These cream puffs are the best tasting I have ever had! This recipe has been made in my family for generations and it provides an amazing flavor and texture that is sure to become a new favorite for your family too.
If you need a cream puff recipe that is wonderfully soft with the best tasting filling, this is the recipe for you.
My family has been making this recipe for generations, at least going back to my grandmother (though I’m sure it goes back further than that).
I continue to make it, unchanged, to this day for my family. And it’s as well loved now as it was in my youth.
At first, I debated sharing this recipe, as it’s quite special to me, but the many readers of Treat Dreams have been wonderful to me so it’s a no brainer to share it with you.
Once you’ve made it, I’m confident that it will be a family favorite for you as well.
Make sure to bookmark or pin this recipe because you will want to make it again and again.
How to Make Homemade Cream Puffs from Scratch
Whether you need a dessert for a holiday party, a small get together, or for a special family dessert, this cream puff recipe is the perfect choice.
With it’s melt in your mouth texture and awesome flavor, it’s always a crowd favorite when I make it.
Prep time is just about ten minutes and bake time only twenty, so this is also a great last minutes recipe (that tastes like you were in the kitchen much longer).
The only equipment you need is a saucepan, a cookie sheet, and a hand mixer and bowl (for your filling).
Save this recipe: Vanilla cream filling for cupcakes
Cream Puff Ingredients
This recipe just takes a handful of common ingredients, and it’s quite affordable too! In fact, it never ceases to amaze me how much flavor you get out of so few ingredients.
And since we will be using simple ingredients, you shouldn’t have any need for substitutions. But if you do, keep in mind that recipe alterations will impact the final flavor and texture.
Pastry Ingredients
- Butter
- Water
- All-Purpose Flour
- Eggs
- Salt
Filling Ingredients
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla Extract
- Milk
- Instant Vanilla Pudding
Related: French vanilla cream bars
Easy Step by Step Recipe Instructions
I’ve made this recipe so many times over the years that I know it by heart, but it’s so easy that you’re going to want to make it again and again.
In just a few simple steps you’ll have a batch of the most creamy and flavorful cream puffs you’ve ever had.
So, once you have all your ingredients gathered, it’s time to get baking!
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
Step 2: Grease your cookie sheet with butter or non stick cooking spray
Step 3: Add your water and butter to your saucepan and bring to a boil
Step 4: Add salt and when your mixture comes to a boil, add your flour and stir quickly until a dough ball is formed and it pulls away from the sides of your pan.
Step 5: Remove from heat and add your eggs one at a time blending until well combined
Step 6: Use a pastry bag or teaspoon and make mounds of dough on your cookie sheet.
Note: Will make about two dozen pastries
Step 7: Bake in preheated oven for 15-25 minutes. Your pastries are done when puffed and golden brown (usually 20 minutes for me but oven temperatures do vary).
Step 8: While pastries are baking, start your filling by adding all ingredients to mixing bowl and mixing on high until light fluffy. Chill until ready to fill your pastries.
Step 9: Remove pastries from oven and cool completely on wire rack
Step 10: With a sharp bread knife, cut each pastry half way through, or in half, and fill with cream filling
Step 11: Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Related Recipe: Chocolate cream puffs
Cream Puffs Recipe (Super Delicious)
Equipment
- 1 Cookie Sheet
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Mixer
- 1 Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Pastries
- 8 Tbs Unsalted Butter
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 4 Large Eggs
- 1 Pinch Salt
Filling
- 8 oz Heavy Cream
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 8 oz Milk
- 1 3oz Package Instant Vanilla Pudding
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
- Grease your cookie sheet with butter or non stick cooking spray
- Add your water and butter to your saucepan and bring to a boil
- Add salt and when your mixture comes to a boil, add your flour and stir quickly until a dough ball is formed and it pulls away from the sides of your pan.
- Remove from heat and add your eggs one at a time blending until well combined
- Use a pastry bag or teaspoon and make mounds of dough on your cookie sheet.
- Note: Will make about two dozen pastries
- Bake in preheated oven for 15-25 minutes. Your pastries are done when puffed and golden brown (usually 20 minutes for me but oven temperatures do vary).
- While pastries are baking, start your filling by adding all ingredients to mixing bowl and mixing on high until light fluffy. Chill until ready to fill your pastries.
- Remove pastries from oven and cool completely on wire rack
- With a sharp bread knife, cut each pastry half way through, or in half, and fill with cream filling
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Liv’s Cream Puff Recipe Notes
- When stirring your pastry dough, you really do want to stir fast, in a circular motion. You can move on to the next step as soon as it has formed a ball and pulled away from the sides of your saucepan.
- Cutting your pastry all the way in half, or half way through works well. I do it both ways, so go with whichever you prefer.
- You don’t need a pastry bag to fill your cream puffs, but it does make the job a bit easier. If you don’t have a pastry bag, just scoop with a spoon to fill your cream puffs.
- You can add some chocolate ganache to the top for great additional flavor. Just drizzle it on right before serving. (So good!)
- Store your cream puffs covered in your refrigerator for up to four days.
- You can store your cream puffs in the freezer for up to three months. Seal them in a freezer safe bag or container and just thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before serving.