Here’s a reliable and fairly simple cream puffs recipe that gives light, airy shells with a creamy filling:
Ingredients
For the pastry (Choux pastry)
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
For the filling (Pastry cream or whipped cream)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
(Optional: you can also use custard or pudding for the filling.)
For the topping (optional)
- Powdered sugar or melted chocolate
Instructions
1. Make the choux pastry
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar, and salt. Heat until butter melts and mixture comes to a boil.
- Remove from heat, add flour all at once, and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Let the dough cool 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until smooth and glossy.
2. Shape and bake
- Using a spoon or piping bag, drop or pipe small mounds (about 2 inches) onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake 15 minutes at 425°F (220°C), then reduce oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake another 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and poke a small hole in each puff to let steam escape. Cool completely on a wire rack.
3. Prepare the filling
- In a bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
4. Fill the puffs
- Cut the cooled puffs in half horizontally or poke a hole in the bottom.
- Spoon or pipe whipped cream into each puff.
5. Finish
- Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for a few hours.
✅ Tips:
- Don’t open the oven during the first 15 minutes of baking, or the puffs may collapse.
- You can make the cream filling in advance, but fill the puffs just before serving to keep them crisp.
If you want, I can also give a shortcut version with just 3 ingredients that still tastes amazing—perfect if you want them fast. Do you want me to do that?
