MOM’S FAMOUS CREAM PUFFS –

Here’s a recipe for Mom’s Famous Cream Puffs, a deliciously light and flaky pastry filled with a creamy, sweet filling. Perfect for special occasions or whenever you’re craving a sweet treat!

Mom’s Famous Cream Puffs

Ingredients:

For the Cream Puff Pastry:

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs

For the Cream Filling:

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Glaze (Optional):

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons milk or water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Making the Cream Puff Pastry:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the dough: In a medium saucepan, combine the water and butter. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, allowing the butter to melt completely. Once the butter has melted and the water is simmering, add the flour and salt all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a dough ball. This will take about 1-2 minutes.
3. Add the eggs: Remove the pan from heat and let the dough cool for 2-3 minutes. Then, one egg at a time, beat in each egg with a hand mixer or a wooden spoon. After each egg, the dough will look slightly separated, but keep mixing until it becomes smooth and glossy.
4. Shape the puffs: Use a spoon or a pastry bag to form 12-16 small mounds of dough on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. You can smooth them with a wet finger for a more uniform look if desired.
5. Bake the puffs: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the puffs are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Do not open the oven door during the first 20 minutes of baking to prevent them from deflating.
6. Cool the puffs: Once they are done, remove the puffs from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.

Making the Cream Filling:

1. Whip the cream: In a large bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
2. Fill the puffs: Once the cream puffs have cooled completely, carefully slice them in half. Pipe or spoon the whipped cream filling onto the bottom half of each puff. Place the tops back on.

Optional Glaze:

1. Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk or water, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cream puffs for a shiny finish.
2. Serve: Once glazed, allow the puffs to sit for a few minutes to set the glaze, then serve and enjoy!

Tips:

• If you prefer a different filling, you can substitute the whipped cream with pastry cream or custard for a richer, more traditional filling.
• Make sure the cream puffs are completely cool before filling them to avoid the cream melting.
• These are best served fresh, but you can store leftovers in the fridge for a day or two.

Enjoy Mom’s Famous Cream Puffs—they’re a classic treat that everyone will love!