by Dawn Lewis

Created on: January 30, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2011

Cream puffs are one of the easiest and tastiest desserts. Because of their simplicity in the ingredients and the directions, one doesn't have to be afraid of failure when making these delicious and elegant dessert items. The dough for cream puffs is so versatile that you can also create eclairs and other pastries from it.

Cream Puff Dough:

cup water

cup margarine or butter

cup all purpose flour

2 eggs

powdered sugar

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat water and margarine (I use I can't believe it's not butter) to a rolling boil in saucepan on the stove top.

Stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute; remove from heat. Beat in eggs, all at once; continue beating until smooth. Drop dough by scant cupfuls about 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet; bake until puffed and golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool away from draft. Cut off tops; pull out any filaments of soft dough.

Fill puffs with cream filling or sweet whipped cream recipe is below. Replace tops and dust with powdered sugar. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Yields 6 cream puffs.

Cream Filling:

cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

2 egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Stir in milk gradually. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir at least half of the hot mixture gradually into egg yolks.
Blend into hot mixture. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in margarine and vanilla, cool. Fill cream puffs and refrigerate.

Sweet Whipped Cream Filling:

1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream

3 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat chilled whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla, stir slightly. Fill cream puffs and refrigerate. Note: you can substitute almond, peppermint, or other favorite flavor for the vanilla if desired.

Enjoy!

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