Description
Delicate Strawberry Cream Puffs invite sweet-toothed dessert enthusiasts into a world of French-inspired pastry magic. Crisp choux pastry shells filled with luscious strawberry cream promise an elegant finale to any culinary adventure you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 ml) water
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
Cream and Fruit Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
- ½ cup (75 g) fresh strawberries, finely diced
Additional Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Melted chocolate for drizzling
Instructions
- Ignite the oven to 400F (200C) and lay out a parchment-lined baking sheet for the cream puff foundation.
- In a saucepan, amalgamate water, milk, butter, and salt, bringing the liquid mixture to a rolling boil over medium flame.
- Instantly remove from heat and incorporate flour vigorously, stirring until the mixture transforms into a cohesive dough ball that separates from the pan’s sides.
- Return the pan to low heat, continuously stirring the dough for 12 minutes to eliminate residual moisture and achieve optimal texture.
- Carefully transfer the warm dough to a mixing bowl, allowing it to rest and cool for approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce eggs one at a time, thoroughly integrating each until the mixture becomes glossy and uniform, creating a smooth pastry base.
- Employ a spoon or piping bag to carefully distribute the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, forming 2-inch circular mounds with strategic spacing.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, allowing the cream puffs to bake undisturbed for 25-30 minutes until they achieve a golden, puffy appearance.
- Remove from the oven and permit the cream puffs to cool completely on a wire rack, ensuring a crisp exterior and delicate interior.
Notes
- Ensure water, milk, and butter are precisely measured for the perfect choux pastry consistency.
- Room temperature eggs incorporate more smoothly, creating a silkier pastry dough that rises evenly.
- Constant stirring prevents flour from burning and ensures a smooth, lump-free texture when mixing ingredients.
- Resist opening the oven during baking, as temperature fluctuations can cause cream puffs to deflate or become soggy.
- Use a piping bag for uniform size and professional-looking cream puffs that bake consistently.
- For gluten-free variation, replace wheat flour with a high-quality gluten-free pastry flour blend.
- Cool cream puffs completely before filling to prevent soggy shells and maintain crisp texture.
- Store unfilled shells in an airtight container to preserve crunchiness for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 221
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 56 mg