The festive season is always a great excuse to indulge your sweet tooth, and this time of year poses the perfect opportunity to bring a real showstopper to the Christmas table.  

For Suellen’s family, that showstopper is Croquembouche, an impressive tower of cream puffs bound together with spun sugar that is popular at weddings in France and Italy.  

What began as a birthday treat at a local French café has become a cherished Christmas tradition for Suellen and her 17-year-old twin granddaughters, Ellie and Sadie. Every year, the trio gather in Suellen’s apartment at William Sanders Village to cook this festive desert - a holiday highlight they all treasure. 

“It was Sadie’s idea to try making croquembouche, when she was about eight,” says Suellen. “It was a bit of a disaster, so we put the choux pastry in a bowl, added marshmallows and other treats and we called it Sadie’s Mess! It tasted lovely though!” 

The dessert was such a hit that it’s become a staple for birthdays and Christmas. And over the years, the cooking technique has been perfected.  

“It’s gradually matured, and the girls have become very good cooks,” says Suellen. “Their mum Andrea is also an excellent cook – well, she’s learned from the best of course,” she laughs, recalling memories of teaching her daughter to cook. 

At a recent family gathering, Ellie and Sadie got creative with fillings like custard, mascarpone, cinnamon, and even melted ginger and mandarin chocolate. 

“It was a case of ‘just add more for taste!’” Suellen laughs. 

Old and new traditions 

Suellen’s special tradition with her granddaughters is not the only Christmas tradition she enjoys.  

“On Christmas morning, I do love to have a little bubbles and Christmas panettone and a cup of coffee,” she says.  

Then she’ll be heading to her son’s place just down the road in Devonport for the Christmas lunch, where Suellen says there will be some lovely whitebait and scallops to complement the traditional ham. 

There are 12 of them gathering together and Suellen says she’s looking forward to some new traditions being introduced as the family welcomes new members. 

“Because there’s 12 of us, we’re doing Secret Santa for the first time. But the constant is always a Christmas tree and lots of lovely things to eat!” 

A standout favourite? The Croquembouche, of course. 

Connections with family and newfound friends 

Since moving into William Sanders Village four years ago, Suellen has created even more new traditions with her friends in the village, especially those in her apartment building. 

“We’ve already had our Christmas drinks down in the lounge – you should have seen the food, it was amazing, and it all went! 

“Then on Boxing Day there will probably be six to eight people here at my place and we’ll either do bring a plate, or we’ll throw something on the bbq.” 

Suellen says she entertains a couple of times a month, or she meets friends at their apartments or gathers with them in the village lounge. 

“That’s the secret to village life I think, entertain, entertain, entertain,” she laughs. “There’s no need to drive anywhere, and friends are just a few steps away, it’s lots of fun!” 

And there’s also plenty of time for adventure – in the New Year, Suellen is heading away on a two-week cruise up the Australian coast on the Queen Elizabeth with another couple from the village. 

Suellen says being able to lock up her apartment, knowing it’ll be safe and secure while she’s away, is really the cherry on top! 

Speaking of cherries, any seasonal fruits can be used to decorate the Croquembouche, using a creamy mixture both in the choux balls and to bind them together when building the tower.  

Suellen says: “Get the children involved, it’s a lot of fun. If you’re really game, just leave the decorating to them. You can use strawberries, raspberries, flowers, whatever you like in between each pastry, or meringues or even little Christmas tarts.” 

Croquembouche recipe: