4.5 from 102 votes
Cream Puffs
Cream puffs are made from a choux pastry (aka pâte à choux) which is just a light pastry dough made with flour, eggs, butter, and water. The puffed up hollow shells are perfect for filling with pastry cream or whipped cream for an easy, elegant dessert!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 203 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
French
Ingredients
Cream Puff Shells
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
Filling
- 1 recipe [vanilla pastry cream]
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Additional powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, sugar, and salt over medium-high heat.
- Cook until the butter is melted, then bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.
- Add the flour all at once and stir with a sturdy wooden spoon until everything comes together in a clump that is like a thick paste that cleans the sides of the pan.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the eggs, one at a time. The mixture may seem to break or curdle at first, but keep stirring and it will come back together by the time you add the last egg. Let the choux pastry cool for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Fill a piping bag with a large round tip with the choux pastry and pipe 12 large puffs, each using about 1/4 cup of the choux pastry, onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Dab your finger in water and press down any points on top.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until golden brown. Turn off the oven and crack open the oven door to let the cream puffs cool down slowly for 10 minutes before removing from the oven. This prevents them from deflating.
- Beat the cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla, then fold into the pastry cream. Transfer the filling to a piping bag fitted with a large decorative tip.
- Split each shell down the middle with a serrated knife, then fill with the pastry cream filling. Top with the other half of the shell and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Deborah's Filling: Beat 3 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a medium bowl. In another bowl, beat 1 cup whipping cream until soft peaks form, then fold this into the cream cheese mixture. Use this to fill the cream puff shells, along with your favorite fruit like sliced strawberries or raspberries.
Nutrition Information
Calories
203kcal
(10%)
Carbohydrates
10g
(3%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
17g
(26%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
102mg
(34%)
Sodium
146mg
(6%)
Potassium
49mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
607IU
(12%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
26mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 203
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 203kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 102mg | 34% |
| Sodium | 146mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 49mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 607IU | 12% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 26mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.