Profiteroles, the airy light pastries we all love (called cream puffs in the US) have been around for almost 500 years!
The history of profiteroles
No one really knows the tue origin of profiteroles but it seems they’ve been around for a long time. The French writer Francois Rabelais (1494-1553) mentions profiteroles in his book Gargantua. Originally they were made in Italy but more of a bread like texture. In the 16th century Italian Catherine de Medici married French King Henri II and brought with her Italian chefs to France and they made profiteroles for the court.
It was the great chef Antonin Carême (1784-1833) who really made profiterole’s famous though. He elevated the pastry to a whole new level.
Filling the choux buns with cream and dipping them in warm caramel – the dish was transformed and lauded by all who tried it. He went on to invent the Croquembouche – a tower of profiteroles. It was an immediate hit and became the wedding cake of choice in France, where it’s still popular to this day.
French vs Italian – How Similar Are They?!
FAQ
Who invented the profiterole?
Is croquembouche italian or French?
Is profiterole Italian or French?
What’s the difference between a cream puff and a profiterole?
Are profiteroles hard to make?
Profiteroles are French or Italian cream puffs made using pasta choux dough (pàte à choux in French). They are also referred to as bignès. Catherine di Medici is attributed with their introduction into Italian cuisine. Everyone loves cream puffs but most people think they are hard to make.
What is a profiterole made of?
Profiteroles are a dessert originating from France. This classic dessert is made of choux pastry that is filled with pastry cream, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. These small choux are often covered with a chocolate sauce. Profiteroles are often accompanied by chantilly cream. What is a profiterole?
Where did profiteroles come from?
No one really knows the tue origin of profiteroles but it seems they’ve been around for a long time. The French writer Francois Rabelais (1494-1553) mentions profiteroles in his book Gargantua. Originally they were made in Italy but more of a bread like texture.
What are profiteroles?
Profiteroles are a French dessert that dates back to the 17th century. At the time, they existed in a salted form. In fact, they were hollow buns filled with meat and a filling. Among the most common fillings are curtains, truffles, mushrooms or artichoke bottoms.