Old-Fashioned Cream Puffs with Pastry Cream are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients. Airy pastry shells filled with a creamy pastry cream, topped with chocolate, maraschino cherries, and dusted with powdered sugar.
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Cream Puffs Recipe
These delicious creations come straight from my grandmother’s kitchen. We always loved her Homemade Strawberry Shortcake recipe too!
Much of my talent was handed down from my grandmothers’ and my mom. Handmade talent runs deep in my family and my parents insisted I learn how to craft everything homemade, to be self-sufficient. One of the best creations my French Canadian grandmother made was Cream Puffs with Pastry Cream. Also try French Meat Pie, Easy Blackberry Pie, Best Pecan Pie, and Chocolate Whoopie Pies.
I absolutely adored watching my grandmother, effortlessly working over her stove top whipping up hearty dinners, while fresh coffee peculates. The smells that came from her kitchen made your stomach growl.
She is one of the reasons I’m so passionate about cooking and baking whatever I can from scratch. That doesn’t mean I don’t love a dinner out. But, it brings me such joy to grown our own vegetable garden, bake from scratch, and make homemade dinners. It’s a way of life that was handed down generations, along with family heirloom recipes. One of her most cherished delights is Old Fashioned Cream Puffs with Pastry Cream.
How to make Easy Pastry Cream:
Simply combine one package of instant vanilla pudding, almond extract, and 1 cup milk. Then fold together with the whipped heavy cream. My grandmother created this egg-less version of pastry cream, so it is easier to transport during hot summer months!
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maraschino cherries(drain the maraschino cherries)
mint leaf candiescut into pieces with kitchen shears
powdered sugarfor dusting
Instructions
Cream Puffs
In a medium saucepan bring the water to a boil. Add the shortening or butter, and salt. Let the water return to a full boil and then remove from the heat.
Add the flour, stirring until the mixture forms a ball and leaves the sides of the pan.
Using an electric hand mixer on high speed, add the eggs one at a time, making sure to mix well between additions. The mixture will be very smooth and silky looking. Allow cream puff batter to cool completely.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a half sheet pan with parchment paper.
Using two large tablespoon drop the batter in about 8 to 9 scoops on the prepared baking pan. (or use a cookie scoop) Bake for 15 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and set pan on a baking rack to cool.
Pastry Cream Filling
In a large bowl add the vanilla pudding, milk, and almond extract; blend together. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in the refrigerator. When ready to fill cream puffs, add the heavy cream to a large bowl and use an electric hand mixer to whip to stiff peaks. Fold the pudding mixture and whipped cream together using a spatula.
Slice the tops off the cream puffs, removing and discarding some of the pastry with your fingers. Scoop the filling into each cream puff.
Chocolate Ganache
Create a double boiler by bringing a medium pot of water to a simmer over medium heat. Place a heatproof bowl on top of the boiling water, adding the chocolate chips, butter, heavy cream, and corn syrup to the bowl. Stir mixture together with a spatula until the chocolate is melted and combined.
Drizzle warm chocolate over top of the pastry filled cream puffs. Decorated with drained maraschino cherries and mint leaf candies. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Recipe Notes
Prepare the Cream Puffs ahead of time:You can prepare cream puffs the night before, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. They will last in the fridge for about 2 days.
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These we’re amazing!!! I made them for a big family dinner and made them a little smaller but wow!! Now my entire family thinks I’m this amazing baker who spent the entire day in the kitchen!!! So good!!
I do a pot a choux recipe from Alton Brown to do something similar every Christmas. But this seems worth trying out. I would be nervous about the pastry cream though. It always made me a bit wary and I didn’t love it all that much any way. I usually make a chocolate whipped cream for my eclairs instead. I would love to try this though.
Thanks David. My grandmother made this recipe and she was likely leery of eggs in true pastry cream at picnics, etc. This pastry cream is SO simple to make and SO delicious! I hope you’ll try it!
Silvia says
These are so soooo cute!! Pinning to make for the holidays 🙂
Jessica Robinson says
Thank you so much Silvia!
Jalynn B says
These we’re amazing!!! I made them for a big family dinner and made them a little smaller but wow!! Now my entire family thinks I’m this amazing baker who spent the entire day in the kitchen!!! So good!!
Jessica Robinson says
Jalynn,
Thanks so much!! I’m happy that you enjoyed the cream puffs!!
Jessica Robinson says
Jalynn,
I know, right? Aren’t these delicious!? So darn good!
David Elliott says
I do a pot a choux recipe from Alton Brown to do something similar every Christmas. But this seems worth trying out. I would be nervous about the pastry cream though. It always made me a bit wary and I didn’t love it all that much any way. I usually make a chocolate whipped cream for my eclairs instead. I would love to try this though.
Jessica Robinson says
Thanks David. My grandmother made this recipe and she was likely leery of eggs in true pastry cream at picnics, etc. This pastry cream is SO simple to make and SO delicious! I hope you’ll try it!
Jess says
Oh my gosh. I feel like I can taste them just looking at them. So. Hungry.
Deb Dutta says
Goodness are these like the yummiest things in the world! They look delishhhh!
Jennifer L says
Omg how yummy do these cream puffs look! I seriously want a whole plate of them. Going to give it a try and make a batch.
Passportofawanderwoman says
They look so yummy
Great presentation as well. I am drooling.
Di from Max The Unicorn says
These look delicious and they are so photogenic too! Thanks for the recipe, I’d love to give them a go 🙂
Blair Villanueva says
Your new recipe makes me feel excited to learn more about its preparation, and devour it! Thanks and I will save it 😀
Annie Cho says
You had me at cream puffs!! These look absolutely gorgeous. Your plating is on point too!
xoxo
Annie
Penny says
It cannot just be me; somethings simply taste better when they also look pretty! These are awesome examples, I already know they taste delicious!
Nisha says
oh my god…. so heavenly, I love these but I never tried baking them at home. thank you for sharing this recipe
Lofewithzg says
Omg my daughter saw the photos and she told me we should bake one too! Can you try some recipe with coconut flour next time? Thank you
Jessica Robinson says
Thanks for visiting! King Arthur Flour makes a great gluten free flour mix and you could probably substitute that in this recipe. 🙂
Lauren says
Oh my goodness! These look so yummy and beautiful too! I have always loved cream puffs! Thank you for sharing!
Ally says
Yum, do these look good! I would love to make these for someone or bring them to an even as a dessert! I’ll be pinning this for later!