Here’s a delightful recipe for a Cream Puff Cake—essentially a sheet cake version of classic cream puffs, layered with custard and whipped cream. 🍰
Ingredients
For the cake (choux base):
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ tsp salt
For the filling:
- 2 cups (480 ml) milk
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, whipped
Optional topping:
- Powdered sugar, caramel sauce, or chocolate drizzle
Instructions
1. Make the choux cake base:
- Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch pan.
- In a saucepan, bring water, butter, and salt to a boil.
- Remove from heat and stir in flour all at once. Return to low heat and cook 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture forms a smooth ball.
- Transfer dough to a bowl. Beat in eggs one at a time until smooth and glossy.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 25–30 minutes until puffed and golden. Let cool completely.
2. Prepare the custard filling:
- In a saucepan, heat milk until just simmering.
- In a bowl, whisk sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks until smooth.
- Gradually pour hot milk into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return to saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until thickened.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and let cool.
3. Assemble the cake:
- Once custard is cool, fold in whipped cream gently.
- Spread the filling over the cooled choux cake base.
4. Optional topping:
- Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with caramel or melted chocolate.
5. Chill and serve:
- Refrigerate at least 1–2 hours before slicing.
- Cut into squares and serve chilled.
Tips
- For extra richness, layer with fresh berries or sliced bananas.
- Choux cake can be made a day ahead; just keep covered at room temperature.
- Whipped cream can be stabilized with a little powdered sugar or gelatin if making in advance.
I can also give a quick no-bake cream puff cake version using store-bought puff pastry or graham crackers for a faster dessert.
Do you want me to share that version?
