Miniature Cream Puffs Recipes

MINI CREAM PUFFS RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix together pudding mix, cream and milk. Cover and refrigerate to set.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Bring water and butter to a rolling boil in large pot. Mix flour and salt and add to pot.
• Stir with wooden spoon until mixture forms a ball (mix quickly to avoid lumps).
• Add to stand mixer with beater attachment. Pulse a few times to cool mixture slightly. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
• Drop by teaspoon onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 5 minutes. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake an additional 25-30 minutes until golden brown and centers are dry.
• Fill with pudding mixture using a pastry bag once cool.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!

AMAZING AND FOOLPROOF CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the lower-middle position. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (decrease by 25 or 50 degrees if using a dark coated pan). Lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin or a 12-cup regular muffin tin (you'll bake in two batches).
• In a medium saucepan, bring the water and butter to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula until the mixture forms a ball.
• Scrape the warm mixture into a mixing bowl (or into the bowl of an electric stand mixer) and beat with a handheld electric mixer until the dough has cooled slightly, 1-2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating constantly, until the mixture is thick and smooth.
• Scoop a heaping 1/2 tablespoon into each mini muffin tin (about 1/2 full) or a couple tablespoons into a regular muffin tin (again, about 1/2 full). A cookie scoop works great for this.
• Once the mini muffin cups are filled, wet your fingers with cold water and dab them on the top of the mounded dough to smooth out any rough spots and even out the dough (this will help them bake into a pretty rounded top).
• Bake for about 15-20 minutes for mini cream puffs and 25 minutes for regular cream puffs until the tops of the shells are lightly golden and they are baked all the way through (if there is any doughy moisture inside the shells add a few minutes so they don't collapse).
• Remove the pan from the oven and working quickly, use a thin wooden skewer to pierce the side of each cream puff; doing this will allow any steam to escape. I try to poke the cream puff shell right in the middle where I'll be splitting it anyway to add the cream. Remove them from the tin and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
• Repeat the filling and baking process with the remaining dough.
• For the vanilla cream filling, in a medium saucepan, bring the milk and 1/4 cup powdered sugar to a simmer. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, egg, cornstarch and 1/3 cup powdered sugar. Slowly ladle or drizzle in the hot milk mixture to the bowl while whisking constantly (this tempers the eggs so they don't curdle and cook into hard bits). Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring and/or whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and thickens.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.
• Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer (this part is optional but can help remove any lumps) into a clean bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on the top and refrigerate until cold. The vanilla cream filling can be made up to a week in advance.
• For the sweetened whipped cream, whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla to stiff peaks (I like to use my Blendtec for whipping cream; super simple and takes just a minute or two).
• Split each cooled cream puff shell in half right at the seam where the puffy top meets the smooth bottom. Spoon vanilla cream into the bottom of each shell and top with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream and place the top back on. Lightly dust all the cream puffs with powdered sugar.
• The cream puffs can be fully assembled up to a day in advance (they actually taste better if assembled ahead of time). I store them uncovered in the refrigerator up to a day before serving.

FINGER-LICKING GOOD MINI CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a small saucepan, bring water and butter to a rolling boil over medium heat. Add flour and salt all at once; beat until blended. Cook, stirring vigorously, until a film forms at the bottom of the pan, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes., Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until smooth. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. Drop dough by 1-in. balls 1-1/2 in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until puffed, very firm and golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Cool on wire racks., Meanwhile, whisk together pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes or until thickened; let stand 5 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Cut puffs in half. Fill cream puffs with vanilla filling; replace tops. Dust with confectioners' sugar; serve immediately.

MINIATURE SWEET PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring the water, butter, salt, and sugar to a boil in a saucepan, over medium-high heat. Pull pan from the heat, add the flour at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until all the flour is incorporated, about 1 minute. Return the pan to the heat and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes to evaporate some of the water and "cook" out the flour. The dough will get a bit shiny and stick to the pan a little.
• Transfer the mixture into an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix together on medium speed, and, while the mixer is running, add 1 egg. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Repeat, adding the other egg. Mix until the dough is smooth and glossy and eggs are uniformly incorporated.
• Using a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip, pipe the dough onto the baking sheet, into 1/4 to 1/2-inch balls. (Use a damp finger, to dab down the points of the dough to make perfect balls.) Sprinkle with the turbinado sugar, if desired. Bake 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F (without opening the oven door), and bake until puffed up, and a rich golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Remove and poke with a toothpick. Bake an additional 10 minutes to dry the insides of the puffs. Cool on a rack.
• Cut puffs in half and fill with Raspberry Cream, ice cream or your favorite filling. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.
• Mash the berries and sugar in a small saucepan with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring frequently until the berries break down and get juicy, about 5 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl; discard the seeds. Cool. Adjust the sweetness or tartness of the sauce with more sugar and lemon juice, as needed.
• Beat the cream until it holds a light peak. Sift the confectioners' sugar into the cream. Continue beating until the cream holds a holds a soft, but firm peak. Gently fold raspberry sauce into the whipped cream until blended. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until needed.

CLASSIC CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine butter, sugar, salt and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and quickly stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Continue to stir until a film forms on the bottom of the pan.
• Remove from heat and transfer contents to a bowl to cool slightly, about 3 minutes. Add 4 eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously to entirely incorporate egg after each addition.
• For the egg wash, whisk together the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water. Set aside.
• Transfer the pate a choux to a large pastry bag fitted with a 5/8-inch plain tip. Pipe 1-1/2-inch rounds onto each prepared pan. Gently smooth the pointed peaks with a moistened finger, rounding tops to ensure even rising. Brush tops with reserved egg wash. Bake until puffs rise and are golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Puffs can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 day.
• Transfer pastry cream to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/8-inch plain round tip. Insert the tip into the opening of each pastry, and pipe to fill with pastry cream. Serve immediately.

CHEESEBURGER CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• For the puffs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the butter, salt and 1 cup water to a boil over medium-high heat. Decrease the heat to low. Add the flour and stir constantly until a sticky ball of dough forms, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium-low speed until there is no longer any steam. Decrease the mixer speed to low and add 3 of the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be done once it clings to the paddle in "spokes" as it spins in the bowl. You may need to add another egg to get this consistency. Add the Gruyere and mix to combine.
• Dab a small amount of the dough under the parchment paper at the four corners and in the center of the prepared baking sheet to keep the parchment paper in place. Using a 3-ounce ice cream scoop, scoop out the dough onto the parchment, 2 inches apart. You will end up with 12 scoops. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg with a splash of water and a pinch of salt. Brush each cream puff with the egg wash and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for 20 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet 180 degrees. Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and bake until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer the cream puffs to a wire rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
• For the cheese mousse: Meanwhile, add the cream cheese to a bowl, and using a hand mixer, beat until soft, about 1 minute. Add the processed cheese, paprika, salt and white pepper and beat until fluffy and smooth. Mix in the heavy cream as needed until the mixture is velvety and smooth but not too loose. Transfer to a piping bag with a large star tip. Set aside.
• For the burger patties: Transfer the ground beef to a cutting board. Cut into 12 squares, then roll each square into a ball. Place onto a piece of wax paper. Fold the wax paper over, leaving room for the meat to spread out. Using a rolling pin, roll the patties until paper thin. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and, once melted, cook the patties for 4 minutes on the first side. Flip and continue to cook for another minute or two. Remove to a plate. Add the onions to the same skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and translucent, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• To assemble: In a small bowl, mix the ketchup, mayo and sweet relish together. Set aside. Slice the puffs in half. Spread the special sauce on the bottom half of each puff, then top with a patty, onions, bacon if using and lettuce. Before topping each burger with the top "bun," pipe some of the cheese mousse into it first. Top each burger cream puff with a halved cornichon secured with a toothpick.

MINIATURE CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Combine water, butter, salt and heat to boiling. Add flour all at once, stir until mixture leaves side of the pan and forms a ball. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time until batter is smooth.
• Drop by teaspoonful onto lightly greased pan - 2" apart.
• Bake until puffed and brown at 400°F for about 30 minutes.

CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Mix together vanilla instant pudding mix, cream and milk. Cover and refrigerate to set.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a large pot, bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and salt until the mixture forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon or stand mixer, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Centers should be dry.
• When the shells are cool, either split and fill them with the pudding mixture, or use a pastry bag to pipe the pudding into the shells.

DIABETIC MINI CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a cookie sheet with Pam.
• Bring water and salt to a full boil. Stir in margarine until melted.
• Add flour, all at once. Stir until mixture forms a ball.
• Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add eggs one at a time, stirring thoroughly after each addition until smooth and shiny.
• Drop dough by teaspoons onto baking sheet, forming 24 mounds. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Turn oven off and prick Puffs on sides with a toothpick.
• Return to oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Cool completely!
• With sharp knife, carefully remove the tops of the puffs.
• Filling: Fold Cool Whip into prepared pudding. Fill each puff and replace top.
• 3 Puffs per serving.
• Each serving supplies 1/2 fat exchange (margarine), 1/4 protein exchange (egg), 1/2 bread exchange (flour), 1/8 milk exchange (pudding) and 5 optional calories.

EASY MINI STRAWBERRY CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a mixing bowl in the freezer.
• Combine water, butter, and salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and immediately add flour; quickly beat in the flour with a wooden spoon, alternating between pressing on the dough and beating it quickly. Continue until dough has formed a ball and no longer sticks to the side of the pan.
• Add 1 egg, and using the same technique above, beat it in until dough has reached a smooth consistency. Repeat with the second egg. Beat until dough begins to break into strands, about 5 more minutes.
• Divide dough into 12 pieces. Round each piece and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up and browned, about 20 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, pour cold cream into the chilled mixing bowl. Add white sugar and beat with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
• Slice across the tops of the cooled cream puffs just enough to open; they will be hollow inside. Put a heaping tablespoon whipped cream in the top and bottom cavities. Put a strawberry in the middle and close the two halves. Set on a plate and dust with powdered sugar.