Profiteroles for Julia Child

Share this post

One of my most favorite places on Earth is Julia’s kitchen at the Smithsonian. I adore Julia Child and feel inspired every time I go visit the place where she made food fun and accessible for everyone. Julia was a pioneer, she came into our homes and showed us not to take cooking so seriously. I am a little young for The French Chef, but have many memories of watching Baking with Julia and Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home on Saturday mornings with my mom. I have been reading a book called Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child, and have fallen even more in love with her. In some ways, I can see bits of myself in Julia. She had a hard time finding her way and I have often felt that I lacked direction during periods of my life. But for both of us, it was food that helped us find our way. On Wednesday, Julia Child would have been 100 years old. Happy Birthday Julia. You have no idea how you have impacted my life and the lives of so many others.

I was sent this sweet book called, Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child. I came into the bedroom to find Ava engrossed in this book. The art work is whimsical and tells the sweet story of Julia’s life. A perfect book for the young chefs in your life. Or the grown ups. I have read it a few times myself and always find something new and interesting that I missed the last time.

To celebrate Julia’s extraordinary life, PBS has asked that we cook a Julia recipe and share it on Twitter using the hashtag #CookforJulia. Take a picture and share it on the #CookforJulia Facebook page. As much as I love Boeuf Bourguignon, I knew that if I was going to celebrate Julia’s life, I needed to make profiteroles. When I figured out how to take 6 simple ingredients and end up with cream puffs, it was the first time that I really felt like I could cook anything. When you learn how to make the very simple pâte Á  choux, you can make so many things with it. Sweet and savory. I filled mine with whipped cream and poured chocolate sauce over. Some like to fill theirs with ice cream, but I love to use whipped cream. I have made these so many times, and in so many ways, and every time I think of Julia. I am so thankful that she wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking, it gave me the confidence to make a fancy French dessert and from there, anything that I wanted.

1 cup water
6 Tablespoons butter
pinch salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup flour
4 eggs
whipped cream
chocolate sauce

Put the water, butter, salt, and sugar in a saucepan.

Bring to a boil.

Take the saucepan off of the heat. Add the flour.

Beat until everything comes together. Put back on the heat and beat vigorously until everything is off the sides of the pan. The dough will lump together and there will be a film on the bottom of the pan.

Put the mixture into the bowl of a mixer or a large bowl.

Beat until it breaks up a little.

Add eggs one at a time.

It might seem like it is not going to come back together, but keep mixing, it will.

Transfer the batter into a piping bag.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pipe drops onto the baking sheet. Moisten your finger with water to smooth out the peaks. You can brush them with egg wash if you are so inclined so they are shiny when they are baked.

Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. They will be golden brown and puffed.

Slice the puffs in half and fill with whipped cream or ice cream.

Pour chocolate sauce over. Bon Appetit!