Orange and Praline Croquembouche with Cardamom Caramel

A towering pile of praline-filled choux pastry buns assembled on a nougatine base and decorated with delicate spun sugar.

Estimated Nutrition

Per Serving Total
Calories 927.5 kcals 14840.4 kcals
Carbohydrates 134.1 grams 2145.8 grams
Fat 38.3 grams 612.5 grams
Protein 15.1 grams 242.1 grams
Cook Time
30 mins
Produces
16 people
Allergies
Vegetarian
Vegan
Dairy Free
Gluten Free

Ingredients

BakingIngredients
225
g
60
g
225
g
Granulated Sugar
for praline
500
g
Granulated Sugar
for caramel
Dairy
40
g
Unsalted Butter
cut into cubes
225
g
Unsalted Butter
cut into pieces
8
piece
Eggs
free-range
1
piece
Egg Yolk
for egg wash
900
ml
Full-Fat Milk
for pastry cream
12
piece
Egg Yolks
free-range
GrainsCereals
330
g
Liquids
300
ml
NutsSeeds
350
g
Almonds
flaked
1
tsp
1
piece
Vanilla Pod
seeds only
115
g
Almonds
blanched
115
g
Other
1
piece
Sugar Crystals
orange and white for decoration

Steps

  • Line a baking tray with a silicone mat and grease a 25cm flan tin.
  • Toast flaked almonds on a tray for 8 minutes.
  • Boil fondant and glucose until it reaches a pale caramel color.
  • Stir in toasted almonds and butter, then roll to 5mm thickness between mats.
  • Press nougatine into the flan tin, trim excess, and let cool.
  • Heat oven to 200°C and grease several large baking trays.
  • Boil water, milk, butter, condensed milk, and salt in a pan.
  • Beat in the flour until smooth and cook until a thin film forms.
  • Beat dough in a mixer until steam stops, then incorporate eggs one by one.
  • Pipe 5cm balls onto trays and brush with egg yolk wash.
  • Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes, then at 180°C for 15 minutes.
  • Boil milk with vanilla seeds, then remove from heat.
  • Whisk sugar and egg yolks until thick, then beat in cornflour.
  • Mix in hot milk and heat until boiling and thickened.
  • Cover pastry cream with film and set aside to cool.
  • Toast almonds and hazelnuts, then coat with caramelized sugar and water.
  • Cool the praline completely, then blend into a smooth paste.
  • Fold praline paste into pastry cream and pipe into the cooled choux buns.
  • Boil sugar, cardamom, and water to make a pale caramel for assembly.
  • Dip filled buns into caramel and stack onto the nougatine base in a pyramid.
  • Create spun sugar by shaking caramel strands over a mat and arrange on top.