Classic Cream Puff Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Make choux pastry: Bring water, butter, and salt to a boil in a saucepan.
3. Remove from heat and add flour all at once, stirring until smooth.
4. Return to heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
5. Transfer to a bowl and beat in eggs one at a time until smooth.
6. Pipe 12 mounds onto parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F and bake 20 minutes more.
8. Cool completely on wire rack.
9. Make pastry cream: Heat milk in saucepan until steaming.
10. Whisk sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch in bowl.
11. Gradually whisk in hot milk, then return to saucepan.
12. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbling.
13. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
14. Cool completely, then chill.
15. Whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks.
16. Fold whipped cream into pastry cream.
17. Cut cream puffs in half and fill with cream mixture.