Description
Bite-sized cream puffs made with classic pâte à choux, filled with a whipped eggnog pastry cream for a rich and festive holiday dessert.
Ingredients
Pâte à Choux (Cream Puff Shells)
- 1 cup (237 ml) water
- 6 Tbsp (85 g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5.75 oz (163 g) all-purpose flour (about 1 1/3 cups)
- 1 cup (237 ml) eggs (approx. 4 large eggs + 1 egg white)
Eggnog Pastry Cream
- 3/4 cup (177 ml) full fat eggnog
- 3/4 cup (177 ml) whole milk
- 6 Tbsp (75 g) granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 1/2 Tbsp (21 g) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp salt
Whipped Cream
- 1 1/4 cups (296 ml) heavy cream
- 1/3 cup (40 g) powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Line two sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Pâte à Choux: Heat water, butter, sugar, and salt in a saucepan until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in flour.
- Return to heat, stirring until the mixture forms a ball and dries slightly.
- Transfer to a stand mixer and let cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time, mixing fully between additions.
- Pipe 1.5-inch mounds onto prepared sheets. Smooth peaks with a wet finger.
- Bake 10–12 minutes at 425°F, then reduce heat to 350°F and bake 18–20 minutes more until deep golden brown.
- Eggnog Pastry Cream: Heat eggnog and milk until just boiling. Whisk sugar and cornstarch, then whisk in egg yolks.
- Temper eggs with hot liquid, then return to pan and cook until thickened.
- Remove from heat; add butter, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt. Chill completely with plastic wrap touching surface.
- Whipped Cream: Whip cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks. Fold in chilled pastry cream.
- Assembly: Pipe filling into each puff through a small hole. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
Notes
- Best served immediately after filling.
- Unfilled cream puffs can be stored or frozen and recrisped before filling.
- Pastry cream lasts up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Can be frozen filled, but texture will soften.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American