These cream puffs were part two of a baking demonstration I did for my local foodie friends. Slightly sweetened pâte à choux dough was piped onto baking sheets, cooked, and then filled with whipped cream and my favorite balsamic strawberries. Please check my Parisian Cheese Puff post for hints on making flawless cream puffs and gougères.
One of my girlfriends put it perfectly, “I loved them both equally,” when asked whether she preferred these or the gougères…or maybe she’s just extremely kind!
According to Dorie Greenspan, dough can be piped onto the baking sheets, then frozen, and stored in ziplock bags when firm. They can be frozen up to 2 months and baked right from the freezer…extending baking time by just a couple minutes.
Cream Puffs with Whipped Cream and Berries…recipe courtesy of my mom
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 tablespoon sugar
Dash of salt
1 cup flour
4 eggs, at room temperature
Sweetened whipped cream (whip 1/2 cup cream, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar)
Balsamic Strawberries:
3 cups cored and quartered strawberries
1/4 cup good quality balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
Preheat oven to 425º. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Combine ingredients for balsamic strawberries. Let rest at room temperature while preparing and baking cream puffs, stirring occasionally.
Bring milk, water, butter, sugar and salt to a boil in a saucepan. When mixture is boiling, add flour all at once, and stir vigorously till well combined. Turn off heat and add eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously till each is well incorporated. It is imperative that stirring begins immediately after the egg is added to avoid scrambled egg bits in your dough.
Spoon or pipe tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets (I use a ziplock bag with the corner cut off). Reduce oven temperature to 375º and bake for 12 minutes. Rotate pans in oven and bake for an additional 12 minutes or till cream puffs are golden. Whip cream while puffs are baking.
Cool, then slice off tops of each puff, remove some of the inside if desired and fill with whipped cream. Top with balsamic strawberries and serve immediately.
Makes approximately 24.
{ 85 comments… read them below or add one }
I have all of these different kinds of balsamic, including a yummy strawberry balsamic that I have yet to use because I can’t figure out what to do with it!
Hello! You just solved my issue!
GORGEOUS!
I will go for these for the lovely filling and the gorgeous strawberries sitting on too, very nice Lizzy.
Che bello!!! Fragole e bignè!!!!!
Profumo di primavera!!!!
Sei bravissima!!!
Un bacio grande!!!!
Your cream puffs look gorgeous! Choux pastry is so versatile. I would also answer I love both
These look delicious Liz! I wish I could pop over the next time you were demonstrating.
These are a must make very soon ahahah , they are so delicious!
I love cream puffs but have never even thought of attempting them at home. The directions don’t seen that hard though but I would probably be sure to scramble the eggs. I might have to give it a try anyway!
The balsamic strawberries. I keep hearing about them but have never had those either. Are they vinegary or tangy sweet like a strawberry vinaigrette?
Wonderful Liz! Your cream puffs came out perfect!
These are gorgeous cream puffs, especially with those wonderful strawberries. I have never made cream puffs, but now I want to try.
thanks for your tutorial.
Thanks, everyone
Annie, using a good quality, aged balsamic gives the strawberries just another level of flavor. Not tangy like a vinaigrette as the vinegar is sweet and syrupy…maybe more like adding a liqueur??? I’m not sure how to describe it, but I’ve served them with cheesecake, a mascarpone cream and the cream puffs with whipped cream. They cut through the sweetness/richness with just perfectly. Thanks for asking…good question!
YUMMMM! SO fresh and beautiful and perfect for the coming of spring!
everything with whipped cream and berrys,I’m a big fan,looks pretty and yummy dessert !!
Ridwan
everything with whipped cream and berrys,I’m a big fan,looks pretty and yummy dessert !!
Ridwan
Great to see both a sweet and savoury recipe for these pastry puffs. I really must give them a go!
These are gorgeous! I love cream puffs! Yours turned out so well!
Cute and delicious! Such a great post!
I never tasted balsamic strawberries, I am curious now! Know what, all these beautiful photos are making it difficult for me to stick to my diet plan.
would love to have you at food photo linky this week too!
Such a lovely dessert – SO delicious – lovely recipe – makes me feel like Spring is around the corner!
Mary x
Those look absolutely perfect! I adore strawberries, so these sound SO good.
Beautiful and delicious looking as well!
The puffs look awesome I wonder if I can ever make such stuff!!
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wow – these look delicious! I love cream puffs. So light and so delicious!
they look absolutely perfect and with the strwaberries-must be a real delight!
Life and travelling
Cooking
Another beauty Liz. I really like the balsamic with the strawberries, I have those ingredeints right here, I can make that, not sure about the puffs though, I will need to practice. Have a wonderful day.
That is such a nice, light filling to put in cream puffs….easy on the baker and yummy for the eaters!
Oh yum – wonderful tip on freezing them before baking too!
One of my favourite bloggers, Anneliese, on
http://mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com/
makes these into the cutest swans – you must have a look!
I am pretty sure your friend is not just being very kind.
These look amazing. I can almost taste how light they are. Nice job!
These look incredible—that touch of balsamic vinegar is brilliant!
I have seen cream puffs filled with a lot of things, however the classic strawberries and cream is my favorite! Another elegant and delicious dessert here, well done Liz!
Mmm cream puffs! These look just perfect. I love that you did a cooking demo with foodie friends! Sounds like fun.
What a treat! These look absolutely gorgeous
dare i say where is the chocolate! ok, i have issues letting go of it… this looks so yummy~
Hello, this recipe is delicious, i loved your blog i will visit more often! Kisses.
Also visit the Sweet Kitchen
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Love creme puffs. Haven’t made them in probably over 10 years! Really need to try them again!
wonderfull and comes out perfect..awesom…
Who doesn’t love a cream puff? These look incredible! It’s like a little mini strawberry shortcake!
These look gorgeous! Love the balsamic strawberries w/ this, yum!! The puffs came out amazing!
Lizzy these look wonderful! My kids always want cream puffs for special occasions and I end up paying for frozen ones at Costco. Maybe I should learn to make them… these look so much better than those frozen ones we get.
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Those are some magical puffs of pure happiness!
Lizzy,
You have done it again my friend! I have been thinking about cream puffs for weeks now! It might be time I act on it!
what’s not to like about any of these ingredients.
Oh lovely – what a fun dessert! I haven’t made cream puffs in years.
*Quietly drools and sobs because I can’t reach into the computer and eat these*
Those are just gorgeous–the one time I made cream puffs, they didn’t look anywhere near as gorgeous. Love the idea of the balsamic strawberries as an accompaniment.
pâte à choux is one of the first things I made…well early enough in my baking career
cream puffs are so good and I like the strawberry idea.
Yum. I love cream puffs.
Lizzy, I wondered if you would post a sweet variety of these gorgeous puffs – they look incredible as usual
And I love that you gave a food demonstration – I wish I could have been there for that to pick up some tricks and tips from you…
How pretty! I love balsamic strawberries.
Look at how beautiful these are. They look so light and fluffy, while I sit here and eat brie on crackers. These look so refreshing. I will have to give these a try. Dorie’s book is amazing.
I think I’d love both equally as well. You’ve been a very busy lady!
I love simple recipes. This looks great and love how you added fresh strawberries. My kids would love this for after school snack!
Perfectly made Lizzy! Absolutely loved it!!!!
Homemade cream puffs, that is certainly decadent.
I think I gained a pound or two, just looking at those photos! Cream puffs with berries are such a treat.
This is of my favorites treats and this look amazing!! nice !
Gorgeous looking desserts!
Yes please! I love desserts with cream, and strawberries go perfectly with it. Yum!
These are beautiful Liz! I love the balsamic strawberries – a great flavor to set these puffs a step ahead.
Wonderful Liz….
I wish I can just grab one off the screen….
Yuummmm
I always used to make cream puffs with my mom when I was little
Thank you for bringing back memories, and the balsamic strawberries sound fantastic with it!
Looks absolutely delicious!!
And just where do we sign up for these demos? We want Lizzy, we want Lizzy, I lead the crowd for you. Yum cream puffs.
-Gina-
Baking demo from you sounds like just what I need… I have been having so many near-misses with my baking these days! These choux buns look perfect! Just gorgeous!
Mmmmm… cream puffs, so perfect with balsamic strawberries!
Nyam nyam
This is on my kitchen bucket list, I made eclairs, but now need to make these pretty little gems! Your cream puffs look wonderful! Hugs, Terra
Lizzy you blow my mind. I have been dying to make something like this. Now you’ve lit a fire under me. I gotz to haz these!
Balsamic strawberries sound so good and I bet are delicious with the cream puffs. They look lovely!
Lizzy, beautiful puffs! It is decadent…:)
Okay – these look absolutely amazing! Beautiful, the perfect size…and they have strawberries in them!
I love pâte à choux too & these looks perfect with whipped cream & strawberries. LOVELY! I only made once the choux puffs when I was making my Croquembouche for our 20th anniversary . That’s it but I think I’ll make it again
I’m in Heaven Liz, it looks wonderful and perfect for up coming Spring although it feels like it is here already where I am.
They look lovely. Just like everything you make
Have a lovely weekend
thank you for sharing your knowledge on food photography.
Liz, love your strob-balsamic touch – never thought of adding this to choux buns. Beautifully light and summery! Poifect.
Lizzy, I love cream puffs and yours look particularly beautiful! I always keep a good bottle of Balsamic vinegar on hand…I use it on strawberries all the time!
I have to learn how to make these! They look so perfectly light and I love strawberries and balsamic vinegar together!
The puffs looks totally awesome! Adding balsamic strawberries definitely gives a punch to the puffs
WOW…forget the salmon and lentils…these look really good!
Nice
When I was a little girl, my father made cream puffs with me. These tasty little treats will always hold a special place in my heart.
Yours look beautiful and I think its awesome you are giving baking demonstrations.
Holy yum! My daughter always loves when I bring home the frozen cream puffs from the store. I’ll be honest though, they leave a filmy coating on your tongue and I don’t think that’s right at all! I need to make my own and these look like a good place to start!
o wow! I’d like one of these right now please
The balsamic strawberries sound absolutely amazingggg with the cream puffs, love love love this recipe!!
Oh yummy! These cream puffs look perfect =)