Name: Croquembouche
Yield: Makes 40 to 50 filled puffs
Ingredients: ½ cup whole milk; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces; 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 6 large eggs, room temperature; 2 cups whole milk; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ vanilla bean, split lengthwise; 5 large egg yolks; ½ cup granulated sugar; ¼ cup cornstarch; Powdered sugar (for dusting); 2½ cups granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons light corn syrup; Two pastry bags; ½"-diameter pastry tip and a small star tip

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Alex Lau

Is this caramel cream-puff skyscraper a showstopper? Yes. Is it a major-league project? Yes! Here’s the strategy: Make the puffs and the pastry cream a couple of days in advance, then tackle assembly on the morning of the day you plan to serve this.