National Cream Puff Day | Cream Puffs with Bourbon Cream
And here we all thought that 2014 would be the year of healthier living… Well I’m sorry that on just the second day of the year you have to break your promise to yourself because it’s National Cream Puff Day! Who doesn’t love a cream puff? Well, my husband, for one, because he’s crazy and doesn’t like cream. Say whatttt?! But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge. Consider this your cheat day.
To be honest, I prefer eclairs because you can do so much more with them since they traditionally have some sort of topping, unlike cream puffs. Although I do love dusted confectioners sugar. And, actually, National Chocolate Eclair Day is June 22nd so you’ll have to tune back in for that recipe.
When it comes to these food holidays, I want to always try to do something a little different. Even if it’s not the greatest idea ever, and even if I have the feeling that it has been done before, I want to try to have at least some element that elevates the recipe to something other than a recipe that you’ve probably seen a million times.
Hence the bourbon.
All cream puff shells are kinda sorta made equal, at least as far as I’ve seen, so the shells are going to be the same in most cases. But what a shell it is, right? Soft and eggy, it’s such a great little dessert. What I decided to do for this national food holiday was make a bourbon cream to fill the shells with. Not only did we have some Jim Beam left over from our wedding, but I was in the mood for an adult dessert.
Although I didn’t make a full blown whipped cream cocktail, you can taste the bourbon and I can say that it does a cream good. If you want to go the more traditional route, replace vanilla extract with the bourbon in the recipe below, but you may need less of it than what I’ve indicated. The best part of making whipped cream is the frequent tastings to make sure you’ve got it just right.
- [b]Cream Puff Shells[/b]
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 4 large eggs
- A pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- [b]Bourbon Cream Filling[/b]
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp Bourbon
- Preheat oven to 400*F. In saucepan combine water and butter, bringing to a boil. Add flour, salt, and vanilla, stirring constantly until a dough forms.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating on medium after each. Once all eggs are incorporated, beat on medium for 3 minutes.
- Transfer dough to a greased baking sheet by 3 tbsp pieces. You can also use a piping bag. Flatten top (optional).
- Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown. Poke a small hole in the top of each to allow steam to escape.
- Slice each cream puff shell open and fill with cream followed by a dusting of powdered sugar.
- In medium bowl, whip heavy cream.
- Add sugar and bourbon, beating until incorporated.
- Fill pastry bag with cream and fill cream puff shells.
DID YOU KNOW: Cream puffs date back to the 16th century. The differences between cream puffs and eclairs are in the placement of cream, toppings used, and the shape of the pastry, but the dough used to make both is called pâte à choux.
Tomorrow: Chocolate-Filled/Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day
I remember the first time I made cream puffs. I was like…is that all there is? Then I tried making pastry cream and learned not all things are easy. hahaha I like your filling with the bourbon cream.
My mother used to fill her cream puffs with tuna, chicken, ham or egg salad (much easier than pastry cream).
I know, right?? I was surprised at how easy it was. Chicken Salad would be PERFECT in a cream puff. Thanks for the tip!
Great post! The pics were amazing and made me want to lick my computer screen, lol. I will have to try this recipe.
Hahaha, lick your screen. I won’t tell. 🙂
Oh my goodness, these are just lovely!!! I really like how you “elevated” the traditional recipe with bourbon too! I’m with you on that desire to always twist a recipe up a bit so it’s not the same recipe everyone has seen 1,000 times…you definitely succeeded with that bourbon! YUM!
I drank a little bit of it too. 😉 Aren’t you supposed to drink with whatever booze you are cooking with? Default is wine. That’s what I’ve always hard, hehe.
I said I would be back for this and I’m so glad I did. I make cream puffs all the time but never made a ‘high octane’ cream filling. I’m snowed in this weekend and I just might have time to add this recipe to my “make today” list. I can’t wait to try it. Pinning and sharing.
I’m so glad that you came back! 🙂 I would definitely make these if I were you. Being snowed in sounds awful, but hopefully these cream puffs make it better.
This is all sorts of amazing. Great pictures!
Can I entice you up to Tampa with one?
More than anything, I love these photos!
Thanks, ol’ lady, hahahhaha.
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