Description
Creamy, delicate Mom’s Famous Cream Puffs elevate dessert artistry with their delightful French-inspired pastry charm. Delicate choux pastry shells cradle luscious vanilla cream, promising a heavenly bite that melts seamlessly on your palate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
Dairy and Cream Ingredients:
- 1 pint (473 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) whole milk
- 1 package (3.4 ounces/96 grams) instant vanilla pudding mix
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Craft the delicate choux pastry foundation by combining water, butter, vanilla extract, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil, then immediately introduce flour, stirring energetically until a cohesive dough ball forms and separates from the pan’s edges.
- Allow the dough to cool slightly, then incorporate eggs one by one, whisking thoroughly after each addition to create a smooth, glossy texture that holds its shape effortlessly.
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C) and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet. Carefully pipe or spoon dollops of pastry onto the sheet, maintaining generous spacing between each mound.
- Bake the pastry shells initially at 400F for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350F and continue baking until they transform into golden, puffy clouds with crisp exteriors.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, create a small steam-release slit on the side of each puff to prevent moisture accumulation. Transfer delicate shells to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Prepare the luscious filling by whisking heavy whipping cream, instant vanilla pudding mix, and milk until the mixture achieves a luxurious, stiff-peaked consistency.
- Once pastry shells have cooled entirely, gently slice them horizontally, creating top and bottom halves for filling.
- Generously spread or pipe the creamy filling onto the bottom shell sections, then delicately replace the top halves to complete these elegant cream puffs.
- Optionally, dust the assembled treats with a soft layer of powdered sugar for a final touch of sweetness and visual appeal.
Notes
- Ensure water and butter are fully combined before adding flour to create a perfect choux pastry base.
- Mix eggs thoroughly into the dough, watching for a smooth, glossy texture that falls slowly from the spoon when lifted.
- Avoid opening the oven during baking to prevent puffs from deflating, which can result in dense, flat pastries.
- Pipe filling just before serving to maintain the crispness of the pastry shells and prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg