Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Choux au craquelin is basically a cream puff capped with a crackly cookie top. Filled with crème légère, or pastry cream lightened with whipped cream, it’s either the best cookie in the world or the best cream puff—or both!
It’s also a standout example of the unique qualities of pâte à choux, or choux pastry, a dough that’s almost batter-like in consistency. Choux pastry produces pastries with cavernous, airy interiors and a crisp shells—éclairs, gougères, cream puffs ... they’re all made with choux—but unlike other doughs, the oven spring is purely steam-powered; there’s no yeast or baking powder that’s giving those pastries their incredible loft.
In this video, Tim Chin shows you how to make pâte à choux and how to pipe it out and cap it with craquelin cookie dough. As the choux puffs bake, the high-fat cookie dough melts, enrobing the puff completely, limiting its rise so the top bakes up into an almost perfect mound.
Head to ChefSteps.com for the full recipe, along with tips and tricks for creating choux au craquelin with all kinds of different flavor variations!
Recipes:
Perfect Pâte à Choux: chefsteps.com/activities/choux-pastry
Choux au Craquelin: chefsteps.com/activities/choux-au-craquelin
Equipment:
Buy a Breville Sous Chef® 16: Https://breville.oie8.net/0ZebEN
Buy a Breville Joule® Oven Air Fryer Pro: breville.oie8.net/21W1WG
Buy a Breville Bakery Chef™ Stand Mixer: breville.oie8.net/n1g6B7
[Time Codes]
0:00 - How to make choux au craquelin
0:53 - How to make pâte à choux, or choux pastry
9:05 - How to make craquelin topping
13:16 - How to bake choux au craquelin
14:07 - How to make crème légère
16:45 - How to fill choux with crème légère
Follow us:
instagram.com/chefsteps
facebook.com/Chefsteps
ChefSteps 101: Through science, entertainment, and industry experience, we strive to help every home cook reach their full potential. With more than 1,000 recipes developed in our kitchen, there’s something for everyone. To find out more, visit our website: chefsteps.com
Choux au craquelin is basically a cream puff capped with a crackly cookie top. Filled with crème légère, or pastry cream lightened with whipped cream, it’s either the best cookie in the world or the best cream puff—or both!
It’s also a standout example of the unique qualities of pâte à choux, or choux pastry, a dough that’s almost batter-like in consistency. Choux pastry produces pastries with cavernous, airy interiors and a crisp shells—éclairs, gougères, cream puffs ... they’re all made with choux—but unlike other doughs, the oven spring is purely steam-powered; there’s no yeast or baking powder that’s giving those pastries their incredible loft.
In this video, Tim Chin shows you how to make pâte à choux and how to pipe it out and cap it with craquelin cookie dough. As the choux puffs bake, the high-fat cookie dough melts, enrobing the puff completely, limiting its rise so the top bakes up into an almost perfect mound.
Head to ChefSteps.com for the full recipe, along with tips and tricks for creating choux au craquelin with all kinds of different flavor variations!
Recipes:
Perfect Pâte à Choux: chefsteps.com/activities/choux-pastry
Choux au Craquelin: chefsteps.com/activities/choux-au-craquelin
Equipment:
Buy a Breville Sous Chef® 16: Https://breville.oie8.net/0ZebEN
Buy a Breville Joule® Oven Air Fryer Pro: breville.oie8.net/21W1WG
Buy a Breville Bakery Chef™ Stand Mixer: breville.oie8.net/n1g6B7
[Time Codes]
0:00 - How to make choux au craquelin
0:53 - How to make pâte à choux, or choux pastry
9:05 - How to make craquelin topping
13:16 - How to bake choux au craquelin
14:07 - How to make crème légère
16:45 - How to fill choux with crème légère
Follow us:
instagram.com/chefsteps
facebook.com/Chefsteps
ChefSteps 101: Through science, entertainment, and industry experience, we strive to help every home cook reach their full potential. With more than 1,000 recipes developed in our kitchen, there’s something for everyone. To find out more, visit our website: chefsteps.com
