These classic cream puffs feature light, airy pastry shells filled with a rich, silky vanilla cream. Perfect for an elegant dessert that’s easier to make than it looks!

Step 2: Preparing the Vanilla Cream

1. Heat the milk: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until just about to boil.
2. Mix the yolks and starch: In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks until smooth.
3. Temper the eggs: Slowly pour about 1/2 cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly to avoid curdling.
4. Cook the custard: Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and bubbling.
5. Add butter and vanilla: Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla extract. Let the cream cool, covering the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until ready to fill the puffs.

Step 3: Assembling the Cream Puffs

1. Fill a piping bag with the chilled vanilla cream. Use a small round tip or simply snip the bag.
2. Insert and pipe: Insert the tip into the side or bottom of each puff and gently pipe in the cream until it’s full.
3. Optional finishing touches: Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate for a professional look.

Step 4: Serving

Serve the cream puffs immediately, or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. They’re perfect for a dinner party, afternoon tea, or a sweet treat anytime you want something special without hours of effort.

Tips for Perfect Cream Puffs

• Make sure the eggs are incorporated one at a time to create the right dough texture.
• Pierce the shells after baking to prevent them from becoming soggy.
• Chill the cream thoroughly before filling for easy piping and a stable structure.
• Experiment with flavors: chocolate, coffee, or fruit-flavored creams can elevate your classic cream puffs.

With a little patience and these step-by-step instructions, you can make cream puffs that look like they came from a patisserie but are made entirely at home. Light, airy, and filled with silky vanilla cream, they are sure to delight anyone lucky enough to try them.

If you want, I can also make a version with pictures showing each step, so it’s visually easy to follow and looks super professional.

Do you want me to do that next?