Citrus Cream Puffs Recipe
Ingredients:
For the Choux Pastry:
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
For the Citrus Cream Filling:
- 2 cups (480ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
For Garnish:
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions:
Prepare the Choux Pastry:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Remove from heat and let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, until the dough is smooth and shiny.
Bake the Pastry:
- Using a spoon or a piping bag, drop or pipe small mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Then, reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the puffs are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Prepare the Citrus Cream Filling:
- In a large mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar, lemon zest, orange zest, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until stiff peaks form.
- Transfer the whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
Assemble the Cream Puffs:
- Once the choux pastry puffs are completely cooled, slice them in half horizontally.
- Pipe a generous amount of the citrus cream filling into the bottom half of each puff, then replace the top half.
Garnish and Serve:
- Dust the tops of the cream puffs with powdered sugar.
- Optionally, garnish with fresh mint leaves for a touch of color and freshness.
Enjoy these delightful citrus cream puffs as a refreshing and indulgent treat!