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Sweet and Pillowy Cream Puffs Recipe

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cream puffs with flowers

Adapted from Good Dinner Mom.

Fluffy, sweet, and absolutely dreamy…don’t you just want to fall asleep on those clouds of whipped cream?

You guys know I love posting lightened up, healthier versions of recipes but sometimes you really just need to treat yourself. Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but certain situations call for a REAL dessert and these melt-in-your-mouth pillowy clouds of heaven fit the bill! Plus, the recipe uses ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Please don’t let the long list of directions fool you – these babies come together very easily (and surprisingly quickly) to create a beautiful summer dessert that is sure to impress. No excuses, just please go and make these now.

INGREDIENTS

For the cream puff shells:

  • 1 c water
  • 1/2 c butter (1 stick)
  • 1 c all-purpose flour
  • 4 large eggs

For the custard cream filling:

  • 3/4 c sugar
  • 1/3 c all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 2 c milk, heated to warm
  • 4 egg yolks, beaten
  • 2 t pure vanilla extract

For the fluffy whipped cream clouds:

  • 1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
  • 2 T granulated sugar
  • Pure vanilla extract, to taste

DIRECTIONS

For the cream puff shells:

  1. Place an oven rack one slot below the center and preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Set aside a regular aluminum 12-cup muffin pan* and very lightly butter it.
  3. Over medium-high heat, bring water and butter to a low boil in a medium sauce pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and then add flour, stirring well until the mixture forms into a ball.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in eggs, one at a time, beating with a spoon until dough is smooth.
  5. Beat dough an additional 10 to 15 seconds to increase volume.
  6. Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups and bake in oven 25-35 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.*
  7. Remove from oven and cool completely.
For the custard cream filling:
  1. Whisk the 4 egg yolks in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, mix together sugar, flour and salt.
  3. Stir in warm milk and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens and bubbles. Once it begins to bubble, cook one more minute while continuing to stir.
  4. Remove pan from heat and quickly whisk half of the milk mixture into the beaten egg yolks.
  5. Blend the egg yolk mixture back into the rest of the milk mixture in the saucepan. Whisk constantly until mixture begins to bubble again, then continue to cook and whisk for another 30 seconds.
  6. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Set aside, cover with plastic wrap or foil and allow to cool completely (I like to finish cooling mine in the fridge). The custard continues to thicken as it cools.
For the sweetened whipped cream:
  1. This part is easy! Freeze a metal bowl in your freezer for about 15 minutes so that it’s nice and cold. Then, add the heavy whipping cream and 2 T of sugar to the bowl. Whip it with a whisk or egg beaters and add vanilla to taste if you like!
Assembling the cream puffs:
  1. Cut off the shell tops and scoop out the moist insides of the top and bottom to make room for the filling.
  2. Add a nice dollop of the custard cream to the bottom of the puff. Top the custard with a generous amount of the whipped cream.

  3. Replace the top of the shell and loosely cover the puffs with aluminum foil.  Place your puffs in the refrigerator, chilling for at least 4 hours. You can even assemble them the night before you want to serve them, as they actually taste better with time.*

    *Note 1: Do not use a dark non-stick pan: your puffs will be much bigger with a regular silver tin pan!
    *Note 2: Like with my popovers, it’s important for the shells to be golden and crisp otherwise they may collapse and deflate. Even if they look done, I like to leave them in for a minute longer.
    *Note 3: If you’d like to transport your puffs to an event, feel free to leave them in the muffin tins. Just lightly cover them with foil and they’re ready for travel!

    Wishing you pleasantly sweet dreams of fluffy whipped cream…

    Ivi Loves Shares so share or pin!

    picture of cream puffs with flowers

About 

Demelza Young is an alumni of Northern Kentucky University. She currently enjoys volunteering her time in her local community, reviewing online content with her cat, and sharing quality recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Been eating store bought cream puffs, they are good but not as good as made from scratch like these

    • I feel you! I used to love getting those frozen cream puffs from Sam’s or Aldi. I wouldn’t even wait for them to thaw, I’d pop them in my mouth frozen! Haha

    • I would say no, they look good but taste about a thousand times better. Seriously, let them sit in the fridge even overnight and you’ll be amazed by how much tastier they get.

  3. I have never tried making cream puffs before. These look so delicious and light! Thanks for the recipe!

    • My pleasure, they really are very simple to make, I hope you enjoy them.

  4. Yummm. I usually buy the frozen Creme puffs at Sam’s Club. Didn’t realize they were that easy to make!

    • YES. Those were some of my favorite treats as a little girl! Little bite-sized frozen morsels of delight. Aldi makes some great ones, too, just avoid the eclair version because they’re nowhere near as good as the puffs.

  5. This sounds fantastic! Ive never made my own, but our neighbor used to make them for us growing up. Its definitely worth a try!

    • It sounds like you had an amazing neighbor! Maybe you can pay it forward now that you have the recipe. 😊

    • I’m glad you think so! Super tasty, if I do say so myself. My dad claims they cure his headaches but I think he just wants a never-ending supply, haha.

  7. I’ve bought these from a store, but never tried to make them myself!! They make great party or shower finger foods or just dessert for at home!! I need to try this recipe!

    • It’s kind of funny because you can impress all your friends but secretly bask in the knowledge that it took no time to make them. If you want to make them look even fancier just dip the shells in powdered sugar.

  8. This is the new big trend in desserts and it’s easy to see why! This flavor combination reminds me of bite-sized cannolis. My family and I even eat them for breakfast!

    • Oh, really? Thanks for the tip about the trends, maybe I’ll have to see what similar desserts are out there to play around with. I’ve actually never tried cannolis but they sure look cute!

  10. These do look so good! This brings back memories one of the first things I ever made were cream puffs as a kid!

  11. WOW! These look so yummy. I have been looking for a good recipe and I found it. Thanks so much, i will be making these this weekend.

  12. These sound so good. I love cream puffs. I need to give this recipe a try soon

  13. (Sweet and Pillowy Cream Puffs Recipe) I have a friend that makes these for when we have special occasion get together at our local VFW club. They are so darn good too, (but-sinful)

  14. I have never tried making cream puffs before, but this does not look too difficult! It is one of my favorite things to get a the bakery.

  15. They look very good and thanks for all the extra hints on making them. I would love to serve them at a baby shower I am hosting next month.

  22. I remember my grandmother making something similar to this. Now curiosity has the best of me and I will have to make this to see if I am right. I hope I am.

  24. My mother used to make cream puffs every Christmas eve. I will have to try out this recipe they look awesome!

  25. I have never made cream puffs before because I have thought that they were way too hard! I bet they tastes amazing fresh though, I think I may have to try it! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. 🙂

  26. The cream puffs recipe looks easy enough for me to make. I won’t have to go out and buy a lot of stuff. I am going to try to make them soon.

    • That’s one of the things I love about this recipe! I really hope you enjoy them, Patty – they’re not only easy, but so fun to make. 🙂

  27. These look good – I like the custard addition to them. I used to buy them at Walmart out of a white box and sit and eat them till I found out how easy they are. I’m going to try your recipe today!

    Mishelle

    • I know exactly which ones you’re talking about and those are so addictive! Let me know how you like the recipe. 🙂

  29. I absolutely love cream puffs and it’s been forever since I’ve made them! Thanks for the reminder and the yummy recipe! I’ll be making these soon!

  30. Thank you for the yummy recipe! I have not made these for years but will definitely make them now .