Valay-Brest
A Valay-Brest is a mini eclair, filled with apple-flavoured confectioner's custard and topped with a rectangle of walnut nougatine.
76 K 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
1 hour 30 min.
Average
12 pieces
5 IngredientsLast modified on: May 14th 2014
For 12 pieces, you will need:
- 1
150 g choux pastry (pâte à choux) - 2
100 g apple confectioner's custard - 3
25 g walnut kernels - 4
75 g caster sugar - 5
1.5 tablespoon water (optional) - Total weight: 350 grams
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 60 min.
Cooking: 30 min.
All in all: 1 hour 30 min.
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: 18:05.Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 20 min.
Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C).
Prepare 150 g choux pastry (pâte à choux) and pipe the eclairs about 5-6 cm (2 inches) long using a forcing bag with a ridged nozzle, if possible.
Prepare 150 g choux pastry (pâte à choux) and pipe the eclairs about 5-6 cm (2 inches) long using a forcing bag with a ridged nozzle, if possible.
Stage 2 - 15 min.
Bake the mini eclairs.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
When cold, cut in half lengthways.
Stage 4 - 5 min.
Fill each "bottom" with apple-flavoured confectioner's custard.
Stage 5 - 5 min.
Replace the "lid".
Fill all the eclairs like this and put to wait in the fridge.
Fill all the eclairs like this and put to wait in the fridge.
Stage 6 - 5 min.
Prepare the walnut nougatine: preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Spread 25 g walnut kernels on a baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes in the oven.
Stage 7 - 5 min.
When cooled, use a blender to grind the toasted walnuts to a powder.
Stage 8 - 10 min.
Stage 9 - 1 min.
Tip the ground walnuts into the caramel...
Stage 10 - 1 min.
...and mix thoroughly.
Now you need to work as quickly as possible, because the nougatine will set rapidly as it cools.
Now you need to work as quickly as possible, because the nougatine will set rapidly as it cools.
Stage 11 - 1 min.
Pour the nougatine out onto a sheet of cooking parchment.
Stage 12 - 3 min.
Lay a second sheet on top and roll the nougatine out as thinly as possible with a rolling pin.
Stage 13 - 2 min.
Use a large knife to cut the nougatine, or at least score it, into strips about 1 cm (0.3 inch) wide.
Stage 14 - 5 min.
When cooled, cut the strips apart.
Stage 15 - 5 min.
Stick these onto the tops of the eclairs with a little confectioner's custard.
Refrigerate until needed, but do not serve too cold.
Refrigerate until needed, but do not serve too cold.
Remarks
It is not essential for the nougatine to be a rectangle exactly the size and shape of the eclair. On the contrary, the "deconstructed" look with pieces laid side by side can be attractive.
Some recipes insist that the caramel for the nougatine should be made "dry", i.e. without added water, but I don't think this is essential.
Some recipes insist that the caramel for the nougatine should be made "dry", i.e. without added water, but I don't think this is essential.
Keeping: An hour or two, not much longer.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 60 RDI=20 % | 330 RDI=30 % | 180 RDI=30 % | 1,360 RDI=70 % | 5,710 RDI: 70 % |
| Per 100 g | 20 RDI=6 % | 90 RDI=9 % | 50 RDI=8 % | 390 RDI=20 % | 1,630 RDI: 20 % |
| Per piece | 4 RDI=2 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 110 RDI=6 % | 480 RDI: 6 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 12 pieces : 1.60 €
- Per piece : 0.15 €
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: Profiteroles, Puits d'amour, Mini Mont-Blanc choux puffs, Chouquettes, Pets de nonne, ... See them all 8
Apple confectioner's custard
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example:
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Poppy seed and lemon cake, French Family Cake, Quick bramble jelly, Almond tuiles, Sautéed pears with custard and orange syrup , ... See them all 361
Walnut kernels
Like these other recipes: Beetroot and black radish salad, Special Cheese and Walnut Sticks, Apple Strudel, Tomato and cream cheese terrine, Moist cereal bars, ... See them all 20
Other recipes you may also like
Chestnut cake
This delightful cake is doubly chestnutty: it contains chestnut flour, and sweet chestnut purée.May 8th 2020340 K5 1 hour 15 min.
Caramelised apple pie
Apple pie made with caramelised apples.September 11th 2018262 K4.3 1 hour 55 min.
Toasted almond cake
A layer cake, with toasted almonds in the chocolate part.July 5th 2016245 K4.4 2 hours 2 min.
Nanou's chocolate cake
A moist melting cake, very very chocolaty...June 22th 2013286 K4.6 1 hour 45 min.
Chocolate tart
As you can see, there's very little added sugar in this recipe, so it's a very chocolatey and bitter-sweet tart.November 16th 2013296 K 15 2 hours 30 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-06-22)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.