Famous Cream Puffs

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 ml) water
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs
• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. In a saucepan, bring water, butter, and salt to a boil.
3. Add flour all at once, stir vigorously until a dough forms and pulls away from the pan (about 1–2 minutes).
4. Remove from heat, let cool slightly (important so eggs don’t scramble).
5. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each until smooth and glossy.
6. Pipe or spoon small mounds onto the tray.
7. Bake:
   • 15 min at 200°C (400°F)
   • Then reduce to 180°C (350°F) and bake another 20–25 min until golden.
8. Let cool completely before filling.

🍮 Pastry Cream Filling

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (480 ml) milk
• ½ cup (100 g) sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Heat milk until just simmering.
2. In a bowl, whisk yolks, sugar, and cornstarch.
3. Slowly pour hot milk into the egg mixture (temper it).
4. Return to saucepan and cook until thick, stirring constantly.
5. Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla.
6. Chill completely.

✨ Assembly

1. Slice or poke a hole in each puff.
2. Pipe in the pastry cream.
3. Optional: dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate.

🔥 Pro Tips

• Don’t open the oven early—puffs can collapse.
• Bake until deep golden, not pale.
• If they soften later, re-crisp in oven for 5–10 minutes.