A Cream Puff Cake is a delicious dessert inspired by the classic cream puff pastry, but in the form of a cake. It’s made with a fluffy, light, and buttery crust, filled with a smooth, creamy filling, often with a layer of whipped cream or custard. It’s perfect for parties, gatherings, or just a sweet treat at home. Here’s a simple recipe to make this delightful dessert:
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 1 package (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Topping (optional):
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Crust:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a medium saucepan, combine water and butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a boil.
- Stir in the flour and salt until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball.
- Remove from heat, and let the dough cool for 5 minutes.
- Once the dough has cooled slightly, beat in the eggs, one at a time, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- Spread the dough evenly into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the dough is golden and puffed up. Do not open the oven during baking, as it may collapse.
- Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool completely in the baking dish.
2. Prepare the Filling:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the vanilla pudding mix and cold milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
- In a separate bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar together until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture until fully combined.
3. Assemble the Cake:
- Once the crust has cooled, spread the pudding mixture evenly over the crust.
- Optionally, dust the top with powdered sugar for decoration.
- Refrigerate the cream puff cake for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before serving, to allow the flavors to meld and the filling to set.
Tips:
- You can also add a layer of chocolate ganache on top for extra richness.
- If you prefer a lighter crust, you can bake the dough in a muffin tin to create individual cream puff cakes.
- The cake keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days.
Enjoy your homemade cream puff cake! It’s a sweet, creamy dessert that’s sure to impress everyone!
