# Components:
→ Choux Pastry
01 - 1/2 cup water
02 - 1/4 cup whole milk
03 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cubed
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
05 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
06 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
→ Vanilla Pastry Cream
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 1/2 vanilla bean, split (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
10 - 3 large egg yolks
11 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
12 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
13 - 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Fondant Glaze
14 - 7 ounces white fondant icing
15 - 1 to 2 tablespoons water
16 - Food coloring (optional, for decorative accents)
→ Decoration
17 - Powdered sugar, for dusting
18 - Edible gold leaf or silver dragées (optional)
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add flour all at once, and stir vigorously until smooth dough forms and pulls from sides.
03 - Return pan to low heat; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes to dry dough slightly. Transfer to bowl and let cool for 5 minutes.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each until dough is shiny and holds a soft peak.
05 - Using a 1 cm round tip, pipe 24 teardrop bodies and 24 S-shaped necks onto prepared sheets.
06 - Bake bodies 20 to 22 minutes until golden and puffed. Bake necks 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack.
07 - Heat milk with vanilla until simmering. Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until pale. Gradually add hot milk, then cook over medium heat, whisking, until thick and bubbling. Remove from heat, stir in butter, cool thoroughly.
08 - Slice choux bodies horizontally; cut top halves lengthwise into wings.
09 - Pipe or spoon pastry cream onto base, insert neck, and position wings on sides.
10 - Warm fondant gently with water until smooth and pourable. Drizzle lightly over wings and necks, adding color details if desired.
11 - Arrange swans on serving platter. Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with edible gold leaf or silver dragées as preferred.
