Recently, I decided to make some Cream Puffs for some friends of mine. I followed two separate recipes- one with a whipped cream filling and one with a pudding-like filling. Before I began, I made sure I have enough ingredients to prepare both recipes. Next, I made sure that the utensils, measuring cups, and the pots and pans I would need were clean and set them on the counter.
First, I made the recipe for the Cream Puffs with the whipped cream filling. I followed the recipe to make the shells (aka choux pastry), except I used margarine instead of butter, because I hadn’t set the butter out long enough to soften. After I made the dough for the shells I spooned it out on the parchment paper and put them in the oven, while I started making the filling. After I finished making this batch I found my shells to be too soft (which means they could have needed some more time in the oven to dry out, or I made them too big, or it could be because I used margarine instead of butter).
For the second recipe I made the filling first because it had to set in the fridge before using it to fill the Cream Puffs. By now, my butter had softened enough to be able to use it to make the dough for the shells. This time I piped the dough onto parchment paper before baking them (instead of spooning the dough on like my first attempt). I found I preferred this recipe to the first recipe, because these shells turned out harder. And, I prefer the pudding filling to the whipped cream filling.
Both recipes had very similar instructions for making the shells, with some exceptions. The first recipe called for milk to be used while the second one didn’t. The first recipe required a higher baking temperature and a shorter time, while the second recipe called for a lower temperature and a longer time.
The end result: deliciousness! Both recipes were liked by my taste testers and my friends and I was told I can’t wait so long before baking again. I may just have to make some again this weekend.
For anyone who decides to try their hand at making some Cream Puffs, I highly recommend it, they are delicious. Just remember don’t open the oven door every few minutes to check on them.