Sunday, May 27, 2007

Daring Bakers Challenge: Le Gâteau Saint Honoré



Once upon a time there was a beautiful swan
Who lived in a lake made of sugar and cream
The swan was happy in his little sweet dream
Surrounded by whipped clouds and caramel bun





When I first saw this month’s challenge, chosen by Helene and Anita, I was a little skeptical and afraid that I wouldn’t be able to make it. I’ve never made Le gâteau Saint Honoré before and I know that if it weren’t for my fellow daring bakers I would have never done it. I guess I am not an adventurous when it comes to this kind of cakes.
Having some bad memories from a greasy, sticky puff pastry, I just didn’t know what to expect with this one. But I wasn’t disappointed. I wasn’t disappointed at all. Not only the puff pastry turns out wonderfully flaky and delicious but also the making of this cake allowed me to challenge my pastry skills and to face my fear of…piping bag.
For years I’ve been avoiding recipes that involves piping bags, using instead ziplog bags or my handy dandy…spoon.
My icing flowers weren’t perfect. Actually they were far from being perfect but I haven’t given up hope that one day I will be an expert on this subject. For a beginner I am quite proud of my self.
The thing that I will change next time is making a smaller portion of this cake because it is just too much for only two persons. Or, I will invite all the daring bakers to share it with me!
Who wants the swan?

Thanks to Helene and Anita for this May’s challenge and for introducing me to this delicious cake that is Le gâteau Saint Honoré. Head over to their respective blogs to find the recipe in its entirety.
Don’t forget to check out other daring bakers’ beautiful creations.
I am now a daring baker and proud of it.


40 comments:

Chris said...

Looks lovely! I love the swan. Great job!

Helene said...

Beautiful job! making swans is time consuming but so rewarding! i am so glad you are part of the DB!

Brilynn said...

I had hoped someone would make swans! I had originally planned to do it myself, but then I realized that was just craziness and I had enough on my hands without making swans.

Kelly-Jane said...

How beautiful :) I've always wanted do do choux swans (and I'd like him please!) Well done!

Freya said...

I love the swan! So graceful!
Well done on your first challenge! You made it seem so easy!

Peabody said...

The swan is such a nice touch.

Meeta K. Wolff said...

OHHH! That is a gorgeous swan. Nice job Rose!!

Jenny said...

What a beautiful swan!
Congrats DB!

Laura said...

I'm sorry did you say you've never done any of these things before and then you make a swan?! I'll have him please! Gorgeous first challenge.

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Rose it seems the swan is already spoken for but I be most delighted for just a little taste of the cake next time invite us all. Now wouldn't that be a hoop la la!
You are now a DB for sure!

Nora B. said...

hmm... do you think the swan will survive a trip in a box from Michigan to Sydney? :-)

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhhhh! I want to be a swan and live on a gateau.

Just gorgeous and congratulations on your first DB challenge!

Sara said...

Wow, that swan is great. You are very clever!

Anonymous said...

I´m telling you, that swan is living la vida loca for sure... oh, how I wish I was the one forever swimming in a pool of cream surrounded by cream puffs!

Lis said...

Awww I love your swan, Rose! Your Gateau is just beautiful! Congrats on your first challenge!

xoxox

Anne said...

Just beauriful...and the swan was cute!

Alpineberry Mary said...

The swans are very cute atop your gateau. Glad you're part of the DBs!

Canadian Baker said...

I loved the swan and the poem! Excellent job!

Elle said...

I'll take the swan...so cute. Glad that you have completed the first DB challenge. Your cake looks like it could come out of a fairy tale.

Heather said...

Love the swan!!

Alice Q. Foodie said...

Very cool - and something different. Nice job !!

Ilva said...

The swan is beautiful, bravissima!

Claude-Olivier Marti said...

Mais quelle intro ;-) C'est un de mes gâteaux préférés ! Bravo

Bonne journée
Claude

Anonymous said...

Beautiful swan, Rose - I love it! Congrats on your first DB challenge, your gateau looks so lovely!

Sara - Piperita said...

You made the cream puff swan!!! When I was little I was just mad about the cream puff swans: I loved them so much that the patissiere friend f my father was always offering me one, every Sunday!!!

Anonymous said...

How cute yours turned out! I love the swan.

Patricia Scarpin said...

The swan just won my heart, Rose! It is so beautiful!

I think you are a wonderful Daring Baker!

Valentina said...

Oh, how beautiful yours has turned out. And the swan.Like you, I feel rather intimidated by the piping bag but I guess there is nothing like practice.; o )

Anita said...

So cute...what an adorable writeup! I want a swan of my own too!

Anonymous said...

magnifique;fabuleux;epoustouflant;divin...en un mot..so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!tu t es surpassee;depassee;tu n as rien a envier aux grands patissiers de ce monde.la patisserie francaise est bien installee dans votre home;congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!

breadchick said...

What a great way to complete your first DB Challenge! I second Ivonne, I want to be a swan on a lake of diplomat cream!!

Cheryl said...

I love the swan, holy moly, I could never do that. Well done on your gateau.

Veron said...

beautiful swan...an elegant gateau indeed!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Aw, that is just precious, Rose!

Dolores said...

For a "beginner" with a pastry bag, your swan is an elegant adornment to a sensational cake. I wish I had half of that kind of talent. Beautiful!

LILIBOX said...

j'adore les choux mais je n'en ai fait qu'une seule fois!

Warda said...

- Thanks Chris. Glad you like it.
- I had a lot of fun making it. My mother was amazed. Thank you very much for welcoming me in your group Helene.
-Well looks like I was the one, Brylinn. Yours didn't need a swan to be perfect.
-It is not difficult at all. The swan is already gone. I am sorry Kelly-Jane. May be next time.
- Believe me Freya,it was far from from being easy especially with my daughter running between my legs.
-Thanks Peabody.
-Thank you very much Meeta.
-Thanks Quellia
-Thanks for your nice words Laura.
-I'll be more than happy Tana to have all the daring bakers next time.
-If it does Nora, I will be glad to send it. But then you will have to send your German chocolate cake.
-Thanks Ivonne. I guess it's everybody's dream to be a swan.
-Thank you Sara.
-La vida loca indeed!! Marce
-Thank you Lis. And thank you for this fabulous group.
-Thanks Anne
-Thank you very much Mary.
-Thank you very much Canadian Baker. I am so glad you like them.
-The baking was far from being a fairy tale but le gateau turned out how I wanted it to be. Thanks Elle.
-Thanks Heather.
-Thank you very much Alice. I love everything that's different.
-Grazie mille Ilva.
-Contente que l'intro et le poeme te plaisent Claude.Bonne journee a toi aussi.
-Thank you very much Gilly. Maybe my swan and your butterfly can be friends. Don't you think?
- I am so happy that my swan brought some good memories from your childhood Sara. And what a childhood you had!
-Thank you very much Kellypea.
-Thank you very much for your nice words Patricia. Your cake was beautiful too.
-Thaks Valentina. You are right for the piping bag. It will come with practice,
-Thanks Anita. You are the 231 on the list for the swan!
-Merci beaucoup ma mima adoree. C'est tres gentil de ta part.Tu m'as fait rire avec ton "so cute!!"
-Thanks Breadchick.
-Are you kidding cheryl! You are so talented. I can't believe you can't make it.
-Thank you very much Veron
-Thanks Susan
-You are so nice culinnarycuriosity. I am sure every daring baker can make this swan.
-Et bein Lili, tu devrais essayer une autre fois.

Lisa Johnson said...

I love the little poem in the beginning and the swan is beautiful! I bet pretty tasty too! You daring bakers are pretty awesome!

wheresmymind said...

I'd end up making snakes as I have no skillz!

Anonymous said...

the swan reminds me of the swan puffs we used to have a children! the whole cake looks beautiful, Rose.