Cream Puffs

Karen Sokol

This is a very special dessert that Charlie, Steve, Bob, and Jeff enjoy. They like them filled with chocolate pudding. My mother taught me to make them. Hayley learned to make them, but has never enjoyed all the stirring. . .I remember that my mother's favorite part to eat was the scooped out soft dough when we would fill them. She liked them best filled with whipped cream.

1 c. water

1/2 c. butter

1 c. flour

4 eggs

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball (about 1 minute). Remove from heat. Beat in eggs thoroughly, 1 at a time.

Beat until smooth. Drop from spoon onto ungreased baking sheet into mounds 3" apart. Bake about 38 to 45 minutes, or until puffed, golden brown, and dry. Allow to cool slowly, away from drafts. Cut off tops with sharp knife. Scoop out soft dough. Fill with sweetened whipped cream or cooled chocolate pudding or custard filling. Replace tops. Dust with confectioners' sugar or fill with ice cream, serve with sauce. Serve immediately. Makes about 8 cream puffs.

Chocolate Cream Pudding

1 c. sugar

2 T. cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

2 c. milk

2 squares unsweetened chocolate (2 oz.) or 1/3 cups cocoa and 3 T. extra melted butter

2 egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 tsp. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt in saucepan. Gradually stir in milk and chocolate, broken into pieces or cocoa mixed in melted butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Gradually stir at least half of hot mixture into egg yolks. Then blend into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Blend in butter and vanilla. When cool, spoon into cream puffs.

Custard Filling

1/2 c. sugar

1/3 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 c. milk

4 egg yolks (or 2 eggs), beaten

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar, flour, and salt in saucepan. Stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring until it boils. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir a little over half of mixture into egg yolks. Blend into hot mixture in saucepan. Bring just to boil. Cool and blend in vanilla. Fills 8 cream puffs.

Note: Jell-O Cook & Serve chocolate pudding is very convenient and good too.