Marrie You need 4 min read Post on Feb 04, 2025
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Cream Puff Recipe: A Delightfully Light and Airy Treat
Cream puffs, also known as profiteroles or choux à la crème, are a classic pastry beloved for their light and airy texture, crisp shell, and delightful creamy filling. This recipe will guide you through creating these delectable treats from scratch, resulting in a batch of irresistible cream puffs perfect for any occasion.
Understanding the Choux Pastry
The foundation of a perfect cream puff lies in mastering the choux pastry. This unique dough, cooked in a specific way, creates the signature hollow interior that allows for generous filling. Here’s what makes it work:
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The Roux: The initial cooking of butter, water, and flour creates a thick, paste-like roux. This is crucial for the structure of the puff. It’s essential to cook this roux until it forms a ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan.
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The Eggs: Adding the eggs one at a time, while mixing vigorously, incorporates air into the dough. This air is key to the puffing action in the oven. The dough should be smooth and glossy, with a slightly sticky consistency. Don't overmix after adding the eggs; just until fully incorporated.
Ingredients for the Cream Puffs:
For the Choux Pastry:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
For the Pastry Cream:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Step-by-Step Cream Puff Recipe:
Making the Choux Pastry:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the roux: In a medium saucepan, combine butter, water, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the flour: Reduce heat to low and add the flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or spatula until a smooth dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the pan. This is crucial for a good texture.
- Add the eggs: Remove the pan from heat. Add eggs one at a time, mixing vigorously until each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. The dough should be smooth and glossy.
- Pipe the puffs: Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (about 1 inch). Pipe 2-inch mounds onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the puffs are puffed and golden brown. Do not open the oven door during baking! This will cause them to deflate.
- Cool: Let the cream puffs cool completely on a wire rack before filling.
Making the Pastry Cream:
- Whisk together: In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
- Temper the yolks: In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks. Slowly whisk a few tablespoons of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks to temper them, preventing the yolks from scrambling.
- Combine and cook: Pour the tempered egg yolk mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a simmer. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat: Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and butter.
- Cool: Pour the pastry cream into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface (to prevent a skin from forming), and refrigerate until completely cooled.
Filling and Serving the Cream Puffs:
- Fill the puffs: Once the cream puffs are completely cool, use a small knife or piping bag to create a hole in the bottom or side of each puff.
- Fill with pastry cream: Fill each puff generously with the chilled pastry cream.
- Optional toppings: Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with chocolate sauce, or top with fresh fruit.
Tips for Success:
- Don't overmix the choux pastry: Overmixing will result in tough cream puffs.
- Make sure the eggs are at room temperature: This helps them incorporate better into the dough.
- Don't open the oven door during baking: This will cause the puffs to deflate.
- Cool completely before filling: Filling warm cream puffs will result in a soggy pastry.
Enjoy your homemade cream puffs! They are best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. These delightful treats are perfect for parties, desserts, or simply a sweet treat any time.
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