Maple Croquembouche - Maple from Canada

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 8 eggs, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup maple syrup (preferably dark syrup for its robust flavor)
• 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 5 egg yolks, at room temperature
• 2 cups hot milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cup maple syrup