Chouxnuts

A hybrid between choux pastry and a doughnut, these are deep-fried like

a doughnut then filled with lemon curd and whipped cream and glazed with a

lemony icing. A perfect combination of crisp pastry and tangy citrus flavours.

Makes 8

Ingredients

Choux pastry

• 150ml water

• 60g butter

• 60g plain flour

• 60g strong white bread flour

• 3 large eggs

To cook

• Sunflower oil, for deep frying

Lemon Curd filling

• Finely grated zest and juice of 4 lemons

• 190g caster sugar

• 100g butter, at room temperature, in pieces

• 3 medium eggs

• 1 extra egg yolk

• 100ml double cream, whipped

Icing

• 100g icing sugar, sifted

• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

• About 25ml water

Method

1. First, make the lemon curd filling. Put the lemon zest and juice, sugar and butter into a heavy-based pan over a low heat and stir until the butter is fully melted then take off the heat. In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs and extra yolk then whisk into the lemon mixture. Place the pan back over a low heat and stir well for 10–15 minutes until thickened. Pass the lemon curd through a sieve into a clean bowl and allow to cool, before folding in the whipped cream.

2. To make the choux pastry, put the water and butter into a medium pan over a

medium heat to melt the butter. Once the butter is melted, turn up the heat and

bring to the boil, then take off the heat. Immediately add both flours and beat

well to incorporate into the liquid. Continue to beat until the mixture forms a ball that pulls away from the side of the pan. Leave to cool slightly, for 5 minutes.

3. Transfer the mixture to an electric mixer fitted with the paddle beater. With the mixer on a low speed, slowly add the beaten eggs. Once all the egg has been incorporated, increase the speed to medium and beat until glossy and thick. The mixture should just about hold on the end of a spoon and feel silky.

4. Cut eight 12cm squares of baking paper. Put the choux pastry into a piping bag

fitted with a 1cm star nozzle and pipe a ring, 10cm in diameter, on each paper

square. (Or, as a guide, you can draw a circle on the paper, then turn it over.)

5. Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or other deep, heavy pan over a medium heat to

180°C (check with a thermometer). You will need to deep-fry your choux rings, 2 or 3 at a time: carefully lower into the oil, paper uppermost, then remove the paper with tongs. Deep-fry the rings for 3–4 minutes. Drain and place on a wire rack. Cut a small hole in the side of each ring to let steam out and leave to cool.

6. Once cooled, make the hole in the side of each ring larger so you can insert

a small piping nozzle. Put the lemon curd filling into a piping bag fitted with a

5mm plain nozzle and pipe into the choux rings to fill, until you meet resistance.

7. For the icing, mix the icing sugar with the lemon zest and enough water to make a glossy icing with a thick, pourable consistency. Brush over the top of each chouxnut to coat and allow to set before serving. Enjoy!

Taken from Paul Hollywood’s BAKE, published by Bloomsbury

Photograph © Haarala Hamilton