Recipes

Vanilla Cream Puffs

A rich whipped cream filling flavored with instant vanilla pudding mix allows these puffs to hold their shapes when made ahead.

A rich whipped cream filling flavored with instant vanilla pudding mix allows these puffs to hold their shapes when made ahead.

Makes 24 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Basic Cream Puff Dough (see below)
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • ¾ tsp clear vanilla
  • 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons milk

Directions

  1. First, make Basic Cream Puff Dough (see below). Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. To make cream puff shells, drop cream puff dough by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto a parchment-lined or ungreased baking sheet, smoothing any jagged points. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes or until golden brown on bottom. Remove to wire rack; cool slightly. With a serrated knife, cut in half horizontally. Remove and discard soft dough inside.
  3. To make filling, in a large bowl use whisk attachment of electric mixer to beat whipping cream, ½ cup milk and pudding mix on low speed to combine. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or until thickened, scraping sides and bottom of bowl as necessary to blend ingredients. Beat on high speed for 30 to 60 seconds or until stiff peaks form. Cover and chill at least 20 minutes.
  4. To make icing, in a medium bowl stir together confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and enough milk to make the icing thick and barely pourable.
  5. To assemble cream puffs, spoon or pipe 2½ tablespoons filling into shell bottoms. Place cream puff tops over filling. Spoon or spread 1 teaspoon icing over each cream puff. Assembled puffs may be chilled in a covered container for up to 3 hours before serving.

Associated Recipes

Basic Cream Puff Dough

French-inspired cream puffs are simpler to make than they seem. Create sensational versions of the classic concept.

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