Salted-Caramel Cream Puffs with Warm Chocolate Sauce

• 1 large egg
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
• 3/4 cup water
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon salted butter, at room temperature
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• Sliced almonds, for garnish (optional)
• Confectioners sugar, for garnish (optional)
• Flaky sea salt, for garnish (optional)

1. Make the Caramel Custard In a medium bowl, whisk the egg with the egg yolks, cornstarch and 1/2 cup of the milk until smooth.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the remaining 1 1/2 cups of milk over low heat; keep warm.
3. Make the Caramel Custard In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar with 1/4 cup of water.
4. Cook over moderate heat, swirling the pan and brushing down the side with a wet pastry brush, until the sugar dissolves.
5. Cook undisturbed until a deep-amber caramel forms, about 5 minutes.
6. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the butter; be careful, it will boil vigorously.
7. While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the warm milk until blended; the mixture may separate a little.
8. Slowly whisk in the egg mixture and bring to a boil, then cook over moderate heat, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
9. Stir in the vanilla and sea salt.
10. Strain the caramel custard through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl.
11. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard and refrigerate until completely chilled.
12. Make the Cream Puffs Preheat the oven to 400 degrees .
13. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
14. Make the Cream Puffs In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, sugar and salt.
15. Cook over moderate heat for 1 minute, until the butter dissolves.
16. Add all of the flour at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon, then cook until the dough pulls away from the side of the pan, 1 to 2 minutes.
17. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let stand for 2 minutes, stirring a few times to cool down the dough.
18. Add the eggs one at a time, beating constantly and thoroughly with a wooden spoon between additions: the dough should be smooth and shiny.
19. Make the Cream Puffs Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip.
20. Pipe the dough into twenty-four 1 1/2-inch mounds on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart.
21. Bake for about 25 minutes, until the tops and bottoms are golden.
22. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack.
23. Using a skewer, poke a small hole in the side of each cream puff to allow steam to escape; let cool completely.
24. Make the Chocolate Sauce In a medium saucepan, combine the half-and-half, cocoa, corn syrup and sugar.
25. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally.
26. Remove from the heat.
27. Stir in the butter and chocolate until melted and the sauce is smooth.
28. Make the Chocolate Sauce Scrape the custard into a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip.
29. Pipe the cream into the hole in the side of each cream puff until full.
30. Drizzle with some of the chocolate sauce, sprinkle with garnishes and serve.

egg, egg yolks, cornstarch, milk, sugar, butter, vanilla, flaky sea salt, water, unsalted butter, sugar, kosher salt, flour, eggs, dutch, light corn syrup, sugar, butter, bittersweet chocolate, almonds, confectioners sugar, salt

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/salted-caramel-cream-puffs-with-warm-chocolate-sauce (may not work)