Classic Cream Puffs Recipe
This cream puff recipe has been in our family forever, literally. When my four daughters were young, they would sell these door-to-door when they weren’t selling loaves made from my French Bread Recipe.
Of course, nowadays, I would never have them go door-to-door selling anything. Boy, has life changed. It’s sad, but that’s how it is. This recipe would be great when we need to take an inexpensive dessert to a party or serve a treat for Sunday dinner.
I looked online for a recipe that looked familiar but felt way too hard to make. I knew I had to find the recipe I had used for years. Oh, the joys of moving and trying to set up in a different kitchen!
As you may know, most of my stuff, including most of my cookbooks, is in a storage unit right now. Update: We are in our new home now. So, I started looking for MY Cream Puffs Recipe in my daughter’s cookbooks. Then I remembered that before my mom died, my sisters and my mother set up a blog on Blogspot. Hooray, I found MY recipe!
I don’t always have whipping cream in the refrigerator, but if by chance I have some available and feel like making a treat, these are so easy to make and fill with a dollop. It’s comforting when you have all the ingredients to make delicious recipes. You’ve worked to make these unique desserts all day, but thank goodness you didn’t! LOL! You can also fill them with your favorite Instant pudding mix. If you make your custard, that would be delicious as well.
This cream puffs recipe makes the puff crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. You fill them with your favorite custard, whipped cream, or instant pudding. They are so good!
Classic Cream Puffs Recipe
Kitchen Items You May Need:
- 4-quart saucepan
- Spoon
- 1/4 cup cookie scoop
- Cookie Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Hand Mixer
- Measuring Cups or 4-cup Glass Measuring Cup
Cream Puffs Recipe Ingredients
- Water
- Butter
- Flour
- Eggs
- Whipping Cream
- Powdered Sugar/Confectioners’ Sugar
Cream Puffs Recipe
Step One: Gather Ingredients
Gather together all the ingredients, so you’re ready to start. I try to make sure my ingredients are as fresh as possible so I can be proud of the result.
Step Two: Preheat Oven – Choose Pan
Preheat the oven to (400°F) = (204°C)degrees. Place the water and butter in the pan and heat them to a boil.
Step Three: Add Flour to Melted Butter
Add the flour and stir over low heat for 1 minute or until it forms a ball.
Step Four: Make a Ball
This is what a “ball” form looks like.
Step Five: Beat in the Eggs
Remove from heat and beat in the eggs all at once, being sure to beat the mixture until smooth. I placed all the cracked eggs in the 4-cup measuring cup and dumped them into the saucepan.
Step Six: Drop Dough on the Cookie Sheet
Drop dough by scant 1/4 cupfuls about 2-3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. You can also use parchment paper like I did in the picture.
Step Seven: Bake
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until they are puffed up and golden. Let them cool.
Finished Product
Cut off the tops and pull out a little of the insides if necessary, then fill them with whipped cream or pudding using a spoon (or use a piping bag and squeeze the mixture inside to fill). Dust with confectioner’s sugar and refrigerate until serving time. Enjoy.
Classic Cream Puffs Recipe
- 3 cups water
- 1-1/2 cups butter (original recipe called for margarine)
- 3 cups flour (I use bread flour)
- 12 eggs
- Whipping Cream (I have filled them with instant vanilla pudding as well)
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioner's Sugar) optional for sprinkling on them
-
Preheat oven to (400°F) = (204°C) degrees.
-
Heat water and butter to a boil. Add flour and stir over low heat for 1 minute or until it forms a ball.
-
Remove from heat and beat in the eggs all at once; beating until smooth.
-
Drop dough by scant 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
-
You can also use parchment paper. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden.
-
Let them cool. Cut off the tops and pull out the insides of the puffs, fill the puffs with whipped cream or pudding using a spoon (or use a piping bag and squeeze mixture inside to fill).
-
Dust with confectioners' sugar and refrigerate until serving time. Enjoy.
-
To make eclairs instead of cream puffs: Preheat oven to (400°F) = (204°C) degrees.
-
Heat water and butter to a boil. Add flour and keep stirring over low heat for 1 minute or until it forms a ball.
-
Remove from heat and beat in eggs all at once, beating until smooth.
-
Shape dough into finger shapes about 4 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide on an ungreased cookie sheet.
-
You can also use parchment paper. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden. Let them cool.
-
Cut off tops and pull out the insides of the eclair. You can fill them with pudding or whipped cream like the cream puffs. Refrigerate until serving time. Enjoy.
-
Frost with chocolate icing: Melt 3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate and three teaspoons of butter over low heat.
-
Remove from heat and stir in 3 cups confectioners' sugar and about six tablespoons of hot water.
-
Beat until smooth. Spoon over the top of the eclairs and refrigerate.
How do I store these after making them?
After baking them with a paper towel, I store them (without the filling) on the counter. You don’t want to put them in an airtight container, or they will become soggy.
Can I store these after they are filled with whipped cream?
You can store them in the refrigerator covered lightly with plastic wrap for 1-2 days. But remember, fresh is always best.
Why do my cream puffs go flat?
Next time, try lowering the temperature to (375°F) = (190°C). Another reason could be they were not cooked long enough.
What can I fill or serve over these?
- Whipped Cream
- Instant Pudding
- Custard
- Chicken ala King
- Creamed Tuna
- Cream Chipped Beef
- Fill With Scrambled Eggs
- Chicken or tuna salad – they make great little sandwiches
What is the difference between a cream puff and an eclair?
The only difference between the two is the shape and what you might use as a filling and topping. The baked product is pretty much the same. When you see eclairs are long rectangular shapes filled with custard and topped with chocolate icing. The cream puffs are round and filled with whipped cream.
Final Word
Please let me know if you try making my Cream Puffs Recipe. I would love to hear from you! I’ve always had a sweet tooth, so these little gems are unique to satisfy that urge. Life is good when you know how to cook from scratch, right? May God Bless this world, Linda
When I worked at a Nursing Home my Boss let me make these for the residents. We were to go by what the State
said to cook for them but we cooked what they would eat. We gave them food that they liked and it helped.
I haven’t made Cream Puffs in years but I keep thinking about it then I want to put a filling in it that is something like
Lemon or Chocolate. Thanks for the reminder.
Hi June, thank you for the 5 stars, my friend! I love hearing you were able to make the food items the residents wanted!!! I hadn’t made them in years, oh my gosh, it was so fun! My family sat around the table with sliced cream puffs, some whipped cream, instant banana pudding, and raspberries! We’re going to make them again on Sunday!!!!! Linda
June:
As a teen in the 60’s I worked as a aid in a nursing home. It made me so sad to see these elderly men and women going hungry because the home only made what they were told to make and these people would not eat what they were given. I was fired because I made waves over the food they were given and I also confronted the families for not caring for their parents. I am now at the same age as those people were and I have told my family if they ever tried to put me in a nursing home I would run away and although I have a rough time getting around at 71 I will keep that promise. To me Nursing homes are one places where family put their elderly to let them die.
Jackie,
I totally understand what you are saying. I would see people dumped off and left at the home and it is heart breaking. When I worked at the Nursing home the staff cared I was of course in the kitchen and I talked to my boss and I told her we know these people are NOT leaving by the front door why can’t we give them real food. We made
things like homemade potato chips, homemade donuts, I made cream puffs my mom came up one afternoon
and made homemade chocolate pies, things that they would eat. I never looked at the recipes. If I was to have green beans I would get to work before time to clock in and put the beans in a big pot to cook and let them go, I would clock in then when I cooked bacon for breakfast I would cook a extra 1/2 sheet pan for the green beans. All the grease from all the bacon when in the green beans, then the bacon then one or 2 onions that I chopped in the robo coup. I cooked them for 6 hours and they loved them, some asked for seconds. I loved cooking this way for them cause they would eat. Only time I went by what they said was when State was there to inspect. Residents wouldn’t eat.
The thing with Nursing Homes is the aids are making less than minimum wage ( the trash man makes more than the people taking care of your loved ones) so it was hard to find good help. Also I have seen some of the residents who were awful. One woman cussed everyone all the time, One woman I was helping to feed slapped me,
and threw water on me. I finished feeding her and went back to the kitchen. Some you can’t help. I have heard this Nursing home is worse now, so I can understand why people dont want to go there. It’s different world if you have seen both sides.
Hi June, wow, you did some great things for the people under your care. Homemade potato chips, homemade donuts, and cream puffs. Green beans taste better in bacon!!! Well, everything tastes great with bacon! LOL! I’m sorry one woman cussed at all the staff, and that you got slapped. Oh, and she threw water on you!! YIKES! My granddaughter worked at a nursing/care center to get her CNA for nursing prep. It was hard she said because so many people didn’t want to be there. The pay is interesting, that’s really too bad. They need good help. Thanks for sharing. Linda
These are so yummy! I’m hooked!
Hi Heidi, thank you for the 5 stars, my friend! I’m glad you like them!! Linda
I love cream puffs! This recipe looks sooo easy! Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to make these with my kids!❤️
Hi Camille, thank you so much for the 5 stars, my friend! Kids will love them! Linda
There goes my waistline!!!!! 😉
I made these last night and they were so delicious!!!! Your recipe is easy too! Thanks for sharing
Hi Alli, thank you for the 5 stars, my friend!! These are so yummy! Linda
Our family loves cream puffs. I have made them for years with everything from cream and pudding to chicken, etc. The sweet variety is really good drizzled with melted chocolate. One year I made them into Swans for our Daughter’s birthday. She loved them! So easy and fun to try! I have always done them beating by hand and have never use a hand blender. I add one egg at a time with the stove turned off until each is incorporated . Bake as you directed and cooled. Opening them up when done is really a necessity.
Hi Cheryl, I love hearing this!! I used to beat the mixture by hand, but my hands are not as strong as they used to be. So I grabbed the hand mixer. I love the idea of making a swan out of the dough!! I have never opened them after baking them. They still look like they just came out of the oven. Maybe it’s where I live? Linda
I used to make cream puffs and eclairs years ago. My husband was just commenting that it’s been a long time since I’ve made any – hint, hint!! Thinking back it’s been well over 33 yrs! Guess I’ll take this post as a nudge.
Hi Kris, I know me too! That’s why I had to find the recipe!! LOL! It’s a nudge for sure!!! Linda
Yes it could be where you live although when I first made them, we lived in NV. Maybe it was just the way I was taught to make them. No matter what, they are yummy!!! Just fun to play with the dough, though.
HI Cheryl, I want to make different shapes now! I have only done round and rectangle!! Linda
Thanks for the recipe Linda. I buy canned whipped cream (I can buy chocolate whipped cream this way) and it is so easy to fill a cream puff. I love your recipe it is so easy to make and my family will love it.
Hi Jackie, thank you for the 5 stars, my sweet friend!! Oh my gosh, canned whipping cream would be great! AND they make chocolate whipping cream in a can??? YUMMY! Linda
I love cream puffs! And eclairs! Mom made cream puffs occasionally and they were so yummy. She always filled them with pudding: vanilla, lemon, chocolate. Then sprinkled powdered sugar on top. I don’t recall her ever making eclairs but likely she did and I just don’t remember.
Hi Leanne, thank you for the 5 stars, my sweet friend! I just fixed the recipe, I’m trying to go through every recipe and fixing them so I can make a cookbook. I love cream puffs! Linda
Hi Linda, I worked in a nice resort kitchen, during my summer vacations, in High School. I was the dessert maker, and we served ice cream puffs. Regular cream puffs, cut in half and filled with diners choice of ice cream. Then topped with hot fudge sauce and a squirt of whipped cream. They were one of the most popular items on the dessert menu. They looked really nice, and the presentation was beautiful. I’ve never had them with whipped cream or custard but they both sound great.
When I worked in nursing, most of the time I had to worked a second job, working in nursing homes and home care. Some nursing homes were really bad with poor food and worse care. A couple of others were really good. The best offered great restaurant quality food. Even for the patients on puréed foods received the regular main dishes and side dishes puréed separately so those patients could enjoy the flavors of separate dishes. Most nursing homes puréed everything together, into an unattractive glop, that the patients refused to eat even being forced they would spit it out or refused to open their mouths to eat. They were as grossed out as much as I was! As for being assaulted by patients, many times it was due to rough, forced, care. With very little actual care being done. I refused to do that. With 15-17 patients on my assignment it wasn’t easy and I was always yelled at by the charge nurse for being the last one finished with my patients. I worked through my lunch break many times. Even those in the end stages of Alzheimer’s Disease who were far more combative than most others, more responded well to gentle care and talking to them as you gave them care. Most patients who struck or spit at patients, had a reason for doing so. For many striking out was the only way to get the caregivers to stop doing what they are doing. Most of the time poor quality care happened because nursing homes, would hire anyone who walk through the door, regardless of training, experience, or suitability for patient care. They were trained by working with a bored, burnt out employee who no longer cared about doing proper, quality care. As for established Nurses Aid training they received a week or two of classroom training, then dumped into a nursing home to have on the job training, mentored by the same burnt out, uncaring nurses aides. The students received little teaching supervision, and were expected to care for the 15-18 patient assignments as paid employees. They had to pay for their training, and were not paid at all during the weeks of patient care training. When hired they received state minimum rate. Back then a little over $3.25. They were given no choice about working overtime, the new hires were required to stay over for another whole shift. Call outs were common, and sometimes only 10-15 minutes before shift. Many nursing homes agreed with nurses aid training programs because they augmented paid staff, without having to pay them. The best nursing homes paid a little better, including high cost healthcare plans. At best it’s a bottom of the barrel job, since they were only able do dishwashing and/or slave in fast food joints. Sometimes at less than minimum wage, if their job allowed for pool tipping. They at most received about $2.00 a day. Customers don’t expect to leave a tip or leave pennies for a meal. At least
most nursing homes agreed paid a little more. But you had to buy your own uniforms.
Hi MaryAnn, thank you for the 5 stars, my sweet friend. you idea with a scoop of ice cream and topped with hot fudge and dollop of whipping cream sounds wonderful!! My granddaughter was a CNA before she became an RN this past year. She worked hard in the nursing and or care centers. I was surprised that she (like you) had so many patients to care for alone as in ratio nurse to patient. You were a blessing to those who you took care of and I’m sure they appreciated your loving care. It’s sad that some nursing homes who cost a lot each month may have poor quality food and care. I pray I never have to go into a care center, but none of us know for sure in some cases. You will be blessed for the spirit you brought into those facilities where you worked so hard. Happy Thanksgiving, Linda