Cream Puffs — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

A cream puff is choux at its simplest: get a crisp hollow shell and fill it with cold whipped cream. The trick is drying the paste on the heat until it films the pan, so steam has structure to inflate against.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 18 puffs

Flour

Provides the gluten that holds the puff open as it bakes.

1 cup

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Butter

Melted into the water for a tender, rich shell.

1/2 cup

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Eggs

Beaten in one at a time; their steam is what puffs the shells hollow.

4 eggs

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Heavy cream

Whipped cold into the filling; higher butterfat holds its shape longer.

1 1/2 cups

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Powdered sugar

Sweetens the whipped cream and dusts the tops; dissolves without grit.

1/3 cup

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Water

Boiled with butter to cook the paste.

1 cup

Local / market

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat

A reasonable little indulgence.

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Air fryerSheet pan

The Method

Cook the pasteBoil water, butter and salt, add flour all at once, and stir over medium heat 2-3 min until it balls up and films the pan.
Beat in eggsCool 5 min, then add eggs one at a time, beating to a glossy paste that ribbons off the spoon.
Pipe and bakePipe 1.5-inch mounds, bake at 425F for 15 min then 350F for 15 min until golden and light; keep the door shut so they hold.
Whip the creamBeat cold cream with powdered sugar and vanilla to stiff peaks.
FillSplit cooled puffs, pipe in the cream, and dust the tops with more powdered sugar just before serving.

The Toolkit

Piping bags · Round tip · Heavy saucepan · Hand mixer · Sheet pan

Straight Answers

Can you make Cream Puffs in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — this is exactly what an air fryer does well. Work in a single layer so the air can move, and shake or flip halfway for even crisping. It runs a touch faster than the oven, so check early.

Can you freeze Cream Puffs? — Not ideal

Not really — the cream, custard, or emulsion turns grainy or splits once thawed. This one is best kept fresh in the fridge.

Can you make Cream Puffs ahead of time? — Prep ahead

Best fried to order — the crunch fades if it sits. Do the breading or shaping ahead and cook it fresh when you serve.

Is Cream Puffs gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

Is Cream Puffs vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.361

Cream Puffs, and where to source it