Chouquettes (French Sugar Puffs)

Chouquettes (French Sugar Puffs)

**Ingredients:**

**For the Choux Pastry:**
– 1 cup water
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
– 1 cup all-purpose flour
– 4 large eggs

**For Topping:**
– Pearl sugar (for sprinkling)

**Instructions:**

1. **Preheat the Oven:**
– Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. **Prepare the Choux Pastry:**
– In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, salt, and granulated sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
– Once the mixture is boiling, add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together and pulls away from the sides of the pan, forming a dough. Continue to cook and stir for about 2 minutes to dry out the dough slightly.
– Remove the pan from the heat and let the dough cool for a few minutes.
– Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. The dough should be smooth and glossy.

3. **Pipe the Choux Pastry:**
– Transfer the choux pastry to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
– Pipe small mounds (about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter) onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

4. **Add Pearl Sugar:**
– Generously sprinkle the pearl sugar over the tops of the piped choux mounds.

5. **Bake the Chouquettes:**
– Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
– Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the chouquettes are golden brown and puffed.
– Turn off the oven and let the chouquettes sit in the oven with the door slightly ajar for about 10 minutes to dry out the centers.

6. **Cool and Serve:**
– Remove the chouquettes from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
– Serve as a delightful treat with a cup of coffee or tea.

Enjoy your delicious Chouquettes!