Eat Cook Explore

Insatiably Curious

  • Reviews
    • Restaurants
    • Products
    • Sunday Selection
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Travel Gear
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
    • Giveaways
  • Store
  • About
    • Contact
    • PR and Disclosure
Home » How to make choux pastry swans

November 10, 2019 By May EatCookExplore Leave a Comment

How to make choux pastry swans

Hi, there! Please check out my curated, must have food and travel products on Amazon. You might like to connext on follow me on twitter, facebook or Instagram leave me a comment! This article may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a commission if you use one of these links to make a purchase. Read the full disclosure. * * *

Sharing is caring!

Inspired by all the baking going on in Bake Off, I really wanted to get baking again, specifically to make some choux pastry swans which is also sometimes called cream puff swans.

I’ve only made choux pastry a couple of times before, just to make eclairs and cream puffs. The last time, I was guided by a friend who had just finished her Cordon Bleu course. That attempt was quite successful as they were delicious but the shapes were awful. Piping choux pastry is quite tricky. 

This time, the team at Tala Kitchenware invited us to a baking masterclass using their high-quality British made bakeware. We were shown, step by step, how to make the choux pastry, how to pipe the shapes for the swan body and head and being super creative, we even made a pond with fondant icing for the swans to swim on. 

If you are feeling a bit creative and need to make some delicate and pretty patisseries for an afternoon tea or party, you must have a go at this. It might look a bit complicated but it is really really easy. 

You can get little helpers to get involved with the decorations too. We went a bit overboard with ours, using all the sprinkles and lots of colour to make our pond. We even sprinkled these edible pearls on our swans. It was like swans in fairyland, a bit kitsch but so fun to create. Our pond was inspired by Monet, with lots of water lilies and golden carp. What do you think? 

Choux pastry swans on a fondant icing pond

Choux pastry swans on a Monet inspired fondant icing pond

About Tala Kitchenware  

Tala is a British kitchenware brand that has been operating since 1899. Today, they are best known for their baking and cake decorating products. Most of their manufacturing is still done in the UK.

For this event, we used the Tala cook’s measure which is a simple cone shaped cup with measures for liquids and dry ingredients marked on the inside. My mum had one of these and it is the most versatile piece of kitchen equipment you can have. It will save you if you don’t have your digital scales handy. 

 We also used some of their cake decorating kits, reusable piping bags and some really fab non-stick baking trays.

Their baking trays are really heavy duty, didn’t need any sort of preparation like butter, flour or baking parchment to prevent the choux pastry from sticking. They also make a range of enamel wear that is made using an old technique involving many layers of enamel. This makes it longer lasting and more durable.  

 

 

 

Choux Pastry Swan Recipe

Using a basic choux pastry recipe, we made up a small batch, enough for about 8 swans. All the equipment you need is listed below. 

What is choux pastry used for?

Choux pastry or pate a choux is used for a variety of pastries and buns. It is made using plain flour, water, butter, milk and eggs. Someimes, sugar is added if you want the pasty sweet. Choux pastry doesn’t need a raising agent as the high moisture content will create steam as it is cooked which causes the pastry to puff up.  The most common pattiserie items made from choux pastry are eclairs and profiteroles. Shops like Maitreux Choux have made it fashionable to create unusual flavours for their eclair fillings which are then beautifully decorated. A Croquembouche, tower of profiteroles dressed with spun sugar is often made as a show stopper for special events. 

Is choux pastry the same as puff pastry? 

Puff pastry, made of flour and butter, is a multi layered light pastry, usually made as a dough with many layers of butter in between. It is used for making pies and pastries, with a variety of sweet and savoury fillings and then baked. Chouox pastry on the other hand is made of flour, butter, water and eggs and is made by boiling the ingredients before baking. The result if a crispy, light and airy shell which is then filled with a variety of cream fillings and adorned with chocolate or sugar. 

 

How to bake choux pastry swans
Yield: 8

How to bake choux pastry swans

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Step by step instructions on how to make these uber impressive choux pastry swans filled with jam and cream.

Ingredients

  • 80ml water
  • 25g butter
  • 50g plain flour
  • 1 egg
  • whipped cream, sweetened to taste
  • strawberry jam
  • icing sugar

Instructions

    1 Preheat oven to 210C (410F).
    2 Place water and butter in a pan and bring to boil.
    3 Turn off heat and add flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until mixture comes away from sides of pan. How to make choux pastry swans recipe
    4 Remove from heat and cool for a minute. Whilst cooling beat the egg and prepare two piping bags -one with the smallest, and one with the largest writer tip nozzles.
    5 Add beaten egg to the pan a little at a time until the mixture comes together. Transfer a little over three-quarters of the mixture into the large nozzled bag, and the remaining mixture into the small nozzled bag. Tip: put the piping bag into a jug or a Tala Cook's measure to help you fill it. Putting choux pastry into a piping bag
    6 Using the large nozzled bag, pipe four large teardrop shapes onto the baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes. Pipe tear shaped pastry onto the baking trays
    7 Meanwhile, on a second baking tray and using the small nozzled bag, pipe four large, elegant 'S' shaped swan necks (tip: at the top end, pipe the head of the swan, pulling the bag away sharply to make pointed beak). Pipe S shapes for the swan necks
    8 After 10 minutes, add swan necks to oven and bake with the teardrops for a further 8-10 minutes (choux pastry is ready when golden brown and well puffed).
    9 Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cool down the baked choux pastry
    10 Assemble the swan as directed. Cut off the top third of one teardrop with a serrated knife, horizontally and lengthways, to create two wings. Fill with jam and whipped cream and position the wings and head as shown. Cut the tear drop shapes to make the wings
    Dust with icing sugar and personalise as desired. Or you can make the pond using fondant icing on a cake stand like we did in the pictures. Use multi coloured fondant and cut shapes using the fondant cutters. Go crazy. How to make choux pastry swans recipe

Notes

Practice piping the heads a few times and make a few extra as they are quite fragile and liable to break.

Alternative fillings instead of whipped cream, you can use creme patissiere which is like a thick custard. My personal favourite.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 swan per person

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 180 Total Fat: 12g Cholesterol: 75mg Sodium: 100mg Carbohydrates: 15g Sugar: 10g Protein: 3g
© May EatCookExplore
Cuisine: Pastry
how to make choux pastry swans

Baking equipment used to make these swans.  You can buy them online from Amazon (links below) or at Divertimenti. 

A non stick pan 

silicon spatula

Tala cooks measure

Piping bags with different sized piping nozzles

Tala non-stick baking sheet 

Tala fondant cutter and tools#

Pin this recipe to try later! 

how to make choux pastry swans

how to make choux pastry swans

 

Tala Kitchenware

EatCookExplore was a guest of Tala Kitchenware.

 

 

5 / 5 stars     

Sharing is caring!

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: baking, choux pastry, pastry

« Slow Cooker Braised Pork Belly
Review: The Restaurant at the Capital Hotel Knightsbridge »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Warning: include(/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php71/pear') in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php71/pear') in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php71/pear') in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php71/pear') in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/star-empty.svg' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php71/pear') in /home/mediam90/public_html/eatcookexplore.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/templates/public/comment-rating-form.php on line 29

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.




Google
Custom Search

Follw me on Twitter

Follow @eatcookexplore_

Latest Posts

Review: Melabes Israeli Restaurant Kensington

Homemade pesto recipe

Review: Sage Super Q Blender

Review: The Restaurant at the Capital Hotel Knightsbridge

How to make choux pastry swans

Restaurants By Cuisine

American
Argentinian
British
Chinese
French
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Malaysian
Mexican
Street Food
Afternoon Tea
BBQ
Michelin

Sponsors

Book Your Next Hotel Here Booking.com

Twitter Updates

Tweets by @eatcookexplore_

Sponsors

Book Your Next Hotel Here



Booking.com

eatcookexplore

Instagram post 2188663979782791783_17190799 Londoners are undeterred! Yesterday, London was shocked by yet another terrorist attack on #londonbridge , albeit by a lone person with a knife. Visitors should not be put off from visiting London Bridge or the nearby @boroughmarket .  All the stalls are ready to welcome you. Today is also #smallbusinesssaturday , so please go along and support the traders. Visit the new #boroughmarketkitchen where you will find lots of deliciousness like these truffle tortellini @latuapasta . #lovelondon #londonisopen #boroughmarket #londonmarkets #streetfood
Instagram post 2181319013318330130_17190799 The beginnings of a fabulous feast @melabesrestaurant -Velvet hummus, Tel-Aviv roasted cauliflower, fab falafel, tahini dip with garlic Kafka bread and Jerusalem bagel. Chef @avivbaum brought his flavours from home and delivers them in this stylish Kensington resto. Slide over for more-smoked aubergine, grilled rib-eye, kebabs and prawns. #ecxfood #f52grams #food52  #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed #eaterlondon
Instagram post 2179860966939034503_17190799 @StMartinsLDN stylish new coffee shop #EllaMia. #Newopening on St Martins Lane in #coventgarden. They serve #organic @lavazzauk coffee, fancy lattes and stunning #patisserie. Lots of #vegan cakes too. This is their first venture into the world of #coffee culture. The London outlet is the first of 20. With their uber stylish dusty pink theme and pretty cakes, it’s going to be an #instahit. #invite #foodstagram #foodgasm #ecxfood  #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #thefeedfeed #eaterlondon
Instagram post 2173361159668053781_17190799 Invite| #countryhousestyle  @hartwellhouse . This is one of the lovely bedrooms, antique furniture,  high thread count linens, comfy mattress, with a walk in wardrobe and views over the front driveway and along the tree-lined North Avenue. 
Originally, this was Lady Elizabeth Lee’s bedroom, the sister of the second Earl of Harcourt when this was still a family home. Her portrait hangs in the library. 
Scroll along to see a video of the room. .
.
.
.
.  #hotelreview @prideofbritainhotels #countryhousehotels #ecxtravel #travelogue #traveldiaries #epictravel #wanderful #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport #exploringtheworld #TTOT #wearetravelgirls
Instagram post 2166845342461748145_17190799 INVITE| Possibly the most elegant #Afternoontea served in the Morning room @hartwellhouse, underneath a ceiling of the most beautiful plasterwork depicting the seasons.  What a treat. 
This historic #countryhouse hotel dates back to Jacobean times with many original features still intact.  Georgian facades have been added and new garden buildings by famous architects like James Gibbs, Hebert Jeene & James Wyatt. It has been a hotel for 30 years and is now part of the @nationaltrust. 
They have beautiful bedrooms filled with antiques, 90 acres of landscape grounds to explore and a spa with a heated pool to relax in. 
Louis XVIII and his court lived here while in exile until he returned to France. He even built an indoor zoo on the roof terrace for his collection of rabbits and chickens. 
See my stories for more. .
.
.
.
.
.
#luxurytravel #travelwriter #staycation #exploremore #ecxtravel #travelogue #traveldiaries #travelawesome #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport #destinationearth #tripnatics #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #girlmeetsglobe @visitbritain @prideofbritainhotels
Instagram post 2164086746581977766_17190799 How to eat well in Cyprus  On a recent #presstrip, I was So glad to have been introduced to the Cypriot Meze. 
The Meze is a meal with multiple courses, up to 20 dishes, usually using fresh seasonal local produce. 
You don’t have to pick just one dish from the ala carte menu, you get to sample a variety of Cypriot specialities. 
The Meze can include a couple of salads, a few dips served with bread, fried courgettes with eggs, local homemade Lunza ham and sausage. And that’s just the starters. 
The meat dishes follow with grilled pork skewers, grilled chicken or slow roasted lamb. 
The locals in the know always ask for the meat first. Then you can pace yourself. 
The meal usually includes local Cypriot wines. All this for between €15-€25. Cyprus is truly gourmet lovers paradise. 
Every meal we had on our trip was served in this fashion. Adjusting back to normal meals in London is a struggle. Unfortunately nowhere in London serves a Cypriot Meze like this but I’ll keep looking. 
#cyprusfood #presstrip #cypruswines #mediterraneandiet #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52grams #food52  #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #luxfood #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed
Instagram post 2159619000930479595_17190799 AD Did you know that there is an art to slicing ham off a big leg like this? You can watch the  professional qualified Iberian ham cutters demonstrating their skills @hampassiontour truck outside Westfield White City. They’re there daily until 22 Oct, 11-7pm. 
It’s not easy to slice it evenly thin.  I’ve tried and managed to only hack big inelegant chunks off. 
You’ll learn how to identify which quality of ham you’re buying with their Iberico App. Is it white, green, red or black label? Just scan it. 
Plenty of #Iberianham to taste too. DELICIOUS! #hampassiontour
.
.
.
.
.
#foodstagram #foodpic #foodpicture #instafood #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52gram #food52 #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed #spanishfood
Instagram post 2158704888117586174_17190799 Mountain biking in the #trodosmountain in @visitcypruscom. So many marked biking trails around here, some leading to the top of #MountOlympus  So much to explore among the rural mountain villages here. The weather is cooler, the vegetation is lush and there are even nightingales serenading you in the trees. Cyprus has many charms away from the beach resorts. Can easily spend another week here. .
.
.
.
.
#earthwanderer #exploremore #ecxtravel #travelawesome #wanderful #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport #destinationearth #exploringtheworld #ladiesgoneglobal #thetravelwomen #lppathfinders #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #girlmeetsglobe #icelollyloves #letsgobeyond #shotoniphone #tarastraveltribe #culturetrip #travel_drops
Instagram post 2141520258490876052_17190799 #invite Exploring #ShakespeareCountry in and around Stratford-upon-Avon. There are so many landmarks that relate to #williamshakespeare and family. This 17C house is home of his daughter Suzanna and husband Dr John Hall. It’s one the houses in family that is managed by @shakespearebtrust I spent hours in them, talking to the guides, hearing all the stories about how they lived. All the while , piecing together a picture of William’s world and how he came to be the worlds most famous playwright. So much more than what we learnt in school. 
Stratford itself is a living museum, many original timber framed buildings around town. So much to see and do. Will be sharing more on here. .
.
.
.
#earthwanderer #exploremore #ecxtravel #travelawesome #wanderful #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport #destinationearth #exploringtheworld #ladiesgoneglobal #thetravelwomen #lppathfinders #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #girlmeetsglobe #icelollyloves #letsgobeyond #shotoniphone #tarastraveltribe #culturetrip #travel_drops
Instagram post 2135150764537397252_17190799 #EatGame #Invite Venison faggots with chicken lovers and prunes on a white onion purée and marjoram. One of the game dishes we had @eatgameawards lunch. This dish is pure flavour, a creation of @littlechefsally of #Michelin pub @harwoodarms Scroll along to hear her describe the dish. They are one of the rare pubs that have a lot of game on the menu. I’d highly recommend it. .
If you’ve never tried game, now is the time. Grouse, pheasant, pigeon, venison, etc. It’s all lean meat, high iron, low food miles and delicious. .
.
.
.
.
#foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52gram #food52 #foodspotting #igfood #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed #eaterlondon #gastropub #britishgame
Instagram post 2131557491121914001_17190799 This is the super delicious Segovian suckling pig served upstairs @sabor_ldn ‘s Asador. It’s cooked in a bespoke wood fired oven, built by the 3rd generation company who flew in to instal it. It’s the only one in the UK. #interporc hosted this fab lunch to showcase the quality Spanish Pork. @nieves_barragan1 created a delicious menu including charcuterie, middlewhite pork chops, pigs head croquetta, that Segovian #sucklingpig @nuestracarneblanca @porkloversuk
#porkloverstouruk #porklovers2019 .
.
.
.
.  #michelin #foodgasm #ecxfood #igfood #foodgawker #f52gram #food52 #foodspotting #igfoodie #instaeat #luxfood #foodblog #buzzfeat #yahoofood #foodism #thefeedfeed #eaterlondon
Instagram post 2118339905437752914_17190799 Escaped from London to the country. Lunch al fresco today under the vine coveted arbor. It’s hot but breezy. We can almost pretend that we’re somewhere in the Med. how are you spending your #bankholiday weekend? .
.
.
#ecxtravel #travelawesome #wanderful #writetotravel #ngtuk #passionpassport #destinationearth #exploringtheworld #wearetravelgirls #girlswhotravel #guardiantravelsnaps #womenwhoexplore #mytinyatlas #natgeography #darlingescapes #girlmeetsglobe #icelollyloves #letsgobeyond #visitengland #visitbritain #shotoniphone #tarastraveltribe #culturetrip
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Navigation

  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Product Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Sunday Selection
  • Food Producers
  • Travel
  • Hotel Reviews
  • Giveaways
  • Contact

Images and content unless otherwise indicated Copyright © Eat Cook Explore 2009-2019

blogl

Lastest on Tumblr

The beginnings of a fabulous feast @melabesrestaurant -Velvet hummus, Tel-Aviv roasted cauliflower, fab falafel, tahini dip with garlic Kafka bread and Jerusalem bagel

The beginnings of a fabulous feast @melabesrestaurant -Velvet hummus, Tel-Aviv roasted cauliflower, fab falafel, tahini dip with garlic Kafka bread and Jerusalem bagel

The beginnings of a fabulous feast @melabesrestaurant -Velvet hummus, Tel-Aviv roasted cauliflower, fab falafel, tahini dip with garlic Kafka bread and Jerusalem bagel. Chef @avivbaum brought his flavours from home and delivers them in this stylish Kensington resto. Slide over for more-smoked aubergine, grilled rib-eye, kebabs and prawns. #ecxfood #f52grams… [more]

@StMartinsLDN stylish new coffee shop #EllaMia

@StMartinsLDN stylish new coffee shop #EllaMia

@StMartinsLDN stylish new coffee shop #EllaMia. #Newopening on St Martins Lane in #coventgarden. They serve #organic @lavazzauk coffee, fancy lattes and stunning #patisserie. Lots of #vegan cakes too. This is their first venture into the world of #coffee culture. The London outlet is the first of 20. With their uber… [more]

Invite| #countryhousestyle @hartwellhouse

Invite| #countryhousestyle  @hartwellhouse

Invite| #countryhousestyle @hartwellhouse . This is one of the lovely bedrooms, antique furniture, high thread count linens, comfy mattress, with a walk in wardrobe and views over the front driveway and along the tree-lined North Avenue. Originally, this was Lady Elizabeth Lee’s bedroom, the sister of the second Earl of… [more]

Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs
Foodies100

You might also like

Melabes Israeli Food Kensington

Review: Melabes Israeli Restaurant Kensington

Review Sage Super Q Blender Make pesto in minutes

Homemade pesto recipe

Make tomato soup in a Super Q blender

Review: Sage Super Q Blender

The Restaurant at the Capital Hotel Knightsbridge Pear Dessert

Review: The Restaurant at the Capital Hotel Knightsbridge

Choux pastry swans on a fondant icing pond

How to make choux pastry swans

Affiliate Disclosure

Eat Cook Explore participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by linking to Amazon. In more human terms, this means that whenever you buy a product on Amazon from a link on here, I get a small percentage of its price and it doesn't cost you anything more. That helps support the site by offsetting a fraction of what it takes to maintain the site, and is very much appreciated.

Copyright © 2019

Copyright © 2019

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Necessary Always Enabled