Special Italian Cream Puffs with Custard Filling
Light, flaky puff pastry circles filled with rich, silky homemade custard. A classic Italian-style dessert that’s elegant yet easy to prepare—perfect for any special occasion or indulgent treat.
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
For best results, serve the puffs fresh or assemble shortly before serving to maintain crispness.
You can add a touch of citrus zest or almond extract to the custard for variation.
