocolate cream, and caramel cream, which are popular in modern patisseries and can enhance a shop's menu
Teaches how to make crème pâtissière, a versatile pastry cream used in many desserts, providing a solid foundation for creating a wide range of fillings and toppings
Offers insights into common mistakes and solutions, which can be invaluable for those looking to refine their technique and troubleshoot issues in a professional setting

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Reviews summary

Mastering perfect cream puffs & choux

According to learners, the INDYASSA Pastry Course #3 provides clear and detailed instruction for making successful cream puffs, including the trendy choux au craquelin. Students particularly appreciate the helpful tips on avoiding common mistakes and the variety of delicious filling recipes (custard, matcha, chocolate, caramel). Many reviewers found the step-by-step demonstrations easy to follow, even for those new to this specific pastry. While some mention the need for specific ingredients or equipment as a consideration, the overwhelming sentiment is that the course delivers on its promise to help them make perfect cream puffs.
May need to source particular items.
"Some of the ingredients, like specific types of flour or butter, required a trip to a specialty store, but it was worth it for the results."
"Just be prepared that you might need to buy a few ingredients you don't usually keep on hand, especially for the different fillings."
"Requires accurate measurements and potentially a kitchen scale for best results."
"Needed to ensure I had the right quality butter as recommended."
Clear guide on making crackled tops.
"Finally understood how to make choux au craquelin! The module dedicated to this technique was very clear and easy to execute."
"Making the craquelin topping felt simple with the instructor's guidance. It adds such a nice texture and look."
"The instructions for the crackle dough were precise, leading to beautiful results."
"Successfully made crackled cream puffs for the first time thanks to this course."
Learn varied cream and custard recipes.
"Not only did I learn to make perfect choux, but the filling recipes, especially the matcha and caramel creams, were absolutely delicious!"
"The pastry cream recipe (Crème Pâtissière) is a staple I'll use again and again. Easy and incredibly tasty."
"Loved learning how to make the different creams. They were a great complement to the puffs."
"The chocolate cream was a big hit with my family!"
Guidance prevents errors, ensures success.
"The section on common mistakes was invaluable! It helped me troubleshoot issues I've had in the past and ensure my puffs rose properly."
"Knowing what could go wrong and how to fix it made a huge difference. This course doesn't just give a recipe, it teaches technique."
"Really appreciate the instructor highlighting potential pitfalls. Felt like I had an expert guiding me."
"The tips on oven temperature and checking doneness were particularly useful."
Detailed instructions make process easy.
"The instructions were so clear and easy to follow. I've tried making cream puffs before with mixed results, but this time they came out perfectly on the first try!"
"Every step is explained well, with great visuals. I felt confident throughout the whole process of making the choux pastry."
"Instructor breaks down complex techniques into manageable steps. Great for understanding the 'why' behind each stage."
"Loved the methodical approach. It really helps beginners like me understand the nuances of pastry making."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in INDYASSA Pastry Course #3 The Perfect Cream Puffs with these activities:
Review Basic Baking Principles
Reinforce fundamental baking concepts to ensure a solid foundation for understanding the nuances of choux pastry and cream fillings.
Browse courses on Baking
Show steps
  • Review the role of ingredients like flour, sugar, and fats in baking.
  • Study the impact of temperature and time on baking outcomes.
  • Practice basic baking techniques like measuring and mixing.
Review Basic Baking Principles
Reinforce fundamental baking concepts to ensure a solid foundation for understanding the nuances of choux pastry and cream fillings.
Browse courses on Baking
Show steps
  • Review the role of ingredients in baking.
  • Study the impact of temperature on baking.
  • Practice basic mixing techniques.
Read 'The Professional Pastry Chef' by Bo Friberg
Deepen your understanding of pastry techniques and ingredient functions, providing a solid foundation for mastering cream puffs.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on doughs and creams.
  • Take notes on key techniques and ingredients.
  • Try one or two basic recipes from the book.
Nine other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 12 activities
Read 'The Professional Pastry Chef'
Deepen your understanding of pastry techniques and ingredient interactions to improve your cream puff making skills.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on doughs, creams, and fillings.
  • Take notes on key techniques and ingredient ratios.
  • Experiment with different variations of the recipes.
Practice Making Crème Pâtissière
Refine your Crème Pâtissière making skills through repetitive practice, focusing on consistency and flavor balance.
Show steps
  • Prepare Crème Pâtissière following the course recipe.
  • Adjust ingredient ratios to achieve desired consistency.
  • Experiment with different flavor infusions.
Perfect Your Piping Skills
Improve your piping skills to create visually appealing and professionally finished cream puffs.
Show steps
  • Practice piping different shapes and patterns with pastry cream.
  • Experiment with different piping tips to achieve various effects.
  • Watch videos of professional pastry chefs piping cream puffs.
Document Your Cream Puff Journey
Solidify your learning by creating a visual diary of your cream puff making process, highlighting successes and challenges.
Show steps
  • Take photos of each step of the process.
  • Write captions describing the techniques used.
  • Share your documentation on social media.
Document Your Cream Puff Journey
Solidify your learning by documenting your cream puff making process, including challenges, solutions, and variations.
Show steps
  • Take photos or videos of each step of the cream puff making process.
  • Write a blog post or create a video tutorial sharing your experience.
  • Share your content on social media and engage with other bakers.
Develop a Unique Cream Puff Flavor
Apply your knowledge to create a novel cream puff flavor combination, showcasing your creativity and mastery of techniques.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm flavor combinations.
  • Test different fillings and toppings.
  • Refine your recipe based on feedback.
Study 'Advanced Bread and Pastry' by Michel Suas
Expand your knowledge of advanced pastry techniques and ingredient interactions, enhancing your ability to innovate with cream puffs.
Show steps
  • Read the sections on doughs and fillings.
  • Analyze the recipes and techniques presented.
  • Compare the book's methods to those taught in the course.
Cream Puff Flavor Experimentation
Expand your cream puff repertoire by experimenting with different flavor combinations and fillings.
Show steps
  • Research different flavor pairings that complement cream puffs.
  • Develop your own unique cream filling recipes.
  • Bake and assemble your experimental cream puffs.
  • Gather feedback from friends and family on your creations.
Share Your Cream Puff Knowledge
Reinforce your understanding by teaching others how to make cream puffs, addressing their questions and providing guidance.
Show steps
  • Offer to help friends or family make cream puffs.
  • Answer questions about cream puff making online.
  • Create a simple tutorial for beginners.

Career center

Learners who complete INDYASSA Pastry Course #3 The Perfect Cream Puffs will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Pastry Chef
A pastry chef creates a variety of baked goods and desserts, and this course helps you master the art of the cream puff. You will learn to make choux pastry, a core component of many pastries, and several variations of cream fillings, and how to assemble them. A pastry chef needs to have a skill set capable of producing high-quality and delicious pastries that taste and look amazing. This course provides experience making both classic and trendy cream puffs, which could be valuable for a pastry chef wishing to expand their repertoire. Learning to avoid common mistakes will be useful in a professional setting.
Bakery Owner
A bakery owner manages and operates a bakery, and this course will help that person add cream puffs to their menu. This course focuses on the production of cream puffs, from making the choux pastry to creating different fillings and assembling the final product. A bakery owner must understand the process of making pastries, and this course provides specialized, detailed information. Learning to avoid common mistakes will be exceptionally useful in a commercial setting. A bakery owner may also benefit from knowing how to make more trendy items.
Baker
Bakers produce a range of bread, cakes, and other baked goods, and this course will help you specialize in cream puffs. This course helps a baker learn to make a variety of choux pastry, as well as different fillings, which are core skills for any baker interested in expanding their range. The course focuses on making classic and trendy styles, which are both useful for a baker. Instruction on how to avoid common baking mistakes will be very helpful for a baker.
Recipe Developer
Recipe developers create and test recipes for various food products, and this course will help those that want to develop cream puff recipes. This course may help a recipe developer explore new flavors and techniques involved in making pastries. The instruction on making choux pastry and various types of cream fillings, and how to avoid common mistakes may be useful for a recipe developer. Additionally, understanding trendy cream puff styles are valuable for someone in this job. This course will help build a foundation in developing original dessert recipes.
Catering Chef
Catering chefs prepare food for events and gatherings, and this course will help those that want to make dessert for catering. This course teaches the preparation of cream puffs, which are a popular dessert, often served at events. The ability to make classic as well as trendy kinds of cream puffs may be excellent for a catering chef. The skills learned in this course will be valuable for a catering chef looking to expand their offerings.
Food Stylist
Food stylists arrange food for photography or video, and this course will help those that want to style cream puffs. This course may teach you about the visual presentation of cream puffs as well as their assembly. Cream puffs are an interesting subject for a food stylist, due to their unique shape and the versatility of their decoration. The course's instruction on making both classic and trendy versions may be helpful for a food stylist.
Dessert Consultant
Dessert consultants advise businesses on their dessert offerings, and this course will help you with your understanding of cream puffs. This course on cream puff making provides a solid foundation in understanding the techniques involved in making a traditional dessert as well as a trendy option. A dessert consultant needs to have extensive knowledge of many different types of desserts, so this course may be helpful. The course will help build a foundation for advising clients on cream puff production.
Food Product Developer
Food product developers create and refine food products for commercial sale, and understanding the making of cream puffs from this course may help. This course focuses on the techniques involved in making choux pastry and various types of creams, as well as how to properly assemble them. Knowing how to make a popular pastry such as a cream puff can be valuable in this role. The course's focus on both classic and trending products will be helpful for a food product developer.
Food Blogger
Food bloggers share recipes and food experiences online, and this course may be helpful for food bloggers that want to include pastries in their content. This course, which focuses on cream puffs, provides content that could be useful for attracting a wider audience. The course covers both classic and trendy versions of cream puffs, and this could be valuable to share. This course provides structured, useful information for a food blogger to share with their followers.
Culinary Instructor
A culinary instructor teaches others how to cook and bake, and this course will help those that want to teach pastry. The course provides a structured approach to making cream puffs, covering choux pastry, fillings, assembly, and trendy variations. Learning how to make different cream fillings and how to avoid mistakes in preparation is helpful for anyone wanting to teach pastry skills. This course may help someone become a more well rounded instructor.
Personal Chef
A personal chef prepares meals for individuals or families, and this course may be helpful for those wishing to offer pastry as part of their services. This course may teach you how to make cream puffs, which are a popular dessert enjoyed by many. Learning the techniques to create both classic and trendy versions could give a personal chef an edge. This course will allow anyone to master the technique of making cream puffs for their clients.
Food Photographer
Food photographers capture images of food for various purposes, and this course may help those who want to focus on pastries. This course provides practical experience making cream puffs, which can help with understanding how they are constructed. As a food photographer, learning how to prepare different styles of cream puffs can help with the process of setting up shots. Learning how to avoid common mistakes may result in cream puffs that are more aesthetically pleasing.
Cake Decorator
Cake decorators specialize in the art of making cakes and pastries visually appealing, and this course may be useful for those that want to decorate cream puffs. This course on cream puffs may help a cake decorator expand their knowledge of making additional types of desserts. Learning to make different types of cream fillings, and how to assemble them will help a cake decorator. This course may help you expand your repertoire beyond standard cakes and into more advanced pastries.
Restaurant Manager
Restaurant managers oversee the operations of a restaurant, and this course may be useful for those that wish to add cream puffs to their menus. This course may help a restaurant manager understand the process of making pastries, which can be useful when making menu decisions. The course focuses on both classic and trendy versions, so a restaurant manager may learn ways to improve or update their menu. Learning about avoiding common mistakes will be useful for both training staff or in making decisions about production.
Chocolatier
Chocolatiers specialize in the creation of chocolate goods, and this cream puff course may help those who want to use chocolate in a wider range of desserts. A chocolatier may find that this course complements their skills, allowing them to incorporate chocolate understanding into a pastry. The course includes a chocolate cream filling recipe, which may be useful for a chocolatier looking to experiment with new combinations and techniques. Learning to make pastries will expand a chocolatier's range.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in INDYASSA Pastry Course #3 The Perfect Cream Puffs.
Comprehensive guide to pastry techniques, including detailed explanations of doughs, creams, and fillings. It provides a strong foundation for understanding the science behind pastry making, which is essential for mastering cream puffs. It valuable reference tool for both aspiring and experienced pastry chefs. Many culinary schools use this book as a textbook.
Comprehensive resource for advanced pastry techniques, including detailed explanations of doughs, creams, and fillings. It valuable reference for understanding the science behind pastry making and mastering essential skills. This book adds depth to the course by providing a broader context for pastry techniques. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

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