Pistachio Paris‑Brest

Pistachio Paris‑Brest is a hard French recipe that serves 6. 460 calories per serving. Recipe by Norbert Tarayre on YouTube.

Prep: 45 min | Cook: 52 min | Total: 112 min

Cost: $6.87 total, $1.14 per serving

Ingredients

  • 50 g Brown sugar (or raw sugar, otherwise white sugar)
  • 50 g All-purpose flour
  • 40 g Unsalted butter (cold, cut into small dice)
  • 125 g Water
  • 60 g Unsalted butter (for choux pastry)
  • 80 g All-purpose flour (for choux pastry)
  • 125 g Whole eggs (about 2 large eggs, weighed)
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 pinch Sugar
  • 250 ml Whole milk (preferably whole for richer flavor)
  • 2 g Tonka bean (grated, very aromatic)
  • 4 pcs Egg yolks (about 80 g)
  • 27 g Cornstarch (Maïzena)
  • 80 g Granulated sugar
  • 150 g Unsalted butter (for the mousseline) (cold, in small cubes)
  • 30 g Pistachio paste (100 % pistachio, oil‑free) (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 30 g Honey (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 5 ml Extra‑virgin olive oil (1 teaspoon)
  • for sprinkling Powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sable crust

    Mix the brown sugar, flour and cold butter in a bowl. Rub between the fingertips until a sandy texture is achieved where the butter is well incorporated.

    Time: PT5M

  2. Form and chill the sable crust

    Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 2 mm thickness, cut discs using a cookie cutter, place them on a sheet lined with parchment and put them in the freezer (or refrigerator) for 1 hour so the butter hardens.

    Time: PT1H

  3. Make the choux pastry (panade)

    In a saucepan, bring 125 g water to a boil with a pinch of salt, a pinch of sugar and 60 g butter. Off the heat, add 80 g flour all at once, stir vigorously until a homogeneous dough forms that pulls away from the sides.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: 100°C

  4. Cool the panade slightly

    Transfer the panade to a bowl, let it warm for 5 minutes while stirring with a spatula to avoid a skin forming.

    Time: PT5M

  5. Incorporate the eggs

    Add the weighed eggs (125 g) in several batches, mixing gently with the spatula or wooden spoon. Do not whisk; avoid incorporating air.

    Time: PT5M

  6. Pipe the choux

    Transfer the dough to a pastry bag, pipe small choux (about 4 cm in diameter) onto a parchment‑lined sheet.

    Time: PT10M

  7. Bake the choux

    Preheat the oven to 210°C, bake the choux for 5 minutes, then immediately lower the temperature to 180°C and continue baking for 35‑45 minutes until they are golden and dry to the touch.

    Time: PT40M

    Temperature: 210°C

  8. Cool the choux

    Remove the choux from the oven, place them on a rack and let cool completely (about 30 minutes) before handling.

    Time: PT30M

  9. Prepare the pastry cream

    Heat 250 ml whole milk with the grated tonka bean. Meanwhile, whisk 4 egg yolks with 80 g sugar and 27 g cornstarch. Pour the hot milk over the mixture while whisking, return everything to the saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened (≈7 minutes).

    Time: PT12M

    Temperature: 90°C

  10. Incorporate the butter (mousseline cream)

    Let the pastry cream cool to about 40°C, then incorporate 150 g cold butter in small cubes, whisking gently until a smooth, glossy texture is achieved.

    Time: PT5M

  11. Flavor with pistachio

    Mix 30 g pistachio paste, 30 g honey and 5 ml olive oil into the mousseline cream. Blend well.

    Time: PT3M

  12. Assemble the Paris‑Brest

    Cut each choux in half horizontally. Place the cold crust on the lower half, generously fill with pistachio cream using a pastry bag, close with the upper half. Dust with powdered sugar.

    Time: PT5M

  13. Chill

    Place the assembled Paris‑Brests in the refrigerator for 2‑3 hours so the cream firms up.

    Time: PT2H

    Temperature: 4°C

Nutrition Facts

Calories
460
Protein
6 g
Carbohydrates
45 g
Fat
25 g
Fiber
2 g

Dietary info: vegetarian, contains nuts

Allergens: gluten, eggs, milk, pistachio, honey

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Pistachio Paris‑Brest

Recipe by Norbert Tarayre

Paris‑Brest revisited with a crisp choux pastry, a sable crust made with brown sugar, and a homemade pistachio mousseline cream. An iconic French dessert, perfect for pastry lovers who want to elevate the classic with a green and indulgent twist.

HardFrenchServes 6

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
3h 8m
Prep
1h 57m
Cook
37m
Cleanup
5h 42m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$6.87
Total cost
$1.14
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Rubbing the crust and keeping it very cold before baking.
  • Achieve the correct panade consistency (smooth ribbon).
  • Incorporate the eggs without whisking to avoid air.
  • Lower the oven temperature after the first 5 minutes.
  • Incorporate the cold butter into the pastry cream at the right temperature.

Safety Warnings

  • Boiling water and melted butter are very hot; handle with gloves or a kitchen towel.
  • The oven reaches 210°C; use oven mitts to remove the sheet.
  • The knife for cutting the choux must be well‑sharpened to avoid crushing them.

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