This adorable little penguin religieuse ($7) from Dominique Ansel is almost too cute to eat. But make sure you do, because he is divine! This little guy is all bundled up for winter with his earmuffs and scarf made of marshmallow. His eyes, beak and wings are crafted from white and dark chocolate. The choux pastry is filled with Mexican hot chocolate cream with a hint of chili.
If you’ve never had a religieuse before, it is a French pastry that is made up of two choux pastry cases, one larger than the other, filled with creme patissiere. Dark chocolate ganache covers the religieuse, whose name means ‘nun’ in French. Choux pastry is the lightest, crispiest, airiest pastry. As well as for religious, choux pastry is also used to make profiteroles, eclairs or savoury gougeres.
If you’re familiar with religieuse, I’m pretty sure you’ve never had one quite like this before! Dominique Ansel’s creativity always astounds me, and his religieuse are a perfect example of how he has put his own unique spin on a traditional pastry. The fillings he uses are untraditional compared with the French chocolate, vanilla or coffee; and the designs fit the seasons. I am also a huge marshmallow fan, so the added marshmallow scarf & earmuffs on the penguin really added a delicious touch for me. Get Chilly Penguin while you can!
Dominique Ansel Bakery: 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Soo cute and sounds absolutely delicious