Description
Italian Cream Puffs with Custard Filling are crisp, airy pastries filled with smooth vanilla custard. A classic dessert perfect for holidays, celebrations, or weekend baking. Make them from scratch with this authentic Italian recipe and enjoy bakery-quality results at home. Try it today!
Ingredients
For the Pastry:
2¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
⅛ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
2 cups water
9½ tbsp butter
6 large eggs
For the Custard Filling:
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
3 cups whole milk
4 large egg yolks
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Sift flour, salt, and baking soda into a bowl.
In a saucepan, boil water and butter. Remove from heat, stir in flour mix until a dough forms.
Return to heat, stir until dough pulls away from sides. Let cool slightly.
Beat in eggs one at a time. Transfer to a piping bag.
Pipe 3-inch puffs on sheet, bake 20 mins until golden.
Slit each puff to release steam. Cool on rack.
For custard, whisk sugar, flour, salt in a saucepan. Gradually add milk.
Cook over medium heat until thick.
Temper yolks with hot custard, return all to pan. Cook 2 mins.
Off heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Cool with plastic wrap on surface.
Fill cooled puffs with custard using piping bag. Garnish as desired.
Notes
Bake shells in advance and store in an airtight container for 2 days.
Fill just before serving to keep them crisp.
Refrigerate leftover custard up to 4 days.
Optional: Top with powdered sugar or cherries for a festive look.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 small cream puff
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Protein: 4g