Light, flaky, and filled with creamy nostalgia—these puffs are straight from Nonna’s kitchen.
A Bite of Italian Elegance ✨
There’s something magical about biting into a crisp, golden puff and finding a silky, rich custard inside. It’s a dessert that whispers luxury, yet it’s delightfully simple to make at home. These Italian Cream Puffs with Custard Filling are the perfect treat to wow your guests or to simply indulge yourself after a long day. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just craving something sweet and comforting, this classic dessert delivers every time.
Let’s dive into the delicate layers of puff pastry and the luscious custard hiding within.
🧾 Ingredients
For the Pastry:
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
For the Custard Filling:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Pinch of salt
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
👩🍳 Instructions – Special Italian Cream Puffs
1. Prepare the Puff Pastry:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, cut the puff pastry into circles using a cookie or biscuit cutter.
- Place the rounds on the baking sheet and gently prick them with a fork to prevent over-puffing.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes until golden, crisp, and flaky.
- Let them cool completely on a wire rack.
2. Make the Creamy Custard:
- In a saucepan, whisk together milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken slightly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks.
- Slowly pour a small amount of the hot milk mixture into the yolks to temper them, whisking constantly.
- Return the tempered yolks to the saucepan.
- Continue to cook and stir over medium heat for about 5 more minutes, until thick and creamy.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and butter until smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap (pressing it directly onto the surface), and chill for at least 30 minutes.
3. Assemble the Cream Puffs:
- Slice each puff pastry round in half horizontally.
- Spoon or pipe the chilled custard onto the bottom half of each puff.
- Place the top half gently on top.
- Finish with a dusting of powdered sugar for that elegant touch.
🍴 Serving Suggestions
These Italian cream puffs are perfect on their own, but if you want to take them over the top:
- Serve with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or caramel.
- Add fresh berries on the side for a fruity balance.
- A sprig of mint makes for a beautiful garnish.
🧮 Nutritional Information
- ⏰ Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🔥 Cooking Time: 20 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 40 minutes + chilling
- ⚡ Calories: Approx. 300 per puff
- 🍽️ Servings: 6
🥄 Final Thoughts
Whether you call them bigné, cream puffs, or simply heaven in a bite, this recipe is a timeless treasure. It brings the flavor of Italy into your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction.
Save this recipe, share it with a friend, and enjoy the kind of dessert that feels like a warm hug from an Italian grandma. 💛🇮🇹
Special Italian Cream Puffs with Custard Filling
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- – Baking Sheet
- – Parchment Paper
- Round pastry cutter
- – Knife
- Spoon or piping bag
- Sieve (optional, for dusting sugar)
Ingredients
- Pastry:
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Custard Filling:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Pinch of salt
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut puff pastry into 3–4 inch circles. Place on baking sheet and prick lightly with a fork.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until golden and flaky. Let cool completely.
- In a saucepan, whisk together milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
- In a bowl, whisk egg yolks. Temper by slowly adding some hot milk mixture to the yolks, whisking constantly.
- Return mixture to the pan and cook, whisking, until thick and smooth (about 5 minutes).
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract and butter until smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Slice pastry circles in half. Pipe or spoon chilled custard onto bottom half; top with the other half.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
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