Certainly! Here’s a recipe for delicious cream puffs that might become as famous as your mom’s:
Ingredients:
For the Pastry:
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
For the Filling:
- 2 cups whipped cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Ganache (Optional):
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Pastry:
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Remove from heat and let it cool for a couple of minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, until the dough is smooth and shiny.
3. Pipe the Dough:
- Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (or a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off). Pipe small mounds (about 1.5 inches in diameter) onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each.
4. Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cream puffs are golden brown and puffed. Avoid opening the oven door during the first 15 minutes to prevent them from deflating.
5. Cool:
- Remove the cream puffs from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
6. Prepare the Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
7. Fill the Cream Puffs:
- Once the cream puffs are completely cool, cut them in half horizontally. Spoon or pipe the whipped cream onto the bottom half of each puff and place the top half back on.
8. Optional Chocolate Ganache:
- If desired, prepare a simple chocolate ganache by heating the heavy cream until it simmers, then pouring it over the chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. Drizzle or dip the cream puffs into the chocolate ganache.
9. Serve:
- Serve the cream puffs immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
These cream puffs are sure to be a hit, just like your mom’s famous recipe!