Eggnog Cream Puffs Recipe
Delight in these luscious Eggnog Cream Puffs featuring a light and airy choux pastry filled with a rich, creamy eggnog-flavored filling. Perfect for holiday gatherings or any special occasion, these cream puffs combine classic French pastry techniques with festive seasonal flavors for a truly indulgent treat.
- Author: Mila
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 cream puffs 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-American
For the Cream Puffs (Choux Pastry)
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
For the Eggnog Cream Filling
- 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup eggnog
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Garnish
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Boil Butter, Water, and Salt: In a medium saucepan, combine the unsalted butter cubed, water, and salt. Heat over medium until the mixture reaches a rolling boil, preparing the base for the choux pastry.
- Stir in Flour: Remove the saucepan from heat and immediately add all the flour at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a smooth ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Cool Slightly, Add Eggs One at a Time: Let the dough cool for about 5 minutes to prevent cooking the eggs prematurely. Then, beat in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next, until the dough is smooth and shiny.
- Pipe Dough onto Baking Sheet: Transfer the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and pipe 12 mounds about 2 inches wide onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them evenly.
- Bake the Cream Puffs: Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven at 400°F and bake for 25–30 minutes until the cream puffs are puffed and golden brown, taking care not to open the oven door early to avoid deflation.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the cream puffs to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, carefully slice off the tops with a serrated knife.
- Make the Eggnog Cream: In a mixing bowl, combine cold heavy whipping cream, eggnog, powdered sugar, instant vanilla pudding mix, ground nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture thickens and becomes fluffy.
- Fill and Assemble: Spoon or pipe the eggnog cream mixture into the bottom halves of the cooled cream puffs. Replace the tops over the filling.
- Final Serving: Arrange the assembled cream puffs on a serving platter and dust generously with powdered sugar just before serving for a beautiful finishing touch.
Notes
- Ensure the eggs are fully incorporated one at a time for the best dough consistency.
- Do not open the oven door during baking to prevent the cream puffs from collapsing.
- Use cold ingredients for the filling to achieve maximum volume when whipping.
- Puff size can be adjusted, but baking time may vary accordingly.
- Store any leftovers refrigerated and consume within 2 days for freshness.
Keywords: egg nog cream puffs, choux pastry, holiday dessert, cream puffs recipe, eggnog filling, festive desserts