Choux buns with coffee and Drambuie mousse

Total time: 2 hours, plus overnight chilling

Servings: 46 buns

Note: Adapted from “Eggs” by Michel Roux. Make the crème pâtissière the day before so it can chill overnight.

Crème pâtissière

6 egg yolks

1/2cup plus 2 tablespoons superfine sugar

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped out and reserved

1. Combine the egg yolks and one-third of the sugar in a bowl and whisk to a light ribbon consistency, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the flour and whisk it in thoroughly.

2. In a pan, heat the milk with the rest of the sugar and the vanilla bean and seeds. As soon as it comes to a boil, pour it onto the egg yolk mixture a few tablespoons to start, then all of it, stirring as you go. Mix well, then return the mixture to the pan.

3. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with the whisk. Allow the mixture to bubble, still stirring, for 2 minutes, then tip it into a bowl.

4. To prevent a skin forming, cover tightly with plastic wrap on the surface of the crème. Chill in an ice-water bath, then refrigerate overnight. Can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Remove the vanilla bean before using.

Choux buns

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter, cut up

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup flour

4 large eggs

Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk)

1. Combine the milk, butter, salt and sugar in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Bring to a boil, then remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the flour all at once with a wooden spoon until smooth.

2. Return the pan to medium heat for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to dry out the paste. Tip it into a bowl.

3. Add the eggs one by one, beating with the wooden spoon until each egg is fully beaten in. Once they are all incorporated into the mixture, it should be smooth and shiny, and thick enough to pipe. The choux paste is now ready to use. (If you are not using it immediately, brush the surface with egg wash to prevent a crust forming.)

4. Pipe small mounds, about 2 teaspoons each, onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in staggered rows, using a pastry bag fitted with a half-inch round tip.

5. Brush the buns with egg wash. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until dry and crisp, but soft inside. Cool on a wire rack.

Coffee mousse and assembly

1/3cup whipping cream

1 1/2tablespoons superfine sugar

1 recipe crème pâtissière, chilled

4 tablespoons instant coffee powder

2 tablespoons Drambuie or to taste

Powdered sugar

Unsweetened cocoa

46 choux buns

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Whip the cream in a chilled bowl with the sugar to stiff peaks and fold into the chilled crème pâtissière. Dissolve the coffee in the Drambuie and fold into the mixture.

2. Make a small opening in the side of each bun with the tip of a knife or skewer. Using a pastry bag fitted with a plain eighth-inch tip, pipe a generous amount of coffee mousse into each bun.

3. To serve, dust half the filled buns with a little powdered sugar and the rest with cocoa. Arrange on individual plates or a platter.

Each of 46 buns: 74 calories; 2 grams protein; 7 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 4 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 59 mg. cholesterol; 40 mg. sodium.