Savory Profiteroles with Ham and Cheese – Spectacular Appetizer
The savory profiteroles with cooked ham and cheese cream are an elegant and visually impressive appetizer, perfect for Christmas celebrations, aperitifs and buffets. The light and crispy choux pastry puffs encase a creamy and delicate filling that captivates from the first bite. Easy to prepare yet elegant to present, it’s the perfect solution to surprise guests with an original and delicious recipe.
Try these other delicious appetizers for the holidays:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 1 Hour
- Portions: 30 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Christmas
Ingredients
for about 30 puffs:
- 4.2 oz water
- 4.2 oz milk
- 3.5 oz butter
- 1.2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- salt
- 7 oz cream cheese
- 3.5 oz cooked ham
Steps
For the preparation of the Savory Profiteroles with Ham and Cheese Cream – Spectacular Appetizer watch the video HERE
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In a saucepan, place the milk, water, butter, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Add the flour all at once.
Stir vigorously until you get a compact dough that comes away from the sides. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing by hand, using a stand mixer or beaters after each addition.
You should obtain a smooth and creamy mixture. Transfer the dough into a piping bag and form the puffs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
If necessary, flatten the tips with a slightly wet finger. Bake in a static oven at 392°F for 10 minutes, then lower to 356°F and continue baking for 15–20 minutes, until golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
Prepare the cream:
In the blender glass, place the cooked ham and cream cheese. Blend until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous cream. Add a pinch of pepper if desired.
Fill and assemble:
Cut the cooled puffs in half or make a small hole at the base. Fill them with the cream using a piping bag.
Arrange the puffs on top of each other to form a tower or tree. Decorate as desired with cream tufts, olives, currants, pink pepper, and herbs to taste.
Enjoy your meal!
Storage & Tips:
Unfilled puffs can be stored at room temperature for 1–2 days in a well-sealed container. The filled profiteroles should be stored in the fridge and consumed within 24 hours.
It is advisable to assemble the tower just before serving to keep the puffs dry and crispy. ❄️ The puffs can also be frozen unfilled and thawed as needed.
Tips
You can prepare the puffs in advance and fill them just before serving. For a richer variation, add a tablespoon of cream or mascarpone to the filling. They are also excellent with salmon or speck instead of cooked ham.
