Sweet & Airy Strawberry Cream Puffs Recipe: A Dreamy Dessert Treat

Strawberry cream puffs tantalize taste buds with their delicate, airy texture and luscious filling.

Light, crisp pastry shells create the perfect vessel for sweet, velvety cream and vibrant berry goodness.

These elegant desserts showcase a delightful balance of textures that dance across your palate.

Soft, pillowy pastry meets silky smooth cream in a harmonious culinary embrace.

Delicate yet decadent, these treats represent the pinnacle of French-inspired pastry craftsmanship.

Sophisticated yet approachable, they elevate simple ingredients into a remarkable dessert experience that feels both luxurious and comforting.

Prepare to elevate your baking skills and impress friends with this utterly irresistible confection.

What to Serve Alongside These Beauties

• Pair with Bubbly Champagne: The light, airy choux pastry and sweet strawberry cream create a perfect match with crisp champagne, cutting through the richness while enhancing the dessert's delicate flavors.
• Complement with Lavender Tea: A subtle, floral lavender tea balances the strawberry's sweetness and provides a refreshing counterpoint to the creamy texture of the puffs.
• Match with Vanilla Bean Gelato: Smooth, cool vanilla gelato echoes the cream's softness while adding depth to the strawberry's bright notes, creating a harmonious dessert experience.
• Serve with Sparkling Rosé: The wine's light pink hue and berry undertones mirror the strawberries, creating a visually appealing and flavor-aligned pairing that elevates the cream puffs.

Fresh Flavors That Pair With Strawberry Cream

• Berry Bliss Cream Puffs: Swap strawberries with mixed raspberries and blackberries for a vibrant, tangy flavor profile that adds depth to the classic dessert.
• Chocolate Lovers' Dream: Incorporate rich chocolate ganache into the whipped cream and drizzle dark chocolate over the assembled cream puffs for an indulgent twist.
• Tropical Paradise Puffs: Replace strawberries with fresh mango chunks and add a hint of coconut extract to the whipped cream for a refreshing, exotic version of the classic recipe.
• Nutty Caramel Cream Puffs: Sprinkle toasted almond slivers on top and drizzle caramel sauce over the filled pastries to create a crunchy, sweet variation that elevates the dessert.

Why These Cream Puffs Feel Like Summer

• Create Delicate Texture Sensation: These cream puffs deliver an irresistible combination of crispy choux pastry exterior and silky smooth whipped cream interior that melts perfectly in your mouth.
• Craft Quick Elegant Dessert: Impressive pastry that looks professionally made but actually requires simple techniques, making it accessible for home bakers wanting to create stunning sweet treats in under an hour.
• Celebrate Fresh Seasonal Flavors: Incorporating fresh strawberries provides a bright, natural sweetness that elevates the classic cream puff, transforming it from ordinary to extraordinary with minimal extra effort.
• Enjoy Versatile Dessert Experience: Perfect for afternoon tea, summer gatherings, or as a sophisticated finish to any dinner party, these cream puffs adapt beautifully to multiple occasions while delighting everyone's taste buds.

Strawberries, Cream, and Dreamy Dough

• Milk: A key liquid base that helps create a smooth, rich pastry texture.
• Water: Provides the necessary moisture for the choux pastry dough.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a golden, flaky exterior.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pastry.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structural foundation that gives choux pastry its characteristic shape.
• Eggs: Provide structure, lift, and help create a light, airy texture.

• Heavy Cream: Creates a luxurious, smooth whipped cream with perfect consistency.
• Confectioner's Sugar: Sweetens the cream and helps stabilize the whipped texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, classic flavor to the whipped cream.

• Strawberries: Fresh, sweet berries that add bright flavor and visual appeal.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides a delicate, elegant finish to the cream puffs.

How to Bake and Fill to Fluffy Perfection

Step 1: Prepare Oven

Set the oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Create Pastry Base

• Milk
• Water
• Butter
• Salt

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat.

Step 3: Mix Flour Mixture

Remove the pot from heat and quickly sift in flour. Stir vigorously until the mixture forms a smooth ball of dough.

Step 4: Cook Dough

Return the pot to low heat. Continuously stir the dough for 1-2 minutes until a thin layer forms on the bottom of the pot.

Step 5: Cool and Add Eggs

Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl. Let it cool for 3-4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until the batter becomes glossy and smooth.

Step 6: Pipe Pastry Mounds

Fill a piping bag with the dough. Pipe 2-inch round mounds onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each puff.

Step 7: Prepare for Baking

Lightly spray the dough mounds with water. Gently smooth any pointed peaks with a damp finger.

Step 8: Bake Pastry

Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 20 minutes until golden brown and puffy.

Step 9: Cool Puffs

Remove from oven and transfer pastries to a wire rack. Allow to cool completely.

Step 10: Prepare Whipped Cream

• Heavy cream
• Confectioner's sugar
• Vanilla extract

Whip until medium peaks form.

Step 11: Fill Pastries

Carefully slice the tops off the cooled pastry puffs.

Step 12: Add Cream and Strawberries

Generously fill each puff with whipped cream. Top with freshly sliced strawberries.

Step 13: Final Touch

Dust the filled pastries with powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.

Serving Tip: Best enjoyed immediately after filling to maintain the crisp texture of the pastry.

Tips for Crispy Shells and Silky Cream

• Nail the Choux Pastry Consistency: Mix the flour rapidly when adding to prevent lumps and ensure a smooth, silky texture that creates perfectly puffy shells.
• Master the Egg Technique: Add eggs gradually and mix thoroughly, watching for a glossy, pipe-able batter that drops slowly from the spatula – this guarantees light, airy pastry.
• Optimize Baking Precision: Use the two-temperature method by starting hot and then reducing heat to create crisp exterior and soft interior without deflating the delicate puffs.
• Chill Cream Whipping Tools: Always use a cold mixing bowl and chilled whisk to achieve maximum volume and stable whipped cream that holds its shape beautifully.
• Handle Strawberries Strategically: Slice strawberries just before filling to prevent excess moisture from making the pastry soggy, ensuring a crisp and fresh final presentation.

Save and Chill Your Puffs Just Right

• Store Leftovers
• Refrigerate cream puffs in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Keep them away from strong-smelling foods to maintain their delicate flavor.
• Freeze Method: Wrap individual cream puffs tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen cream puffs will last up to 1 month. Avoid freezing filled pastries as the whipped cream texture will change.
• Reheat Technique: Thaw frozen cream puffs at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Crisp them briefly in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore their original crunch. For best results, add fresh whipped cream and strawberries just before serving to maintain optimal texture and taste.

Strawberry Cream Puffs Recipe

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4.7 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Heavenly French strawberry cream puffs combine delicate choux pastry with luscious cream and fresh strawberries. Sweet, airy pastries promise a delightful escape into French culinary artistry that will make you swoon with each delicate bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients (Choux Pastry):

• 65 g (2.3 ounces) unsalted butter
• 40 ml (1.35 fluid ounces) water
• 45 ml (1.52 fluid ounces) milk
• 70 g (2.5 ounces) cake flour
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 g (0.035 ounces) salt

Cream Filling:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy whipping cream, chilled
• 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Fruit Topping:

• ½ cup strawberries, stems removed and sliced

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C), ensuring the rack is positioned in the center.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine whole milk, water, unsalted butter, and salt, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat.
3. Remove the saucepan from heat and swiftly sift all-purpose flour into the liquid, stirring vigorously to create a cohesive paste.
4. Return the saucepan to low heat, continuously stirring the dough until a thin film develops on the bottom of the pan, indicating the moisture has evaporated.
5. Transfer the hot dough to a clean mixing bowl and allow it to cool for approximately 3-4 minutes, preventing the eggs from scrambling.
6. Incorporate eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing after each addition until the batter becomes smooth and glossy.
7. Prepare a piping bag with a large round tip and carefully pipe 2-inch (5 centimeters) uniform mounds onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. Lightly mist the piped dough with water and gently smooth any pointed peaks using a moistened fingertip.
9. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven, bake for 10 minutes at 400°F (204°C), then reduce temperature to 350°F (177°C) and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes until golden brown.
10. Remove from oven and transfer pastry shells to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to cool completely.
11. In a chilled mixing bowl, whip heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, and pure vanilla extract until medium-stiff peaks form.
12. Carefully slice the cooled pastry shells horizontally using a serrated knife.
13. Fill each pastry shell generously with the prepared whipped cream using a piping bag or spoon.
14. Arrange fresh strawberry slices artfully on top of the whipped cream.
15. Dust the assembled cream puffs with a delicate layer of powdered sugar just before serving.

Notes

• Master the choux pastry technique by ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next, creating a smooth, glossy batter that pipes perfectly.
• Achieve crisp, hollow puffs by baking at high initial temperature and then lowering heat, which helps create steam and rise.
• Use fresh, ripe strawberries for maximum flavor and slice them thinly to distribute evenly throughout the whipped cream filling.
• Chill your mixing bowl and whisk before whipping cream to help it reach medium peaks faster and maintain stability.
• Serve these cream puffs immediately after filling to prevent the pastry from becoming soggy and losing its delightful crunch.
• Store any leftover cream puffs in the refrigerator and consume within 24 hours for the best taste and texture.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 120 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 80 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 7 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg