Mom’s Famous Cream Puffs: A Timeless Family Recipe
Introduction:
Step into the realm of nostalgia with Mom’s famous cream puffs—a cherished family recipe that has delighted taste buds for generations. These airy pastries, filled with luscious cream and dusted with powdered sugar, are the epitome of indulgence and comfort. Whether enjoyed as a special dessert for celebrations or simply as a treat to brighten any day, Mom’s cream puffs are guaranteed to evoke fond memories and create new ones with each bite. Let’s dive into the magic of this timeless recipe!
Ingredients:
For the cream puff shells:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
For the cream filling:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the butter and water over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once the mixture is boiling, add the flour and salt all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a smooth ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the heat and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Let it cool for a few minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, to the dough, beating well after each addition. The dough should become smooth and glossy.
- Using a spoon or a piping bag, drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each mound for expansion.
- Bake the cream puff shells in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until they are puffed up and golden brown. Avoid opening the oven door while baking to prevent the cream puffs from deflating.
- Once baked, remove the cream puff shells from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cream puff shells are cooling, prepare the cream filling. In a mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until stiff peaks form.
- Once the cream puff shells are completely cooled, use a sharp knife to carefully slice off the top third of each shell.
- Spoon or pipe the whipped cream filling into the bottom halves of the cream puff shells.
- Place the top halves of the cream puff shells back on top of the filled bottoms.
- Dust the assembled cream puffs with powdered sugar for a final touch.
- Serve Mom’s famous cream puffs immediately and enjoy the heavenly combination of light, airy pastry and creamy filling!
Conclusion:
Mom’s famous cream puffs are more than just a dessert—they’re a symbol of love, tradition, and the joy of sharing delicious treats with loved ones. With their delicate pastry shells and heavenly cream filling, these cream puffs are sure to become a treasured favorite in your family as well. So gather your loved ones, whip up a batch of these delightful pastries, and savor every blissful bite of Mom’s timeless recipe!