Classic Cream Puffs Recipe

Master this classic cream puffs recipe for light, airy French pastries filled with silky vanilla cream. Perfect for special occasions or weekend baking projects!

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 25

Cooling: 1

Total Time: 1 55

Servings: cream puffs

Calories: 190kcal

Cost: $10

Equipment

1 Medium saucepan For heating milk and making choux pastry
1 Wooden spoon or silicone spatula For mixing dough
1 Stand mixer or hand mixer For beating eggs into dough
1 Pastry bag with round tips For piping dough and filling puffs
2 Baking sheets Lined with parchment paper
1 Wire cooling rack For cooling puffs

Ingredients

Choux Pastry

1 cup water
½ cup unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs room temperature

Vanilla Pastry Cream

2 cups whole milk
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
4 large egg yolks
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

For Garnish

Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
Heat water, butter, and salt in a saucepan until boiling.
Remove from heat and stir in flour until dough forms a ball.
Return to heat, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes.
Transfer dough to a mixing bowl and cool for 5 minutes.
Beat in eggs one at a time until dough is smooth and shiny.
Pipe 1.5-inch rounds onto baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Do not open the oven.
Pierce puffs with a small knife to release steam and cool on a wire rack.
Heat milk until steaming for pastry cream.
Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks together.
Slowly whisk hot milk into egg mixture, then return to saucepan.
Cook until thickened, then stir in butter, vanilla, and salt.
Strain and chill pastry cream until cold.
Cut cooled puffs in half and fill with chilled pastry cream.
Replace tops and dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

Ensure eggs are room temperature
Don't open oven while baking
Cool completely before filling
Best served same day

Nutrition