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French Canelés

8/21/2014

14 Comments

 
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   Long before I went to France this past June, I knew I would be making a visit to E. Dehillerin.  I always do.  And even though my time in Paris was brief -- barely a day after my lengthier stay in Provence --  I needed to stop by the cookware store Dehillerin, a baker's dream, to pick up canelés molds. 
  
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     I have been obsessed with the making of canelés recently.  Why, I'm not exactly sure.  Before this past trip to Provence, I had never even eaten a canelé. My fascination, most likely, has something to due with the individual copper molds that are traditionally used (the interiors coated with beeswax) to bake canelés.  The beauty, for me, is in the crafting of the pastry baked in copper, striated molds that create little pleated cylinders. And their dark, caramelized exterior that surrounds a cakey, custard-like center.   After I ate my first canelé at Pâtisserie Jouvaud in Carpentras, it sealed the deal.  I was going to pick up canelés molds when back in Paris.  They would, however, not be the beautiful copper molds that make my heart race.  

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    The number of little copper molds needed to make one recipe of canelés, would have surpassed $300; a number I just couldn't justify.  Instead, I settled on silicone canelés molds, convincing myself that the best pâtisseries in France must be using them for their cost-savings and ease of cleaning.
    
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      The silicone molds were still an investment.  And a little research was needed to get the desired results during the baking process.   For the batter, I used a recipe from Mimi Thorisson for Canelés de Bordeaux and combined that with baking techniques from Paula Wolfort.  What made all of the difference between my first failed attempt and successful second try, was brushing the molds with canola oil (expeller pressed), then freezing them until filling with the canelé batter.  The baking temperature is higher than you think it should be, and the baking time longer than what you would imagine... the results were magnifique!  These canelés, more than any other French pastry I've ever made, transported me back to France with the first bite.  In the scheme of things, I suppose, a very reasonably-priced, "Another Paris Moment". 
 
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     Check out the little flecks of vanilla bean seeds.  The vanilla, along with the rum, give canelés their incredible flavor.  If you're interested in making canelés, the DeBuyer silicone molds are available on Amazon.  And if you feel like splurging, you can also purchase Mauviel's French copper molds there.

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+ recipe (adapted) for Canelés de Bordeaux by Mimi Thorrison

Recipe makes 12 canelés
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 tablespoon heavy cream
• 1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup rum
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Canola oil, preferably expeller pressed, for brushing molds

1.  Remove the seeds from the vanilla bean and combine them with the milk and heavy cream in a medium-size saucepan.  Stir well, then bring just to a boil.  Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes.
2.  Whisk the sugar into the milk, then slowly add the flour, whisking constantly to avoid any lumps.  If necessary, strain the batter through a wire sieve to remove  lumps.
3.  Add the eggs yolks, one at a time, mixing after each addition.  Gently whisk in the melted butter, followed by the rum.  Whisk the batter until smooth; pour into a medium bowl, and when cool, cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.
4.  One hour before baking, brush the interior of 12 silicone canelés molds with canola oil.  Place the molds in the freezer.
5.  When molds have been in freezer for an hour, preheat oven.  If using convection, which is preferred, set your temperature at 375˚F.  If you will not be using a convection setting, preheat oven to 400˚F.

6.  Place the chilled molds on a baking sheet.  Whisk the batter and fill the molds almost to the top.  Place on the lowest oven rack and bake until canelés are a deep, caramelized brown.  If using convection, bake for one hour and 15 minutes at 375˚.  If not using convection, bake at 400˚ for two hours.  Remove from oven and transfer molds to a cooling rack. 
7.  Allow the canelés to cool in the molds.  This helps them keep their shape.  Canelés are best eaten within the first 1-5 hours.  After that, it is recommended to reheat at 450˚ for 5 minutes.




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14 Comments
marie
8/21/2014 03:31:26 am

i would like to purchase the molds you used in your recipe that makes 12 caneles. What size mold did you use? Is it the DeBuyer 8 mold ? Thank you

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Eileen
8/21/2014 05:09:00 am

Marie -- I have two, 8-cup molds that are 2-inches deep. I made 8 in one mold and 4 in the other.

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Mitch B
9/4/2014 10:27:45 pm

Eileen - I too have been obsessed with wanting to make Canelés but the copper mold price has been holding me back. I've read that silicone just does not cut it but it looks like you have it down pat. Could you post more info on the molds you use and where to get them... great job, I wish I could join you for a cup of coffee.

Kate
8/21/2014 07:07:31 am

WoW! You have mastered the silicone mold ;) I remember your last posting stating you weren't 100% happy with the browning and texture. These look stupendous, Eileen!
No kidding, I could be picking these up at the fanciest pâtisserie in Paris. Well done.
One can only imagine the flavor with those vanilla bean flecks and rum... and the texture is apparent in the last photo.
A treat for you all and a treat for, well, at least our eyes ;)

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Eileen
8/21/2014 07:09:42 am

Thanks, Kate ;-)

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Kate
8/21/2014 09:03:28 am

Just spotted your canister of tea from Marriage Frerés on your kitchen shelf. We had their Marco Polo tea today. It was heavenly. Just needed a caneles :)
I came back to look at your recipe for pain au cinnamon raisin. Those are so picture perfect as well. Is the butter added at the first folding or is it added half at a time? I have a "bake date" with a friend coming up and would love to choose making these.

Reply
Eileen
8/21/2014 09:10:17 am

Kate -- all the butter added at the first folding. Have fun at your "bake date"! I tend to drink more espresso than tea. Usually, when I make tea,it's because my sister is visiting and that's her drink of choice.

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Eileen
9/4/2014 11:29:50 pm

Hello Mitch B -- The silicone molds that I use are from French manufacturer DeBuyer and are the Elastomoule 8-Bordelais Fluted Cake Mold. I purchased two in Paris and a third on Amazon (now allowing me to bake 2 dozen at a time), although I'm only finding 6 and 20 mini available on Amazon now. I've always been a bit wary of silicone, but after several disappointing attempts at canelés, I found that brushing the molds with canola oil and freezing before filling, plus the long bake at a high temp was the trick. I can honestly say my canelés were better than what I sampled at Pâtisserie Jouvaud in France. They were amazing! I've been asked to bake desserts for the Governor's Gala next week, and I will be making canelés (and bouchons). If you're ever in the Twin Cities, let me know. I'll make you a cappuccino!

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Mitch B
9/5/2014 12:11:48 am

Thank you. By the way I live in Minneapolis :>)

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Eileen
9/5/2014 12:20:02 am

OMG! I guess you can stop by for a cappuccino!

Umm Haneefah @ The Halal Gourmet link
9/5/2014 12:57:45 pm

Thank for sharing in so much detail. It looks very challenging but you have conquered the hurdles so we can avoid them. My Parisian husband is always going on about how good these are. Update if you bite the bullet and get the copper molds.

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Eileen
9/6/2014 12:04:21 am

;-)

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Tom Conway link
12/10/2016 06:28:23 pm

Eileen, I am on this like flour on a pastry board, like creme anglaise on berries, like hard sauce on fruitcake, like honey on biscuits, like... well you get the idea. Once I find some molds, this man is making one of his favorite things, french caneles. Merci!

Reply
Eileen
12/11/2016 10:24:13 am

Send me your address, Tom and I'll mail you some!

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