Classic French Cream Puff Sheet Cake

Ingredients

For the Choux Pastry

• 80g (⅓ cup) unsalted butter
• 200ml (¾ cup + 2 tablespoons) water
• 130g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of sugar
• 3-4 large eggs, room temperature

For the Pineapple Cream Filling

• 200g (6.5 oz) canned pineapple, drained
• 50g (¼ cup) cornstarch
• 50g (¼ cup) granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
• 30g (2 tablespoons) condensed milk
• 300g (1¼ cups) heavy cream, cold
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Step-by-Step Instructions

Choux Pastry

1. Prepare Base:

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper

1. Make Pastry Dough:

• Combine water, butter, salt, and sugar in saucepan
• Heat until butter melts completely
• Bring to gentle boil

1. Add Flour:

• Remove from heat
• Add all flour at once
• Stir vigorously until smooth
• Return to low heat
• Cook 1-2 minutes until dough forms ball

1. Add Eggs:

• Let mixture cool slightly
• Add eggs one at a time
• Mix thoroughly between additions
• Dough should be glossy and flow slowly off spatula

1. Shape and Bake:

• Spread dough evenly on prepared baking sheet
• Create wavy pattern with spatula
• Bake 40 minutes until golden
• Do not open oven during baking

Pineapple Cream Filling

1. Prepare Filling:

• Blend pineapple until smooth
• Mix with cornstarch and sugar
• Heat until thickened
• Cool completely

1. Make Cream:

• Whip cold heavy cream until stiff peaks
• Fold in mascarpone and condensed milk
• Carefully fold in cooled pineapple mixture

1. Assemble:

• Split pastry horizontally
• Fill with cream mixture
• Dust top with powdered sugar

Nutritional Information

Per serving (12 servings)

• Calories: 285
• Fat: 18g
• Carbohydrates: 26g
• Protein: 5g

Timing:

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Bake Time: 40 minutes
• Cooling Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 5 hours

Pro Tips and Tricks

• Ensure eggs are room temperature
• Don’t open oven during baking
• Cool pastry completely before filling
• Chill cream thoroughly before whipping
• Use sharp serrated knife for cutting

Variations and Substitutions

• Replace pineapple with any fruit puree
• Use vanilla pastry cream instead
• Add chocolate ganache topping
• Incorporate different extracts
• Use whipped cream alone for lighter version