Heavenly Strawberry Cream Puffs Recipe

Dreamy Strawberry Cream Puffs Recipe: Fluffy Bites of Joy

Sweet, delicate pastry shells burst with a luxurious strawberry cream that dances on the palate.

These heavenly strawberry cream puffs bring a touch of elegance to any dessert table.

Crisp choux pastry creates the perfect golden vessel for a silky smooth filling.

Each bite delivers a delightful combination of light, airy texture and rich, fruity flavor.

The delicate cream puffs offer a sophisticated treat that feels both indulgent and refined.

Prepare to impress your guests with this classic French-inspired dessert that transforms simple ingredients into a spectacular finale.

Let these irresistible cream puffs become the star of your next gathering.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 220 kcal

Servings: 13

What You’ll Need For Strawberry Cream Puffs

For Choux Pastry Base:
  • Water: Creates steam to help pastry rise and develop airy texture.
  • Milk: Adds richness and helps bind ingredients smoothly.
  • Butter: Provides flavor and helps create flaky, tender pastry.
  • Salt: Enhances overall taste and balances sweetness.
  • Flour: Structural foundation that gives pastry its classic shape.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients together and create glossy, stretchy dough.
For Cream Filling:
  • Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, light texture with elegant volume.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize whipped cream.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth to cream filling.
  • Fresh Strawberries: Brings vibrant fruity flavor and natural sweetness.
For Finishing Touches:
  • Powdered Sugar: Provides elegant dusting and subtle sweetness.
  • Chocolate: Optional elegant drizzle for extra decadence.

Tools You’ll Use For Strawberry Cream Puffs

  • Mixing Bowl: Essential for combining ingredients and mixing dough.
  • Medium Saucepan: Perfect for heating pastry ingredients and creating choux pastry base.
  • Wire Rack: Crucial for cooling pastry shells evenly after baking.
  • Baking Sheet: Needed for creating and baking pastry mounds.
  • Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and ensures easy pastry removal.
  • Piping Bag or Spoon: Used for shaping dough and filling cream puffs.
  • Electric Mixer or Whisk: Great for whipping cream to stiff peaks.
  • Sharp Knife: Helpful for slicing pastry shells in half.

Making Strawberry Cream Puffs Step By Step

  • Craft Choux Pastry Dough

Boil water, milk, butter, and salt in a saucepan. Dump flour into the bubbling mixture and whisk aggressively until a smooth ball forms. Cook the dough on low heat, stirring constantly to release moisture. Cool slightly, then beat eggs into the mixture one at a time until silky and glossy.

  • Shape and Bake Pastry Shells

Dollop dough onto a lined baking sheet in round mounds. Slide into a hot oven and bake until puffy and golden. Avoid peeking while baking to maintain perfect rise. Let shells cool completely on a wire rack.

  • Whip Creamy Strawberry Filling

Grab a chilled bowl and transform heavy cream into fluffy peaks with a touch of sweetness. Tenderly fold fresh strawberry chunks into the cloud-like cream. Chill the mixture until you’re ready to assemble.

  • Create Dreamy Cream Puffs

Slice pastry shells horizontally. Generously spoon strawberry cream into the bottom halves. Crown each puff with its top. For a final flourish, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate.

Smart Tips For Strawberry Cream Puffs

  • Perfect Pastry Precision: Keep choux pastry dough smooth by mixing eggs thoroughly and ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
  • Texture Triumph: Avoid opening the oven during baking to prevent pastry from deflating, which guarantees a perfectly puffy exterior.
  • Storage Secrets: Store unfilled cream puffs in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze for longer preservation.
  • Diet-Friendly Delights: Make gluten-free versions by substituting regular flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free options, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream and plant-based butter in the pastry.
  • Flavor Adventure: Experiment with different fruit fillings like raspberries, blueberries, or a mixed berry blend to create unique flavor combinations that keep your dessert exciting and fresh.

Serving Strawberry Cream Puffs With Style

  • Strawberry Symphony: Elevate your cream puffs with these delightful serving suggestions!
  • Brunch Bliss: Arrange cream puffs on a beautiful platter surrounded by fresh whole strawberries and mint leaves for a stunning breakfast centerpiece that'll wow your guests.
  • Dessert Party Platter: Create an interactive dessert station where friends can add their own toppings like chocolate shavings, crushed pistachios, or extra powdered sugar, making the experience fun and personalized.
  • Summer Picnic Perfection: Pack these cream puffs in individual clear containers with a small ice pack to keep them cool, creating a portable and elegant dessert for outdoor gatherings or romantic picnics.
  • Afternoon Tea Elegance: Serve these cream puffs on a delicate tiered stand alongside other petit fours, creating a sophisticated and Instagram-worthy dessert presentation that feels both classic and modern.

Storing Strawberry Cream Puffs Made Simple

  • Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store assembled cream puffs in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for maximum freshness, consuming within 1-2 days to maintain crisp pastry texture and creamy filling quality.
  • Advance Preparation Hack: Create choux pastry shells up to 24 hours before filling, storing them in a sealed container at room temperature to retain their delicate crunch and prevent sogginess.
  • Filling Freshness Technique: Keep strawberry cream filling separately in a sealed container within the refrigerator for up to 48 hours, allowing flexible preparation and preventing pastry from becoming soft prematurely.
  • Freezing Wisdom: Unfilled choux pastry shells can be frozen for 2-3 weeks in a freezer-safe container, thawing at room temperature for 30 minutes before adding strawberry cream filling, ensuring convenient make-ahead dessert options.
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Heavenly Strawberry Cream Puffs Recipe

Heavenly Strawberry Cream Puffs


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4.8 from 39 reviews

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Delightful strawberry cream puffs merge French pastry techniques with sweet summer flavors. Crisp choux pastry shells cradle luscious strawberry cream, offering a perfect balance of texture and taste for elegant dessert enthusiasts.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
  • ½ cup (75 g) fresh strawberries, finely diced
  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • powdered sugar for dusting
  • melted chocolate for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Pastry Base Preparation: Combine water, milk, butter, and salt in a saucepan, heating until the mixture reaches a rolling boil, creating a foundational liquid for the choux pastry.
  2. Dough Development: Remove from heat and vigorously incorporate flour, stirring until the mixture transforms into a cohesive, smooth ball that cleanly separates from the pan’s interior.
  3. Moisture Elimination: Return the dough to low heat, continuously stirring to extract excess moisture and establish a robust structural integrity for the cream puffs.
  4. Egg Integration: Cool the dough momentarily, then methodically blend eggs into the mixture, ensuring a silky, glossy consistency that will produce light, airy pastry shells.
  5. Shell Formation: Pipe or spoon the prepared dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, creating uniform circular mounds with strategic spacing to accommodate expansion during baking.
  6. Baking Process: Roast the pastry shells in a preheated oven at the specified temperature, allowing them to metamorphose into golden, puffy vessels with a crisp exterior and delicate hollow interior.
  7. Cooling and Stabilization: Transfer the baked shells to a wire rack, permitting complete cooling to develop the optimal texture for filling and handling.
  8. Cream Preparation: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract in a chilled bowl, generating a light, airy base for the vibrant strawberry cream filling.
  9. Filling Creation: Gently fold diced strawberries into the whipped cream, ensuring even distribution and creating a luscious, fruity filling.
  10. Assembly and Presentation: Slice the cooled pastry shells horizontally, pipe the strawberry cream into the bottom halves, replace the top sections, and finish with a delicate dusting of powdered sugar or an elegant chocolate drizzle.

Notes

  • Manage Moisture Precisely: Control liquid content during dough preparation to prevent soggy or dense pastry shells, ensuring a light, crisp texture.
  • Temperature Control is Critical: Maintain consistent oven heat and allow gradual cooling to develop perfect choux pastry structure with hollow interiors.
  • Prepare Ingredients Strategically: Chill cream whipping bowl and ingredients beforehand to achieve maximum volume and stability in the strawberry cream filling.
  • Customize Filling Flexibility: Adapt strawberry cream by substituting fruits or adding complementary flavors like mint or dark chocolate for dietary preferences and creative variations.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 220
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg
Marcus Foley

Marcus Foley

Food Critic & Kitchen Coach

Expertise

Recipe Testing and Troubleshooting; Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks; Global Flavor Exploration; Engaging Food Writing and Honest Reviews.

Education

Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), New York, NY

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in foundational techniques, flavor development, recipe creation, and kitchen efficiency, with an emphasis on real-world application and storytelling through food.

Marcus Foley, based in Atlanta, GA, is a friendly food expert who makes cooking fun and simple.

With hands-on training from the Institute of Culinary Education and years of tasting everything from street food to fine dining, he shares easy kitchen hacks, global flavor ideas, and step-by-step recipes that turn kitchen mishaps into delicious surprises.

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