Classic Cream Puffs
I can't take the credit for these — this recipe comes from my mom, who has been making these classic cream puffs for years. Every time she makes them, they are devoured within seconds. Light, airy choux pastry puffs filled with luscious whipped cream and dusted with a generous snowfall of icing sugar. Elegant enough for a dinner party, fun enough for any night of the week.
Prep time
30 min
Cook time
30 min
Serves
16–18 puffs
Ingredients
▼
Choux Pastry
- 1 cupwater
- ½ cup (1 stick)unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 tspsugar
- ¼ tspsalt
- 1 cupall-purpose flour
- 4 largeeggs, at room temperature
Whipped Cream Filling
- 2 cupsheavy whipping cream, cold
- 3 tbspicing sugar
- 1 tspvanilla extract
- to finishicing sugar, for dusting
Ingredients
Choux Pastry
- 1 cupwater
- ½ cup (1 stick)unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 tspsugar
- ¼ tspsalt
- 1 cupall-purpose flour
- 4 largeeggs, at room temperature
Whipped Cream Filling
- 2 cupsheavy whipping cream, cold
- 3 tbspicing sugar
- 1 tspvanilla extract
- to finishicing sugar, for dusting
Instructions
Make the Choux
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment.
- 2
In a medium saucepan, bring water, butter, sugar, and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously until the dough pulls away from the sides and forms a smooth ball, about 2 minutes.
- 3
Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each — the dough should be smooth, shiny, and thick.
- 4
Pipe or spoon rounded tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
- 5
Bake for 25–30 minutes until deeply golden and hollow-sounding when tapped. Do not open the oven early. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Fill & Serve
- 1
Whip the cold cream with icing sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- 2
Slice each puff in half horizontally. Pipe or spoon whipped cream onto the bottom half, then replace the top.
- 3
Dust generously with icing sugar just before serving.
Melissa's Notes
Choux puffs can be made ahead and stored unfilled at room temperature for up to a day. Fill just before serving so they stay crisp. When slicing them open, fill with whipped cream and fresh fruit such as strawberries or blueberries — or drizzle with melted chocolate for an extra indulgent touch.
Nutrition Information
Per puff — based on 18 puffs
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
Join the Nest
Get 10 free recipes — sign up for The Cozy Weeknight Dinner Plan.
Want to save this recipe? Print it out, share with a friend, or follow along on social.