Homemade Cream Puffs – Light, Airy, and Filled with Sweet Vanilla Whipped Cream

Homemade Cream Puffs – Light, Airy, and Filled with Sweet Vanilla Whipped Cream

Few desserts are as elegant and crowd-pleasing as homemade cream puffs. These delicate pastries are made from a classic French pâte à choux dough that bakes up into airy golden shells, then filled with luscious vanilla whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar. Whether served at a celebration or enjoyed with a cup of coffee, these beauties always feel special. At deesviral, we love desserts that look fancy but are surprisingly easy to make at home – and these cream puffs are exactly that!

Ingredients:

For the Choux Pastry:

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

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• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 4 large eggs

For the Whipped Cream Filling:

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled

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• 1/3 cup powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Garnish (Optional):

• Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions:

1. Make the Choux Pastry:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a gentle boil. Once the butter has melted completely, reduce heat to low and add the flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough pulls away from the sides and forms a ball (about 1–2 minutes).

2. Beat in the Eggs:
Remove the pan from heat and let the dough cool for 5 minutes. Then, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. The dough will look lumpy at first but will smooth out. It should be glossy and thick enough to hold its shape when piped.

3. Pipe and Bake:
Transfer the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe mounds (about 1.5 inches wide) onto the baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
Bake for 20–25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Do not open the oven during baking. Once done, pierce each puff with a toothpick to let out steam and prevent sogginess. Let cool completely.

4. Make the Whipped Cream:
In a large bowl, beat chilled heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a clean piping bag with a star tip.

5. Assemble the Cream Puffs:
Slice the tops off the cooled puffs. Pipe the whipped cream generously into the bottom half of each puff, then place the tops back on. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Serving Ideas:

Serve chilled or at room temperature. These cream puffs are best enjoyed fresh the same day, but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Final Notes:
Homemade cream puffs may seem like a pastry chef’s secret, but with this foolproof recipe, they’re totally achievable in your own kitchen. The contrast between the crisp shell and soft whipped cream filling makes every bite irresistible. Whether you’re serving them at a dinner party or indulging solo, these little puffs of joy from deesviral are guaranteed to impress.

Delicate. Delicious. Definitely worth making at home.