Valay-Brest
A Valay-Brest is a mini eclair, filled with apple-flavoured confectioner's custard and topped with a rectangle of walnut nougatine.
75 K 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
1 hour 30 min.
Average
8 pieces
5 IngredientsLast modified on: May 14th 2014
For 8 pieces, you will need:
- 1
3.5 oz choux pastry (pâte à choux) - 2
2.5 oz apple confectioner's custard - 3
0.7 oz walnut kernels - 4
1.8 oz caster sugar - 5
1 tablespoon water (optional)
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 60 min.
Cooking: 30 min.
All in all: 1 hour 30 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 - 20 min.
Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C).
Prepare 3.5 oz 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 3.5 oz 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 0.7 oz 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 | 40 RDI=20 % | 220 RDI=20 % | 120 RDI=20 % | 950 RDI=50 % | 3,970 RDI: 50 % |
| Per 100 g | 20 RDI=6 % | 90 RDI=9 % | 50 RDI=8 % | 400 RDI=20 % | 1,650 RDI: 20 % |
| Per piece | 4 RDI=2 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 120 RDI=6 % | 500 RDI: 6 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 8 pieces : 1.15 €
- 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: Gougères, Pets de nonne, Profiteroles, Chouquettes, Paris-Brest, ... 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: Grandma Solange's biscuits, Lime crémeux, Saint Honoré cake, Crème brulée, Eton mess, ... See them all 361
Walnut kernels
Like these other recipes: Beetroot and black radish salad, Chocolate mendiants, Special Cheese and Walnut Sticks, Granola, Apple and whisky crumble, ... See them all 20
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