Description
Light and airy choux pastry filled with silky vanilla custard and dusted with powdered sugar. A classic French-inspired treat, perfect for Mother’s Day!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Choux Pastry:
- 1/2 cup (120ml) water
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
For the Vanilla Custard Filling:
- 2 cups (480ml) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
For Garnish:
- Powdered sugar
- Melted chocolate (optional)
Instructions
-
Make the Choux Pastry:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a saucepan, heat water, milk, butter, sugar, and salt until it begins to simmer.
- Add flour all at once, stirring vigorously until the dough forms a smooth ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Remove from heat and let it cool slightly for a few minutes.
-
Add the Eggs:
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until smooth and glossy.
- Transfer the dough to a piping bag and pipe small mounds onto the prepared baking sheet.
-
Bake the Puffs:
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
- Remove from the oven and let them cool completely.
-
Make the Vanilla Custard:
- Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat until warm (but not boiling).
- In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Slowly add the warm milk to the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring continuously until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and butter. Let cool completely in the fridge.
-
Fill the Cream Puffs:
- Slice the cooled puffs in half and pipe the vanilla custard inside.
-
Garnish & Serve:
- Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate for an extra indulgence.
Notes
- Make sure to let the choux pastry cool completely before filling to prevent the custard from melting.
- You can make the custard in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- If you want extra crispiness, reheat the cream puffs in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes before filling.