Pâte à Choux

Catherine de Medici’s chef created the first version of choux pastry in around 1540. Originally it was known as pâte à panterelli after the chef. Later it became known as pâte à popelini, then pâte à popelín. Popelins were cakes made in the Middle Ages in the shape of woman’s breasts. A pâtissier called Avice developed the paste during the 18th century and created choux buns. Marie-Antoine Carême went on to perfect the recipe in the 19th century and that is what we know