Description
These Perfect Cream Puffs feature golden choux pastry shells topped with a crisp craquelin and filled with rich, fluffy cheesecake whipped cream. They’re bakery-worthy, customizable, and perfect for special occasions or celebrations.
Ingredients
- Craquelin:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Choux Pastry:
- ⅔ cup water
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 cup bread flour or all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs, cold
- Cheesecake Whipped Cream:
- 12 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 cups heavy cream, chilled
Instructions
- To make craquelin: Cream butter, both sugars, and vanilla. Mix in flour until crumbly. Roll between parchment to 1/8-inch thick and freeze.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- For choux pastry: In a saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, vanilla, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat, stir in flour until a dough forms. Return to low heat and cook for 1–2 minutes to slightly dry the dough.
- Cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until smooth, glossy, and dough forms a ribbon off a spatula.
- Pipe into small rounds on baking sheets. Top each with a frozen craquelin disc.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden and crisp. Poke a small hole in the bottom of each puff to release steam.
- Let cool completely on wire racks.
- To make filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Add cream and whip to stiff peaks.
- Pipe cream into cooled puffs. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- Craquelin is optional but adds crisp texture and visual appeal.
- Don’t underbake puffs—golden color and firm shell help prevent deflation.
- Choux pastry should form a smooth ribbon when lifted with a spatula.
- Unfilled shells can be frozen and re-crisped in the oven.
- Filled cream puffs are best enjoyed the same day.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cream puff
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
