Piste de Train Mignardises (Printable Version)

An elegant assortment of French miniature pastries inspired by a whimsical train track presentation.

# What You'll Need:

→ Choux Pastry

01 - 1/4 cup water
02 - 1/4 cup whole milk
03 - 3 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
04 - 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
05 - Pinch of salt
06 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 2 large eggs

→ Chocolate Ganache

08 - 3 1/2 oz dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa), chopped
09 - 1/3 cup heavy cream

→ Mini Financiers

10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
11 - 1/3 cup almond flour
12 - 3 tbsp icing sugar
13 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - 2 large egg whites

→ Fruit Tartlets

16 - 3 1/2 oz sweet shortcrust pastry (pâte sucrée)
17 - 1/3 cup pastry cream
18 - 1 1/2 oz assorted fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries)

→ Decoration

19 - 1 1/2 tbsp powdered sugar (for dusting)
20 - 1 tbsp edible gold leaf or silver pearls (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add flour, and stir vigorously until a dough forms. Return to heat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer to a bowl, cool slightly, then beat in eggs one at a time until smooth and glossy.
03 - Pipe small rounds onto a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until puffed and golden. Let cool completely.
04 - Heat heavy cream until just simmering. Pour over chopped chocolate, let stand for 1 minute, then stir until glossy and smooth. Cool to room temperature.
05 - Melt butter until golden brown (beurre noisette). Cool slightly. In a bowl, combine almond flour, icing sugar, all-purpose flour, and salt. Whisk in egg whites, then fold in browned butter. Spoon batter into mini financier molds or mini muffin tins. Bake for 15 minutes until golden.
06 - Roll out sweet shortcrust pastry and cut into small rounds. Press into mini tartlet molds. Prick bases and bake blind at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool, then fill with pastry cream and top with assorted berries.
07 - Arrange choux puffs filled or dipped with ganache, financiers as train cars, and tartlets as stations on a large platter to resemble a winding train track. Finish with dusting of powdered sugar and optional gold leaf or silver pearls for decoration.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • A creative and elegant dessert presentation that delights both the eye and palate.
  • A fun way to showcase a variety of classic French miniature pastries in one impressive display.
  • Perfect for special occasions, afternoon teas, or festive gatherings where you want to impress with style.
  • Vegetarian-friendly and made with simple, high-quality ingredients.
02 -
  • Use a piping bag with a round tip for uniform choux puff sizes and smooth shapes.
  • Cool the chocolate ganache completely before dipping to ensure a glossy finish and no melting.
  • Line financier molds with a light grease or non-stick spray to avoid sticking.
  • Prick tartlet bases carefully before blind baking to prevent puffing up.
  • Arrange the pastries while still fresh to maintain their crisp textures and vibrant appearance.
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