Mini Cream Puffs

Hi friends– I’ve been trying NOT to put sweet desserts this month, truly I have,  not when everyone I know is trying to eat better, exercise more, lose a couple pounds…  But I can’t resist sending you these yummiest cream puffs.

In the lull after Christmas, but before back to school, a group of friends ended up by Jenni’s fireplace talking away the afternoon.  We all walked in the door with some treat to add to the overflowing table, most notable the “sticky toffee pudding” Jill brought in from London!  I’d never tasted that fabled dessert before and it was worth the wait.  My contribution were these small cream puffs.  Just a couple luscious bites, chocolatey and creamy with just the right amount of crispness.

MINI CREAM PUFFS

Puffs:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
4 eggs

Heat the water and butter to a rolling boil.  Stir in the flour and lower the heat.  Stir it all together until the mixture forms a big ball.  Remove it from the heat and stir in the eggs one at a time quickly so they don’t turn into scrambled eggs!  When it’s all well blended, drop the dough by spoonfuls  onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  The puffs will grow in the oven, so I made them a little smaller than ping pong balls.  Bake at 400 degrees until the puffs are firm and beautifully golden.  Cool them before you slice them in half and add the cream and chocolate.

Cream:
1 small box cook & serve vanilla pudding
1 pint whipping cream (save 1/2 cup for the chocolate glaze)
3 tab. powdered sugar

Make the pudding according to the box instructions, cooking on the stove top while the cream puffs are baking.  Let it cool to room temperature.  Whip the whipping cream with the powdered sugar and refrigerate until you are ready to put the cream puffs all together.

Chocolate glaze:
2 tab. butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
8 oz. chopped semi sweet chocolate

Simmer the cream and butter over low heat until the butter is melted.  Stir in the chocolate and beat for 2 minutes.  Let it cook to room temp before using.

Putting it all together:
Slice the puffs in half horizontally.  Fold the cooled pudding and the whipped cream together and spoon onto the bottom half of each little cream puff.  Pop on the top half of the puff and spoon over the chocolate glaze.

I loved making these little things.  They are like working with play dough and are surprisingly easy to concoct. Hope you like them…

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