Easy Cream Puffs With Vanilla Filling

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream, well chilled
• 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons hot water

Recipe

• 1 for the puffs: preheat oven to 400.
• 2 heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a medium sized saucepan. turn heat down to low, and stir in flour with wooden spoon. stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball.
• 3 remove from heat, and either place mixture into stand mixer or have a hand mixer ready. add eggs all at one time, and beat everything together until smooth and shiny.
• 4 drop dough by scant 1/4 cup 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
• 5 bake 35-40 minutes until puffed and golden brown. (do not pull out too early or they will "fall." it is better to slightly overbake than to underbake!).
• 6 remove from oven, and cool to room temperature.
• 7 for the filling: while the puffs are baking, in a medium to large mixer bowl, blend pudding with milk until all lumps are gone on low speed.
• 8 add whipping cream, and beat on medium speed for two minutes or until soft to semi-firm peaks form. refrigerate mixture until puffs are ready to be filled.
• 9 for the icing: melt chocolate and butter over low heat in small saucepan. remove from heat; stir in confectioner's sugar and about 2 tablespoons of hot water (more or less). beat until smooth. consistency should be able to "drizzle.".
• 10 assembly: either cut tops off completely, or cut to the back to leave a "hinge." fill puffs with pudding mix, replace tops, then drizzle with chocolate icing. refrigerate until serving time. best served day of.