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    Home » Recipes » Holiday Baking » Cream Puffs Recipe

    Published: Dec 8, 2018 · Modified: Oct 6, 2021 by Jessica Robinson · This post may contain affiliate links

    Cream Puffs Recipe

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    cream puffs topped with chocolate ganache, maraschino cherries, and mint leaf candies

    Cream Puffs are a classic French dessert of light and delicate pastry shells filled with pastry cream, topped with chocolate ganache, maraschino cherries, and dusted with powdered sugar.

    This cream puff recipe comes from my grandmother’s kitchen and has the most delicious and easy to make filling. Old-fashioned cream puffs are the perfect holiday dessert!

    Cream puffs with pastry cream, chocolate ganache, maraschino cherries, green leaf candies dusted with powdered sugar.

    Cream puffs which are an iconic French pastry readily found at French bakeries can easily be replicated at home in about an hour. The choux pastry dough is easy to make with a few simple and expensive ingredients.

    Ready to create something truly amazing for the holidays? And our holidays would not be complete without this amazing holiday dessert!

    My grandma was amazing in the kitchen! This cream puff recipe starts with my grandmother’s recipe for choux pastry and filled with simple pastry cream. Choux pastry or pâté à choux is easy to make!

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    Why this recipe works

    • Easy to make dessert. Takes only minutes combine the ingredients!
    • Made with simple ingredients, readily available in your local grocery store.
    • Make ahead of time – Make the cream puffs and filling the night before to save time!
    • Perfect homemade dessert – This cream puff recipe is the perfect holiday dessert or any occasion.

    What you’ll need

    • Water
    • All-purpose flour
    • Eggs – Used as a leavening agent help the pastries rise.
    • Vanilla instant pudding – Used for the pasty filling folded together with the whipping cream.
    • Whole milk – Added to the instant pudding.
    • Almond extract – Adds a wonderful flavor to the pudding. Grandma insisted on it!
    • Heavy whipping cream – Whipped up to stiff peaks and folded with the chilled instant pudding mixture.
    Cream puffs topped with chocolate ganache, maraschino cherries, mint candies, powdered sugar.

    How to make Choux Pastry for Cream Puffs

    With just 5-ingredients, you’ll have choux pastry- water, butter (or shortening), salt, flour and eggs. It’s so simple to make this French pastry dough!

    (Full directions and ingredients in the recipe below!)

    Step 1: In a medium saucepan bring the water to a boil.

    Step 2: Add the salt and butter or shortening.

    Step 3: Add the flour, stirring until the mixture forms a ball and leaves the sides of the pan.

    Step 4: Add the eggs, one at a time using an electric hand mixer.

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    How to make Cream Puff Filling

    My grandmother created this egg-less version of pastry cream, so it is easier to transport during hot summer months!

    Two bowls, one with whipped cream, one with vanilla pudding on butcher block.

    Step 1: Combine one package of instant vanilla pudding, almond extract and milk.

    Step 2: Fold together with the whipped heavy cream.

    Four cream puffs with chocolate ganache, maraschino cherries and powdered sugar.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you make cream puffs ahead of time?

    Prepare the cream puffs the night before your picnic. Place them on a half sheet pan, cover loosely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Dust them with powdered sugar right before serving.

    What is the difference between cream puffs and eclairs?

    Besides the shape. The main difference between a cream puff, which is round, and an éclair, which is oval, is that cream puffs often have a whipped cream filling and just dusted with powdered sugar instead of chocolate. Eclairs often have a custard filling and have a frosted chocolate topping.

    Cream puffs with pastry cream, chocolate ganache, maraschino cherries, green mint candies, powdered sugar.

    More Dessert Recipes

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    4.90 from 19 votes
    Cream puffs pastry cream and chocolate ganache, maraschino cherries and powdered sugar.
    Print Rate this Recipe

    Cream Puffs

    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time45 mins
    Total Time1 hr 5 mins
    Cream Puffs are a classic French dessert of pastry shells filled with pastry cream
    Course: Desserts
    Cuisine: American, French
    Servings: 8 cream puffs
    Calories: 556kcal
    Author: Jessica Robinson

    Ingredients

    Choux Pastry

    • 1 cup water
    • ½ cup vegetable shortening or butter
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 4 large eggs room temperature

    Pastry Cream

    • 1 (3.4 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding
    • 1 cup whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    • 1 pint heavy whipping cream

    Chocolate Ganache

    • ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
    • 2 teaspoons corn syrup
    • maraschino cherries (drain the maraschino cherries)
    • mint leaf candies cut into pieces with kitchen shears
    • powdered sugar for dusting

    Instructions

    Choux Pastry

    • 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 or pastry bag to pipe cream puffs onto sheet pan.)
    • 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

    • 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 simmering 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.
    • As soon as this mixture starts to melt, turn the heat off and stir until smooth.

    Cream Puffs

    • Once cream puffs are cooled, fill them with pastry filling.
    • Cut tops off of the cream puffs using a sharp knife.
    • Either spoon pastry cream filling with a large spoon or pipe it inside of cream puffs using a pastry bag.
    • Cover pastry cream with cream puffs tops.
    • Drizzle warm chocolate over top of the pastry filled cream puffs. Decorated with drained maraschino cherries and mint leaf candies. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
    • Serve immediately or refrigerate.

    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.
    Dust them with powdered sugar right before serving!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 556kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 176mg | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1145IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @AFarmgirlsKitchen or tag #afarmgirlskitchen!

    Disclosure: As an Affiliate Marketer, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click a product affiliate link on A Farmgirl’s Kitchen and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you!  I own every cooking product I recommend and love how they perform.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Connie says

      September 01, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      3 stars
      Why do the puffs flop as soon as you take them out of the oven?
      They then look like pancakes, and it makes it difficult to cut open and fill.

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        September 03, 2022 at 8:46 pm

        That should not happen. It’s possible the temperature of your oven is off or you need to cook them slightly more. You can also try adding another egg to get them to puff up better. Remember to use fresh ingredients and always use large or extra large eggs in this recipe.

        Reply
    2. Silvia says

      December 04, 2018 at 10:06 pm

      5 stars
      These are so soooo cute!! Pinning to make for the holidays 🙂

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        December 06, 2018 at 4:54 pm

        Thank you so much Silvia!

        Reply
    3. Jalynn B says

      December 02, 2018 at 5:31 am

      5 stars
      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!!

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        December 02, 2018 at 8:20 pm

        Jalynn,
        Thanks so much!! I’m happy that you enjoyed the cream puffs!!

        Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        January 07, 2019 at 8:54 pm

        Jalynn,
        I know, right? Aren’t these delicious!? So darn good!

        Reply
    4. Deb Dutta says

      May 30, 2018 at 10:38 pm

      Goodness are these like the yummiest things in the world! They look delishhhh!

      Reply
    5. Jennifer L says

      May 30, 2018 at 8:37 am

      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.

      Reply
    6. Passportofawanderwoman says

      May 30, 2018 at 5:17 am

      They look so yummy
      Great presentation as well. I am drooling.

      Reply
    7. Di from Max The Unicorn says

      May 30, 2018 at 3:30 am

      5 stars
      These look delicious and they are so photogenic too! Thanks for the recipe, I’d love to give them a go 🙂

      Reply
    8. Blair Villanueva says

      May 30, 2018 at 3:06 am

      5 stars
      Your new recipe makes me feel excited to learn more about its preparation, and devour it! Thanks and I will save it 😀

      Reply
    9. Annie Cho says

      May 30, 2018 at 1:58 am

      You had me at cream puffs!! These look absolutely gorgeous. Your plating is on point too!
      xoxo
      Annie

      Reply
    10. Penny says

      May 30, 2018 at 1:57 am

      5 stars
      It cannot just be me; somethings simply taste better when they also look pretty! These are awesome examples, I already know they taste delicious!

      Reply
    11. Nisha says

      May 30, 2018 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      oh my god…. so heavenly, I love these but I never tried baking them at home. thank you for sharing this recipe

      Reply
    12. Lofewithzg says

      May 30, 2018 at 12:06 am

      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

      Reply
      • Jessica Robinson says

        May 30, 2018 at 12:17 am

        Thanks for visiting! King Arthur Flour makes a great gluten free flour mix and you could probably substitute that in this recipe. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Ally says

      May 29, 2018 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
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    Meals are meant to be shared around the dinner table. My recipes are farm-inspired with a modern twist for active families. All of my recipes use simple and readily available ingredients. Read more →

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