Saint Honoré cake
The Saint Honoré cake is a famous example of French patisserie. It consists of a puff pastry base surrounded by a ring of caramel-coated choux puffs and topped with whipped cream (Chantilly).
It is a bit tricky to make, but this recipe gives you all the hints you need.
It is a bit tricky to make, but this recipe gives you all the hints you need.
129 K 4.4/5 (24 reviews)
2 hours 55 min.
Average
3 Saints Honoré cake
6 IngredientsLast modified on: April 14th 2013
For 3 Saints Honoré cake, you will need:
- 1
2 cups puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée) - 2
½ cup icing sugar - 3
4 ½ cups confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream) - 4
4 ½ cups choux pastry (pâte à choux) - 5
2 2⁄3 cups caster sugar - 6
2 2⁄3 cups Chantilly cream
Change these quantities to make:
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 2 hours 6 min.
Cooking: 45 min.
All in all: 2 hours 55 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 10 min.
Preheat the oven to 430°F (220°C).
Cut a circle of puff pastry 26 cm (10 inches) in diameter and prick all over with a fork or pique-vite (pastry pricker).
Cut a circle of puff pastry 26 cm (10 inches) in diameter and prick all over with a fork or pique-vite (pastry pricker).
Stage 2 - 10 min.
Cover with cooking parchment, weigh this down with a wire rack (to prevent the pastry swelling up) and bake in the oven. You can also cook it between two baking sheets.
Stage 3 - 3 min.
Once the pastry is starting to brown and is almost cooked, take it out of the oven and remove both the wire rack and the paper. Sprinkle icing sugar over the top and put it back in the oven...
Stage 4 - 5 min.
...for a few minutes, until the top caramelizes (if necessary, finish this under the grill).
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Stage 5 - 40 min.
Prepare 4 ½ cups confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream).
Stage 6 - 30 min.
Prepare 4 ½ cups choux pastry (pâte à choux) and pipe in small heaps about 1.5 cm (3/4 inch) in diameter using a forcing bag .
Stage 7 - 5 min.
Flatten the points with a tea spoon dipped in milk to make the puffs nice and round.
Stage 8 - 20 min.
Once the puffs are cooked, leave them to cool.
Stage 9 - 10 min.
Prepare a light caramel with 2 2⁄3 cups caster sugar.
Stage 10 - 2 min.
Stand the pan of caramel on a folded cloth.
Stage 11
Dip the rounded side of a choux puff into the caramel...
Stage 12
And place on a baking sheet (covered with a sheet of cooking parchment), caramel side downwards.
Stage 13 - 40 min.
Do this with all the puffs then put the caramel to keep hot.
Fill the puffs with confectioner's custard, without turning them over.
Fill the puffs with confectioner's custard, without turning them over.
Stage 14
Turn a filled puff the other way up, hold by the top (the set caramel side) and dip the bottom into the liquid caramel...
Stage 15
Then stick this around the outside of the pastry circle and hold in place for a few seconds until the caramel sets.
Do this with the other puffs until you have completed the ring around the Saint Honoré.
Do this with the other puffs until you have completed the ring around the Saint Honoré.
Stage 16
You can put a puff in the centre for added artistic effect if you wish.
Stage 17
Fill the space with rosettes of whipped cream.
Stage 18
You can pipe small rosettes of cream around the outside, between the puffs, as a finishing touch.
Refrigerate before serving.
Refrigerate before serving.
Remarks
This recipe needs a lot of work, so it is a good idea to be organised and to prepare the elements that can wait in advance, as far as possible: puff pastry circle, confectioner's custard and choux puffs (you can even fill these).
Once you keep to the basic principle (puff-pastry base, choux pastry around it and cream filling) you can vary this in many different ways: by changing the cream, for example. Give free rein to your imagination.
Once you keep to the basic principle (puff-pastry base, choux pastry around it and cream filling) you can vary this in many different ways: by changing the cream, for example. Give free rein to your imagination.
And to drink?
A sweet white wine, such as a Loupiac.
Keeping: A few hours in the fridge.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 1,040 RDI=400 % | 5,310 RDI=500 % | 3,560 RDI=540 % | 13,400 RDI=670 % | 56,110 RDI: 670 % |
| Per 100 g | 30 RDI=10 % | 140 RDI=10 % | 90 RDI=10 % | 350 RDI=20 % | 1,460 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 3 Saints Honoré cake : 13.60 €
- Per Saint Honoré cake : 4.55 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Choux pastry (pâte à choux)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Pets de nonne, Valay-Brest, Profiteroles, Paris-Brest, Chouquettes, ... See them all 8
Confectioner's custard (Crème pâtissière, or French pastry cream)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Raisin breads (pains aux raisins), Pear and chocolate tart with a hint of mint, Pear verbena tarts, Almond cream or frangipane, Pains briochés aux raisins, ... See them all 19
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Italian Meringue, Tarte Normande, Panettone, Mint and chocolate cream, Yeast-based flaky dough (for croissants), ... See them all 361
Chantilly cream
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Viennese chocolate cups, Warm apple feuillantines, Key Lime Pie for Jeremy, Diplomat cream, Quick Strawberry Millefeuille, ... See them all 30
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