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READY IN 1 hr

Cream Puff Shells

Read Reviews (75)

"Choux pastry -- fill with sweetened whipped cream or custard." — GINGER P

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Measuring All-Purpose Flour

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Original recipe makes 12 large puffs Change Servings

1/2 cup shortening
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup boiling water

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
4 eggs

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Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In medium saucepan, combine shortening, salt and boiling water and heat until entire mixture boils. Reduce heat, add flour all at once and stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat and add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is thick and shiny and breaks from spoon.
Pipe or spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes, reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake 20 minutes more, or until golden and sound hollow when tapped. Cool and fill.

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PREP 20 mins
COOK 40 mins
READY IN 1 hr

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I make cream puffs a few times a year and this is a really good recipe. Make sure you cook the flour till it pulls away from the sides of the pan and looks kinda dry and don't forget 1 egg at a time. Don't cut out steps. You can fill these with anything. I make custard or a nepoleon cream. You can also fill with fresh fruit like berries maserated in sugar with a spoon of whipped cream. I usually drizzle with chocolate or a hard caramel. If you like them sweet use about 2T. sugar in the water, flour, butter mixture. If you want to make these savory omit sugar, up the salt a little and you can even add pepper to them to make them tastier. Fill with salmon mousse or a savory cheese spread.

—miki

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Feb 22, 2011

I could not get these to puff...Followed the recipe to a Tee...Wish they had though, cuz you all made them sound so yummy!

—gemstoneprincess

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86 Ratings

Aug 27, 2003

I've made these so many times and they turn out really good every time. I fill these with whipped cream mixed with cream cheese [1/2 cup whipping cream + 1/3 cup sugar + 8oz cream cheese] and they taste like little cheese cakes but in cream puff shells. And on some variations, I drizzle melted chocolate on the shells. Always a hit!

—Hartini

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Jan 25, 2004

In Australia we know these as profiteroles (a French dish) and people make a spectacular wedding cake out of them by building the filled puffs into a pyramid and covering them with a hard toffee glaze. As plain profiteroles we serve them filled with whipped cream or custard and covered in chocolate sauce. This is a very good recipe! My oven is gas and only needed 220 degrees Celcius, not 230 for the first 20 minutes. One trick I know is that if some are still a little raw inside it is not unheard of just to scoop out the uncooked bit!!!

—LOULOU73

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Jul 15, 2005

I am a BIG proponent of using butter rather than marg or shortening, but in these, I recommend marg or shortening - it produces a better result. Also, try layering the filling - the cream cheese/whipped cream on the bottom - on top, add some lemon curd or vanilla or chocolate pudding (I'm recommending these in the order in which I think they "work"), then top with whipped cream. Finely grated lemon zest on top of the lemon filled pastries is wonderful. They look glorious, and (especially with the lemon curd) are a HUGE hit! Enjoy!

—MUSIC_MINX

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Nov 24, 2006

Hubby loves cream puffs, so I make these often for him. You can also substitute beer for the water and fill the puffs with chicken, tuna or egg salad! Delicious!

—MICHELLE

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Aug 27, 2003

This recipe makes a very good cream puff. I fill with instant vanilla pud- ding. Also, melt semi-sweet choc. chips with small amount of shortening and dip tops of puffs. DMES

—Darcey

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Aug 27, 2003

Every time I've made these they come out perfect! No one believes that I made them, I also took another's advise & fill them with 1/2 c whipping cream+1/3 c sugar+8 oz cream cheese. They're a huge hit at any gathering.

—TRISHAMIL

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Nutrition

Calories
137 kcal
7%

Carbohydrates
8.1 g
3%

Cholesterol
70 mg
24%

Fat
10.3 g
16%

Fiber
0.3 g
1%

Protein
3.2 g
6%

Sodium
48 mg
2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Cream Puff Shells

Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
** Calories: 137
** Calories from Fat: 93

% Daily Value *
** Total Fat 10.3g 16 %
** Saturated Fat 2.7g 13 %
** Cholesterol 70mg 24 %
** Sodium 48mg 2 %
** Potassium 33mg < 1 %
** Total Carbohydrates 8.1g 3 %
** Dietary Fiber 0.3g 1 %
** Protein 3.2g 6 %
** Sugars 0.2g
** Vitamin A 2 %
** Vitamin C 0 %
** Calcium 1 %
** Iron 8 %
** Thiamin 9 %
** Niacin 10 %
** Vitamin B6 2 %
** Magnesium 2 %
** Folate 15 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.