Ms & Mr Snowman

This recipe has been a biiiiig mess: the cream courdled, the puffs didn't grow up, the camera had problems... it exhausted me!

I have seen this recipe on an italian magazine "Sale e Pepe", I think it's a great idea, so even if  it didn't go well, I've decided to post the steps and a video hoping you can do better!!!!!!

Cooking time: 24 minutes (17 minutes for puffs, 5 minutes for chocolate cream, 2 minutes for caramel)

Total time: hummmm... it took 2 hours and half (the magazine says 1 hour and half).

First step: make puffs

In the video I use a recipe that a friend gave me, I know that you don't believe, but it's a good recipe... it's just my fault if they don't turn out well!

Video recipe:

Ingredients (x 12 snowmen): 0.42 US cups (100 ml) water, 0.03 oz. (1 g) salt, 1.76 oz. (50 g) butter, 2.12 oz. (60 g) flour, 2 eggs.

In a saucepan over medium heat add water and butter; bring mixture to boil.

Then add flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon until blended.

Remove pan from the heat and continue stirring, let it cool.

Add one eggs and continue stirring, then add the second one.

Put the mixture in a syringe and create different sizes blobs.

Put them in the oven, preheated at 428 F (220 °C). For the first 12 minutes don't open the oven, then turn the puffs and let them bake for 15 minutes at 392 F (200 °C).

Magazine recipe:

Ingredients (x 16-18 snowmen):  5.11 oz. (145 g) flour, 5.29 oz. (150 g) butter, 4-5 eggs, 1 salt pinch

In a saucepan add 1.06 US cups (250 ml) of water and butter; bring mixture to boil.

Then add flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon until blended.

Remove pan from the heat and continue stirring, let it cool.

Add 4 eggs one at a time and continue stirring, if necessary add the fifth egg.

Put the mixture in a syringe and create different sizes blobs.

Put them in the oven, preheated at 374 F (190 °C), for 15-20 minutes.

Second step: make cream

The magazine recipe provides to fill puffs with chocolate cream, but you can fill them even with a yellow cream.

In the video I use my grandma's chocolate cream recipe:

Ingredients: 3 yolks, 3.53 oz. (100 g) icing sugar, 1.76 oz. (50 g) flour, 1.76 oz. (50 g) cocoa powder, milk

Whisk three yolks, the icing sugar and flour. Then add cocoa powder and continue wisking.

Add a little bit of milk for making it more creamy.

Cook it till thickening.

Magazine recipe:

Ingredients: 6 oz. (170 g) dark chocolate, 0.5 (14 g) corn starch, 0.7 oz. (20 g) cocoa powder, 1.76 oz. (50 g) sugar.

Whisk sugar, corn starch and cocoa powder. Add 2.11 US cups (500 ml) of water. Put it on fire and cook till boiling. Remove from fire.

Melt dark chocolate then add the cream.

Let warm.

My grandma's yellow cream recipe:

Ingredients: 4.23 US cups (1 l) milk, 8 yolks, 0.02 oz (1 sachet) vanillina powder, 1 whole lemon peel, 16 tbsp sugar, 8 tbsp flour

Whisk yolks with a mixed of sugar and flour. Add milk and the lemon peel. Put on flame and always turn in the same direction till tickening.

--- Make a hole under the puff and with a syringe fill it with the cream. ---

Third step: make whipped cream

Ingredients: 0.84 (200 ml) whipping cream, 1.4 oz. (40 g) sugar

On the recipe, the cook suggests to slightly whip it, probably I'm wrong, but I suggest you to completely whip or it will be too soft.

(if you're follow the magazine amounts, you have to use: 4.23 US cups (1 l) whipping cream, 7 oz. sugar).

--- Wet the cream puffs in the whipped cream. ---

Fourth step: create mouths, eyes, buttons and arms

If you have chocolate decorations and liquorice stick, you can use them.

The cook suggest to create all decorations with caramel.

Ingredients: 1.76 oz. (50 g) sugar

Heat sugar on 

moderately high heat 

in a saucepan,

as the sugar begins to melt, stirr it.

The cook says to not stirr it, but there was 

a smell off burning, so I decide to do it.

I try to do the arms, but 

it's not easy to work with caramel... so I 

decide to candy 

toothpick. 

--- Let all cool. ---

Fifth step: make up snowballs

On the left you can see:

- two mouths

- 3 buttons (I forgot to include 2 eyes)

 For Ms. Snowman I use these decorations.

On a plate, I sprinkle coconut powder and I put Mr. and Ms. Snowman on it.

That's all!

My snowmen aren't edibles, but they are very nice as decoration!

I hope you can do better!!!

Kisses