Chestnut Baskets with Hazelnut Praline
JojoM
Elegant chestnut baskets filled with almond cream, chestnut gel, hazelnut praline, lemon gel and chestnut cream, finished with candied chestnuts.
A Luxurious French Tartlet for Autumn & Winter 🍂✨
These Chestnut Baskets with Hazelnut Praline bring together everything enchanting about French pâtisserie—silky chestnut creams, crisp sweet pastry, bright lemon gel and the deep nuttiness of homemade praline. Each component layers into a beautifully balanced bite, finished with delicate chestnut strands and a glossy candied chestnut on top. It’s indulgent, refined, and perfect for celebrations or holiday entertaining.
What Makes These Chestnut Baskets Special? 🌰💛
This dessert is all about texture and contrast. You get the crispness of sweet dough, the richness of almond cream, the smoothness of chestnut gel, the crunch of feuilletine praline, and the brightness of lemon gel all in one elegant tartlet. The layered approach highlights the natural sweetness of chestnuts while keeping the dessert light and beautifully composed.
If you're a fan of Mont Blanc-style desserts, this is the next level—more structured, more refined, and intricately flavoured.
A Deep Dive into the Flavours 🍋🌰🍮
🌰 Chestnut Cream & Chestnut Gel
The chestnut components form the heart of the dessert. The chestnut gel provides depth and body, while the chestnut cream delivers a luscious, mousse-like texture. Together they create a flavour profile that’s sweet, earthy and comforting—perfectly suited for autumn.
🍋 Lemon Gel Brightness
The lemon gel cuts through the richness with clean acidity. Just a small amount lifts the entire bite, giving the tartlets an elegant finesse.
🌰🔥 Homemade Hazelnut Praline
Toasted hazelnuts blended with caramelised sugar, finished with cocoa butter and feuilletine, create a crunchy, luxurious layer that complements the chestnut flavours beautifully.
✨ Crispy Sweet Dough
A classic French pâte sucrée base gives structure and a light buttery crispness that holds all the creamy elements without overwhelming them.
Perfect for Entertaining 🎉
These tartlets are individually portioned, make-ahead friendly, and present beautifully on a dessert table. With their piped chestnut strands and glossy candied chestnut on top, they look like something straight out of a Parisian patisserie window.
Tips for Success 🥄
- Chill the dough well before rolling to maintain clean edges.
- Prepare the gels and praline in advance—texture is everything here.
- Pipe the chestnut strands when the mixture is cool but pliable for clean definition.
How to Enjoy These Tartlets 💫
Serve them slightly chilled so the layers hold their form but the flavours bloom. Pair with a light espresso, a cup of Earl Grey, or even a dessert wine like Sauternes for a beautiful finish to a meal.
Crafted with delicate layers and elegant flavours, these Chestnut Baskets with Hazelnut Praline are a festive, show-stopping treat perfect for autumn, winter and holiday gatherings. 🍂🎄
Chestnut Baskets with Hazelnut Praline
JojoMElegant chestnut baskets filled with almond cream, chestnut gel, hazelnut praline, lemon gel and chestnut cream, finished with candied chestnuts.
Chef's Tips
Chill the sweet dough well before rolling to keep the tartlet shells from shrinking in the oven.
Prepare the chestnut gel, lemon gel and praline in advance so assembly is quick and the textures are fully set.
Pipe the chestnut strands while the chestnut mixture is soft but not warm for neat, defined threads.
Tools Used
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Ingredients
Sweet Dough
Almond Cream
Chestnut Gel
Hazelnut Praline
Lemon Gel
Pastry Cream
Chestnut Cream
Chestnut Mixture
Assembly & Finishing
Instructions
Sweet Dough
- 1
Cream butter with confectioners' sugar, ground almonds, salt and vanilla.
- 2
Mix in the egg, then add flour and form a soft dough. Wrap and chill overnight.
Almond Cream
- 1
Cream butter and sugar until light.
- 2
Mix in ground almonds, then gradually add eggs. Chill.
Chestnut Gel
- 1
Make a crème anglaise with yolks, sugar and milk.
- 2
Pour over rinsed candied chestnuts and chestnut paste.
- 3
Blend with xanthan gum until smooth. Chill.
Hazelnut Praline
- 1
Caramelise sugar, coat hazelnuts, cool, then blend to paste.
- 2
Mix in cocoa butter and fold in feuilletine.
Lemon Gel
- 1
Heat lemon juice, sugar and agar to a boil.
- 2
Set in a dish, then blend smooth.
Pastry Cream
- 1
Heat milk, cream and vanilla.
- 2
Whisk yolks, sugar, custard powder and flour; temper with milk.
- 3
Cook to thicken, then add cocoa butter, butter and mascarpone. Chill.
Chestnut Cream
- 1
Make crème anglaise with cream, sugar and yolks; melt in gelatin.
- 2
Mix mascarpone, pastry cream and chestnut paste.
- 3
Blend in cooled crème anglaise. Chill.
Chestnut Mixture
- 1
Blend chestnut paste, chestnut cream and water until smooth.
Assembly & Finishing
- 1
Roll dough to 2.5 mm, line molds and freeze 1 hour.
- 2
Bake at 160°C/320°F for 20 minutes.
- 3
Fill with almond cream, candied chestnuts, chestnut gel, praline and lemon gel.
- 4
Dome with chestnut cream.
- 5
Pipe chestnut strands and finish with a candied chestnut.
Comments & Reviews
Aya
9/30/2025
The chestnut strands look beautiful. I reduced the sugar slightly.
Luca
6/22/2025
Very luxurious dessert and perfect for autumn. Worth the effort.
Marie
4/10/2025
I made these for a small dinner party and they disappeared instantly!
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Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 chestnut basket
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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