• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Its Yummi logo

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact Us
  • Nav Social Menu

    Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Search in posts
    Search in pages
    Filter by Categories
    4th of July
    Appetizers
    Beef
    Beverages
    Breads
    Breakfast
    Breakfast & Brunch
    Brownies
    Cakes
    Candy & Confections
    Casseroles
    Chicken
    Christmas
    Cinco de Mayo
    Cookbook Reviews
    Cookies
    Cooking Tips
    Cupcakes
    Desserts
    Doughnuts and Donuts
    Easter
    Fish and Seafood
    Food Facts
    Freezer Friendly Meals
    Frozen Desserts
    Fruit Desserts
    Halloween
    Healthier Breakfasts
    Healthier Desserts
    Healthier Desserts
    Healthier Foods
    Healthier Main Dishes
    Healthier Side Dishes
    Healthier Snacks
    Holiday Recipes
    Kitchen Pantry Staples
    Low Carb & Keto
    Lunch
    Main Dishes
    Memorial Day
    Muffins
    Multicooker / Instant Pot Recipes
    No Bake Desserts
    Pasta
    Pastries
    Pies
    Pork
    Product Reviews
    Puddings and Custards
    Quick Breads
    Recipe Collections and Roundups
    Recipes
    Recipes for the Grill
    Salads
    Sandwiches and Wraps
    Side Dishes
    Slow Cooker Recipes
    Snack Dips
    Snacks
    Soups, Stews, and Chili
    sponsored posts
    St. Patrick's Day
    Thanksgiving
    Turkey
    Valentine's Day
    vegetarian
    video tutorials

Home » The Blog » Recipes » Desserts » Pastries » Cream Puffs and Eclairs – Making Choux Pastry from Scratch

Cream Puffs and Eclairs – Making Choux Pastry from Scratch

Jan 3, 2011 · 12 Comments

3.5Kshares
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
I love this recipe for cream puffs! They're made from choux pastry. With that recipe, you can create sweet and savory pastry recipes for the holidays!

Cream puffs and eclairs are both decadent, fancy looking choux pastry desserts that are much easier to make than they look. Come on in to my virtual kitchen and learn how to make choux pastry from scratch!

I love this recipe for cream puffs! They're made from choux pastry. With that recipe, you can create sweet and savory pastry recipes for the holidays!

I’ve been a bad girl… a very bad girl. I was supposed to clean the kitchen this morning. Instead, I dirtied a few more dishes by making cream puffs shells. Then I made whipped cream to fill the shells with. *sigh*

What is Choux Pastry?

A cream puff starts with a shell, which is called choux (pronounced ‘shoo’) pastry.

Choux pastry, also known as pâte à choux (paht ah shoo), choux, or eclair paste, isn’t really a dough in the literal sense. Choux is more of a thick paste, made on the stove top, from a roux, with eggs added to it.

The dough for cream puffs or eclairs is formed onto a baking sheet, (usually piped through a pastry tip into different shapes) and baked. Choux pastry can be used to make lots of delicious sweet and savory creations!

Desserts made from Choux

Common desserts made from choux, most of which are French in origin, include:

  • cream puffs
  • éclairs
  • profiteroles
  • croquembouche
  • Paris Brest
  • Saint Honoré

Choux pastry can be filled with whipped cream, to make cream puffs, or you can make up a batch of sinfully delicious pastry cream, then indulge in eclairs!

I love this recipe for cream puffs! They're made from choux pastry. With that recipe, you can create sweet and savory pastry recipes for the holidays!

The news gets worse, though. The kitchen is still dirty, and I had cream puffs and eclairs for breakfast.

What is appropriate penance for gluttony?

If it’s any consolation, I created this cream puffs recipe and made a batch of pastry cream to fill them with, all for you. You’re welcome.

Behold the yummi goodness!

 

Homemade pastry cream, used to make delicious desserts like French eclairs!
Homemade pastry cream, used to make delicious desserts like French eclairs!

 

After indulging in cream puffs and eclairs, you can join the gym, or just do what I did, and buy an extra pair of stretchy pants.

The point is, you need to jump in and make this recipe for cream puffs. For any reason whatsoever!

For a beautiful finishing touch, add a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of homemade chocolate ganache to drizzle over the tops of the cream puffs.

How to Make Cream Puffs and Eclairs

Cream Puffs and Eclairs

This PATE-A-CHOUX recipe yields enough choux pastry to make 20 large cream puffs or eclairs.
PASTRY CREAM: Yield 2 cups
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 20

Ingredients

FOR THE SHELLS (Pate-A-Choux)

  • 8 oz Whole Milk
  • 8 oz Water
  • 8 oz Unsalted Butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 11 oz bread flour
  • 10 to 12 large eggs

FOR THE PASTRY CREAM

  • 16 oz whole milk
  • 4 oz granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 2.5 Tablespoons (1.5 oz.) cake flour, or corn starch (flour is best if you’ll be freezing the choux)
  • 2 Tablespoons (1 oz) VERY COLD salted butter

Instructions

FOR THE SHELLS (Pate-A-Choux)

  • Heat oven to 375 F (350 F. if using a convection oven)
  • Combine water, milk, salt and butter in a deep saucepan (2 or 3 quart) and cook over medium heat until butter is melted
  • Using a wooden spoon, vigorously stir in flour and keep stirring until mixture cleans the sides of the pan and forms somewhat of a ball.
  • Transfer into the bowl of a 5 quart stand mixer outfitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on first speed for 4-5 minutes, or until you can comfortably hold your hand on the bottom of the bowl.
  • Slowly add the eggs one or two at a time, waiting between each addition for the eggs to be partially incorporated. The amount of eggs added depends on the ambient and outside humidity and how much the humidity has affected the flour, so hold back on a couple of the eggs until touching the dough to see if its sticky.
  • When you turn the mixer off, watch the paddle- if the batter/dough "flows" like thick lava"- you're there!
  • Pipe into circles onto parchment lined sheet pans.
  • Bake at 375 F for 10 minutes, then reduce oven to 350 F. and bake until the pastries are dry and crisp. It will take approximately 25 minutes for full sized cream puffs and about 15 minutes for small ones. 
  • Cool completely, then fill with whipped cream, pastry cream, or savory fillings of your choice.

FOR THE PASTRY CREAM:

  • In a heavy saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until it steeps (you'll see small puffs of steam and tiny bubbles will form around the edges of the pan). Don't allow the milk to boil.
  • In a stainless steel bowl, whisk together the sugar, vanilla, and egg yolks. Allow the yolks to sit for a few minutes; the sugar will break down the yolks, making them more liquid.
  • Whisk the cake flour (or cornstarch) into the yolk mixture.
  • Slowly temper the hot milk into the yolk mixture while constantly whisking.
  • Pour the custard back into a CLEAN heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat, constantly whisking with one hand, while scraping the sides and bottom of the pot with a heat resistant rubber spatula with your other hand.
  • Cook the custard until you can see lines from the whisk.
  • Place the saucepan onto an ice bath (ice with just a LITTLE water) and immediately whisk in the COLD butter. Whisk every few minutes to help speed up the cooling process.
  • Use immediately or store in the cooler with plastic wrap set directly on top of the pastry cream (to prevent a skin from forming).

Cream puffs and puff pastry - get the recipes on ItsYummi.com

 

NEVER MISS A NEW EASY RECIPE!! SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR FREE!!

Thank you!

New recipes will come straight to your inbox.

3.5Kshares
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit

Desserts, Pastries, Recipes cream puffs, Dessert, eclairs, pastry, recipes

Reader Interactions

If you liked that, check these out, too!

Day at the Beach Cupcakes - Summer themed lemon cupcakes decorated with a beach theme
Beach Cupcakes + Video Tutorial
Girl Scout Thin Mint Cupcake Recipe from ItsYummi.com
Thin Mint Truffle Cupcakes
Meyer Lemon Cupcake Recipe from ItsYummi.com
Meyer Lemon Cupcakes

Comments

  1. Patricia Banfield says

    May 6, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    I don’t have a stand mixer. Can these be made by hand?

    Reply
    • Becca says

      May 7, 2017 at 3:39 pm

      Patricia, I would love to be able to say that yes, you can make cream puffs by hand, but unfortunately, you’re going to need the speed of a mixer to make this recipe. If you don’t have a stand mixer, a good electric hand mixer might work, though.

      Reply
  2. Jo-Anne says

    January 2, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    I haven’t made cream puffs in years! I used to form them into a circle for a ‘wreath’ effect. Leaving the sides touching so it’s sort of one piece. Cut the tops off to fill. They separate easily when serving.

    Reply
    • Becca says

      January 5, 2012 at 6:36 am

      Jo-Anne, that wreath idea sounds BEAUTIFUL! Definitely a great way to dress up a holiday dessert 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jennifer Sagan says

    January 2, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    o my goodness looks so good

    Reply
  4. André du Broc says

    January 28, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    Looks delicious. Have you ever made a croquembouche? It’s a real pate a choux crowd-pleaser. Add a little kirsch to the pastry cream for an extra kick.
    Thanks for subscribing to my crazy cookie/story blog, btw.

    Reply
    • beccacit says

      January 28, 2011 at 10:51 pm

      Thank you, Andre! I have been a subscriber of Martha Stewart Living for the past year, and when I saw her plans to make a croquembouche, I just KNEW I wanted to make one. Sadly, my plans for a holiday croquembouche crumbled when I contracted a rather serious case of pneumonia over Thanksgiving. However, perhaps I’ll make one for my Superbowl party (GO PACKERS!)… I may even get creative and color the Pate A Choux in green and gold! 🙂 BTW, your blog is INCREDIBLE… and I’m envious… but not of your job in the finance industry. Bravo for telling the big bad boss to shove it!

      Reply
  5. Kim Hamlin says

    January 3, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    yum, so jealous!

    Reply
  6. dahliadd says

    January 3, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Hahaha…you wouldn’t have too much trouble finding someone to rid you of that problem! They do look amazing!

    Reply
  7. Brian says

    January 3, 2011 at 11:36 am

    You’re not in any trouble with me. The CreamPuffs were delicious!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
4th of July
Appetizers
Beef
Beverages
Breads
Breakfast
Breakfast & Brunch
Brownies
Cakes
Candy & Confections
Casseroles
Chicken
Christmas
Cinco de Mayo
Cookbook Reviews
Cookies
Cooking Tips
Cupcakes
Desserts
Doughnuts and Donuts
Easter
Fish and Seafood
Food Facts
Freezer Friendly Meals
Frozen Desserts
Fruit Desserts
Halloween
Healthier Breakfasts
Healthier Desserts
Healthier Desserts
Healthier Foods
Healthier Main Dishes
Healthier Side Dishes
Healthier Snacks
Holiday Recipes
Kitchen Pantry Staples
Low Carb & Keto
Lunch
Main Dishes
Memorial Day
Muffins
Multicooker / Instant Pot Recipes
No Bake Desserts
Pasta
Pastries
Pies
Pork
Product Reviews
Puddings and Custards
Quick Breads
Recipe Collections and Roundups
Recipes
Recipes for the Grill
Salads
Sandwiches and Wraps
Side Dishes
Slow Cooker Recipes
Snack Dips
Snacks
Soups, Stews, and Chili
sponsored posts
St. Patrick's Day
Thanksgiving
Turkey
Valentine's Day
vegetarian
video tutorials
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Hi! Welcome to It’s Yummi!

Our primary focus is to provide easy, everyday recipes and cooking tips to home cooks of all experience levels!

Read more about us here.


Signup for new recipes posted each week delivered to your inbox !

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy and Disclosures
Copyright © 2010-2019 Its Yummi
All Rights Reserved. All content on this website, including, but not limited to recipes and images, is copyright protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. Content on this site may not be republished or used without prior written permission from the author/owner, Becca Heflin. Any licensing inquiries for commercial use, publication and/or general distribution should be sent to the email address on our Contact Page