Best 10 Basic Cream Puffs Recipes

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Are you craving a light, airy treat that tantalizes your taste buds? Look no further than the classic cream puff! These delicate pastries are filled with a luscious cream filling and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar. From simple vanilla to decadent chocolate, the possibilities for fillings are endless. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this article will guide you through the steps of creating the perfect cream puffs at home. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to embark on a delightful baking journey.

Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!

SIMPLE AND EASY CREAM PUFFS



Simple and Easy Cream Puffs image

Don't be afraid to make Cream Puffs! These little treats are so easy to make and taste as good, if not better than store bought ones.

Provided by Jo-Anna Rooney

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
After they have cooled completely you can put the filling of your choice.
For these I just forced a tip and piped in whipped cream. Then I froze ours because we love the cream puffs at Costco that you eat slightly frozen.

Steps:

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  • Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan.
  • Add the butter to the water and stir until it is melted.
  • Add the flour and salt all at once to the water mix.
  • Stir until a ball is formed.
  • Remove from heat, and add 1 egg. Beat. Let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Add the remaining eggs 1 at a time, and beat after each addition.
  • Let stand for 10 minutes.

CLASSIC CREAM PUFFS



Classic Cream Puffs image

The foundation of the perfect cream puff is light, airy pâte à choux, which is made with eggs, flour, and butter. Once the cream puffs are shaped and baked, they're filled with a rich homemade pastry cream.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Pie & Tarts Recipes

Yield Makes about 28

Number Of Ingredients 6

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
5 large eggs
No-Fuss Pastry Cream

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine butter, sugar, salt and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and quickly stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Continue to stir until a film forms on the bottom of the pan.
  • Remove from heat and transfer contents to a bowl to cool slightly, about 3 minutes. Add 4 eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously to entirely incorporate egg after each addition.
  • For the egg wash, whisk together the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water. Set aside.
  • Transfer the pate a choux to a large pastry bag fitted with a 5/8-inch plain tip. Pipe 1-1/2-inch rounds onto each prepared pan. Gently smooth the pointed peaks with a moistened finger, rounding tops to ensure even rising. Brush tops with reserved egg wash. Bake until puffs rise and are golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Puffs can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 day.
  • Transfer pastry cream to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/8-inch plain round tip. Insert the tip into the opening of each pastry, and pipe to fill with pastry cream. Serve immediately.

BASIC CREAM PUFFS



Basic Cream Puffs image

This absolutely classic dessert starts with a Pâte à Choux made from flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. The mixture is piped and baked into individual cream puffs, then the real sweetness starts. Lightened pastry cream fills each puff, which are topped with icing or powdered sugar and nuts.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes

Yield Makes 90

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 recipe Pastry Cream for Eclairs
1 recipe Pate a Choux
1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
Crystal sanding sugar (optional)
Chopped nuts (optional)
Oil, for plastic wrap
3/4 cup heavy cream
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon water
1 drop pink food coloring
Silver dragees, for decorating

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees with a rack in the center. Line two unrimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats.
  • Make Pastry Cream, and refrigerate. Make Pate a Choux batter. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a coupler or 1/2-inch (Ateco #806) tip, and pipe 1-inch rounds onto baking sheets at 2-inch intervals. Using fingers, rub egg wash over entire top, and flatten tips, being careful not to let it drip onto the surrounding baking sheet (it will inhibit rising). Sprinkle with crystal sanding sugar or chopped nuts, if desired.
  • Cover one sheet with lightly oiled plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator. Transfer the other to the oven. Bake 10 minutes; reduce oven heat to 350 degrees. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until puffs are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to let cool slightly. Raise heat back to 425 degrees, and repeat process for remaining batch.
  • Whip heavy cream to stiff peaks in a small bowl. Stir pastry cream to soften. Add whipped cream to pastry cream in two batches; stir to combine after each. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a coupler and filling tip (Ateco #230). Insert tip into the underside of each cream puff, and fill. Cool completely before dusting with confectioners' sugar or applying icing.
  • To make icing, combine sugar, butter, and water in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth. Add the food coloring a little at a time until desired color is reached. Dip the top of cooled cream puffs into icing; let excess drip off before turning over. Let set a few minutes; decorate with a dragee. Serve, or store up to 2 hours in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

CREAM PUFFS I



Cream Puffs I image

Puff pastry with a custard cream filling. Garnish with melted chocolate or a dusting of confectioners' sugar.

Provided by MYFBIL

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     French

Time 1h30m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 11

½ cup white sugar
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup shortening
1 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
4 eggs

Steps:

  • For the custard: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 5 tablespoons flour and a pinch of salt. Stir in milk, a little at a time, until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 60 seconds, then pour a small amount of hot liquid into the 2 egg yolks, and stir. Then return now heated egg yolks to saucepan and stir, over heat, until mixture starts to bubble again. Remove from heat, add vanilla. Cover and chill in refrigerator.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • For the pastry: In a medium saucepan, combine shortening and water and bring to a boil. Sift together 1 cup flour and a pinch of salt and pour all at once into boiling mixture. Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat, and add eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet, or pipe into desired shape.
  • Bake 10 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and bake 25 minutes more, or until golden. Cool completely, split, fill with custard, and replace tops.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 255 calories, Carbohydrate 25.1 g, Cholesterol 120.4 mg, Fat 14.4 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 6.4 g, SaturatedFat 4.1 g, Sodium 81.2 mg, Sugar 12.5 g

CREAM PUFFS



Cream Puffs image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     dessert

Time 1h5m

Yield 30 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup water
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 to 4 eggs, plus 1 egg for egg wash
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

  • To make the cream puffs: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt, and granulated sugar to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. When it boils, immediately take the pan off the heat. Stirring with a wooden spoon, add all the flour at once and stir hard until all the flour is incorporated, 30 to 60 seconds. Return the pan to the heat and cook, stirring, 30 seconds to evaporate some of the moisture.
  • Scrape the mixture into a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix at medium speed. With the mixer running, and working 1 egg at a time, add 3 of the eggs, stopping after each addition to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix until the dough is smooth and glossy and the eggs are completely incorporated. The dough should be thick, but should fall slowly and steadily from the beaters when you lift them out of the bowl. If the dough is still clinging to the beaters, add the remaining egg and mix until incorporated.
  • Using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip, pipe the dough onto the baking sheet, in 2-inch diameter rounds or balls. Whisk the remaining egg with 1 1/2 teaspoons water. Brush the surface of the rounds with the egg wash to knock down the points (you may not use all the egg wash). Bake 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and bake until puffed up, and light golden brown, about 20 minutes more. Try not to open the oven door too often during the baking. Let cool on the baking sheet.
  • To fill the cream puffs, place a pastry tip on your finger and poke a whole in the bottom of each puff. Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla until stiff. Pipe whipped cream into each cream puff and chill until ready to serve, no more than 4 hours.
  • Notes about the recipe: The moisture in the eggs turns to steam and puffs the batter to try to release itself. You can fill them with anything.

CREAM PUFFS



Cream Puffs image

An easy and impressive way to make a great dessert. Whip them up and watch them disappear!

Provided by Shellie Wendel

Categories     Desserts

Time 55m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
½ cup butter
1 cup water
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs

Steps:

  • Mix together vanilla instant pudding mix, cream and milk. Cover and refrigerate to set.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • In a large pot, bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and salt until the mixture forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon or stand mixer, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Centers should be dry.
  • When the shells are cool, either split and fill them with the pudding mixture, or use a pastry bag to pipe the pudding into the shells.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 189.7 calories, Carbohydrate 15.2 g, Cholesterol 76.9 mg, Fat 13.3 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Sodium 230.6 mg, Sugar 8 g

CREAM PUFFS



Cream Puffs image

These versatile and tender pastry puffs are stuffed with a traditional cream filling. We also have many other tempting filler ideas for you.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h55m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup water
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1 package (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups whipping cream
Powdered sugar
2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup granulated or powdered sugar
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
5 or 6 drops red or green food color

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 400°F. In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, heat water and butter to rolling boil. Stir in flour; reduce heat to low. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat. Beat in eggs, all at once; continue beating until smooth.
  • On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool away from draft, about 30 minutes.
  • Make one of the fillings (directions below). Cut off top third of each puff and pull out any strands of soft dough. Fill puffs with filling; replace tops. Cover; refrigerate until serving. Store covered in refrigerator. Eggnog Fluff Filling: In large bowl, beat pudding mix, milk, rum extract, nutmeg and ginger with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Add whipping cream; beat on high speed 1 to 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Fill puffs. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 3 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar or brush tops with light corn syrup and sprinkle with colored sugar or nonpareils. Peppermint Whipped Cream Filling: In large bowl, beat ingredients with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fill puffs. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 370, Carbohydrate 26 g, Cholesterol 165 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 6 g, SaturatedFat 16 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 260 mg

CREAM PUFF SHELLS



Cream Puff Shells image

Talk about convenience! Just one easy batch of this mouthwatering recipe from our Test Kitchen yields 16 buttery cream puff shells that freeze beautifully for up to 3 months-and that's just about the whole summer! They thaw in minutes and taste as yummy as the day you baked them...we promise!

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 50m

Yield 16 cream puff shells.

Number Of Ingredients 7

1-1/4 cups water
3/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
5 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 egg yolk

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. , Drop by 2 rounded tablespoonfuls 3 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. In a small bowl, whisk the milk and egg yolk; brush over puffs. Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside. Discard soft dough from inside. Cool puffs. Freeze for up to 3 months., To use frozen cream puff shells: Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before filling.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 139 calories, Fat 11g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 103mg cholesterol, Sodium 145mg sodium, Carbohydrate 8g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 3g protein.

EASY CREAM PUFFS WITH VANILLA FILLING



Easy Cream Puffs With Vanilla Filling image

Every time my family has a get together, my Aunt Bev is in charge of bringing the cream puffs. No matter how many times I've asked her for the recipe, I continue to lose it. I figured posting it here would keep it at hand forever. Don't let the steps involved trick you--these will be the easiest (and most delicious!) puffs you'll ever try!

Provided by Battle in Seattle

Categories     Dessert

Time 50m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1 (3 1/2 ounce) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream, well chilled
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons hot water

Steps:

  • For the puffs: Preheat oven to 400.
  • Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a medium sized saucepan. Turn heat down to low, and stir in flour with wooden spoon. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball.
  • Remove from heat, and either place mixture into stand mixer or have a hand mixer ready. Add eggs all at one time, and beat everything together until smooth and shiny.
  • Drop dough by scant 1/4 cup 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes until puffed and golden brown. (Do not pull out too early or they will "fall." It is better to slightly overbake than to underbake!).
  • Remove from oven, and cool to room temperature.
  • For the filling: While the puffs are baking, in a medium to large mixer bowl, blend pudding with milk until all lumps are gone on low speed.
  • Add whipping cream, and beat on medium speed for two minutes or until soft to semi-firm peaks form. Refrigerate mixture until puffs are ready to be filled.
  • For the icing: Melt chocolate and butter over low heat in small saucepan. Remove from heat; stir in confectioner's sugar and about 2 tablespoons of hot water (more or less). Beat until smooth. Consistency should be able to "drizzle.".
  • Assembly: Either cut tops off completely, or cut to the back to leave a "hinge." Fill puffs with pudding mix, replace tops, then drizzle with chocolate icing. Refrigerate until serving time. Best served day of.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 369.6, Fat 27.1, SaturatedFat 16.4, Cholesterol 150.6, Sodium 226.6, Carbohydrate 28.2, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 17.5, Protein 5

EASY 'CREAM PUFFS'



Easy 'Cream Puffs' image

Prepare our Easy 'Cream Puffs' in just 5 minutes! Fill croissants with vanilla pudding and drizzle chocolate on top to make delicious Easy 'Cream Puffs.'

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 10m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1-1/2 cups cold milk
8 mini croissants (3-1/2 inch), split
2 oz. BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Steps:

  • Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. Refrigerate 5 min.
  • Fill croissants with pudding. Drizzle with chocolate.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 330, Fat 15 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Sodium 460 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 7 g

Tips:

  • Mise en Place: Before you start, prep all your ingredients and tools. This will help the baking process go smoothly.
  • Use the Right Ingredients: High-quality ingredients make a big difference. Use real butter, not margarine, and fresh eggs.
  • Don't Overmix the Dough: Overmixing can make the cream puffs tough. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
  • Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough before baking helps the cream puffs rise higher and puff up more.
  • Preheat the Oven: Make sure your oven is fully preheated before baking the cream puffs. This will help them rise evenly.
  • Don't Open the Oven Door: During baking, don't open the oven door. This can cause the cream puffs to deflate.
  • Let the Cream Puffs Cool: Before filling the cream puffs, let them cool completely. This will help prevent the filling from melting.
  • Use a Good Quality Piping Bag: A good quality piping bag will help you create smooth, even fillings.
  • Be Patient: Cream puffs take time and patience. Don't rush the process, or you'll end up with less-than-perfect results.

Conclusion:

Cream puffs are a delicious and versatile pastry that can be enjoyed in many different ways. With a little practice, you can easily master the art of making cream puffs at home. Follow these tips and you'll be able to create light, airy cream puffs with a crisp shell and creamy filling that will impress your friends and family.

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