This is one of our most popular dessert recipes and for good reason! This easy cream puff uses simple ingredients and only takes 20 minutes to make! The flaky puff pastry crust and real whipped cream filling make this cream puff a perfect party dessert!
I’ll show you how quick and easy they are to make.
Ingredients
Before starting this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
1 box of Puff Pastry Sheets. I like to use the Pepperidge Farms brand. One box comes with 2 ready-to-bake sheets.
Real Whipped Cream Filling Ingredients:
To make the whipped cream filling, you’ll need:
1-pint of heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup of confectioners’ (powdered) sugar.
Equipment and Supplies Needed
We used the following equipment and supplies to make this recipe.
- Cookie Cutter (I used snowflake shapes, but you can use whatever shape you want.)
- Baking Sheet
- Conventional Oven
- Electric hand or stand mixer
Recipe Tips
This recipe is easy to make if you know the right tips and tricks! Here are my tips for ensuring your cream puffs come out perfectly.
Puff Pastry Tips
Make sure the puff pastry dough is chilled before working with it. Working with warm dough is sticky and messy. Plus, your shapes won’t cut out neatly.
When cutting out the puff pastry dough, be sure to place the sheet of dough on a floured surface. The flour will prevent the dough from sticking to the surface.
Whipped Cream Tips
Use a cold bowl to make the whipped cream.
Whenever you’re working with whipped cream, it should be kept cold. Therefore, when you’re not eating it or working with it, keep it refrigerated or chilled. If you let it get warm, it will start to melt.
Basic whipped cream is made using confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and one pint of heavy whipping cream.
Mix all ingredients 2-3 minutes on high speed until soft, pillowy peaks form and hold their shape.
This cream puff recipe takes just 20 minutes to make and is ideal for wowing your guests with bakery-fresh bites.
Baking the Puff Pastry
The puff pastry shells are baked in the oven at 350°F.
Carefully cut out snowflakes and place them on a large baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper. You don’t need to worry about spacing them apart too much, because they rise up, rather than sideways.
Once all snowflakes are cut out, re-roll the dough out and cut out more if needed.
Bake 10-12 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t burn.
Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes, then carefully slice them in half with a bread knife.
If you want them to look fancy, use a piping bag to fill them with whipped cream. Otherwise, you can use a spoon to fill them.
Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar for a final touch!
Storage
If you want to store your cream puffs for later just follow these easy steps:
- Place them in a storage tray with an airtight lid. If you don’t have one, use a baking sheet.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Other Puff Pastry Recipes You Might Like
- Pumpkin Puff Pastry Turnovers
- Peaches and Cream Puff Pastry Dessert
- Raspberry Chocolate Cream Puffs
- Pistachio Cream Puffs
- Homemade Cream Puffs with Vanilla Cream Filling
Easy 20 Minute Cream Puff Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Cookie Cutter I used snowflake shapes, but you can use whatever shape you want.
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 conventional oven
- 1 Electric Hand or Stand Mixer
Ingredients
Puff Pastry
- 17.3 oz Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets 1 box
Real Whipped Cream Filling
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup confectionery sugar
Instructions
Puff Pastry Shell
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll out slightly thawed and pliable puff pastry dough.17.3 oz Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets
- Carefully cut out the puff pastry shapes and place them on a large baking sheet that's lined with parchment paper.
- Once all puff pastry shapes are cut out, re-roll the dough and cut out more if needed.
- Place in oven on center rack. Bake 10-12 mins
- Remove from oven. Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes.
- Using a bread knife, carefully slice the puff pastry in half.
Real Whipped Cream Pastry Filling
- Combine the heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar into a large bowl.1 pint heavy whipping cream, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 cup confectionery sugar
- Using a mixer, beat on high until peaks form and remain steady.
- Add the filling to a pastry bag and pipe into each snowflake. You can also use a spoon if you don't have a pastry bag.
Hi, you can!
Is there any reason you couldn’t put a little amount off the end of a teaspoon of jam just before adding whipped cream.puff pastry cream and jam, OMG.🇦🇺
OHHHH its my goodness i have been looking for fun these cookies idae sare so great for us .
Really you made y day
Thank you so much for this .
Great recipe! Thank you for sharing ..Love it!
Hi Denise, Please note, Whipped cream must be sweetened and flavored before freezing.
These will only last up to 30 days frozen for best taste.
Can you freeze these and how long do they last unfrozen. Looking for cookie ideas for my son’s wedding.
Absolutely! Most shapes should also work great.
Can I use other Christmas cookie cutters to make the cream puffs?
You bake one sheet at a time. One sheet fits on a large baking sheet. If you do not have one, two baking sheets that are smaller will work.
One sheet at a time or both sheets? Doesn’t puff pastry com with 2 per package?
Has anyone ever had Stella d Oro Angenities.? Similar recipe but uses filling made of crushed pineapple drained and cool whip. Also a different filling.
Hi, you can make the pastry but not the cream! I would not stuff them until the day of.
Can i make these the night beforehand
Unroll it from the package. Thank you, for stopping by!
When you say to roll out the puff pastry dough…..
Just unroll it from the package or actually with the rolling pin?
Hi, I used the entire package! If you cannot do cookie cutters, you can also cut it into little squares to pre-bake it which is easier.
The Puff Pastry comes in sheets, do you use one or more?
How long can they be left out of frig. Want to take them to a holiday gathering.
My mother used to make these but she would use drained pineapple in the whipped cream.
Yes, you can add up to one tsp and skip the vanilla extract.
Could you add a flavoring to the whip cream I.e. Coconut, almond, lemon, peppermint? Do you have to adjust amounts in any way if you add flavoring?
Thank you so much for stopping by! So glad to hear you all loved them!
Absolutely loved making these. The instructions were right on and easy to follow. My finished product made me feel like the baker I’m truly not. Everyone loved them! Thank you for sharing.
Very easy to make wasn’t to filling. Great for my son to eatover
Sure, you could do that!
I am sure you made them already but I use 2 tablespoons
I wish I came across this recipe sooner for the holidays. So simple and my kind of desert. This is a keeper. Can’t wait to make thease next occasion. Thanks so much. ????
Sandra
It doesn’t say how much confectionery sugar for the whipped cream. Can you tell me how much you use?
For a savory, could these be filled with chicken salad and of course omit the powder sugar.?
I think I will drizzle these with peppermint flavoured chocolate, as well as the icing sugar. It will add to the festive flavour.????
I would love To make these…BUT !!! What Temp Do I Set The Oven On
Thank You Amy, For The delicious Creme Cheese
Filling It Will be The Only Pastry filling I Will Use
It’s A lot Like A Filling I Use Another Desert I Use
JustWanted to Let You Know How Much I Appreciate
You Sharing Sincerely Rhonda Stewart
Yes, they store for 24 just fine in the fridge!
How soon after making do you have to serve these. Can they be made the day before?
That will happen with any real cream dessert with powdered sugar..kind of coats the roof of your mouth.
P.F. Puffed Pastry states 400. By the way…. made these. They left a greasy film in my mouth. It was like eating lard. Any tips?
Hi, 3inch like these: http://amzn.to/2jsxFpt
Hi Amy I was wondering the size of the snowflake cookie cutter you used . I have one but it seems really large.
Thanks della
I have never tried freezing them, but I would guess not with the cream in them!
Would these freeze well? Could add the powdered sugar before serving.
350 -so sorry!
What is the oven temperature set on???
What a pretty and easy pastry-like cookie to make with puff pastry. I have lots of shapes of small cookie cutters and can’t wait to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
These are adorable. I love cream puffs. It would be fun to get the kids involved with cutting out the shapes.
Those look absolutely DELISH and I can’t wait to go out and buy all the ingredients you mention in your post and try and attempt this recipe with my kids! Perfect for the holidays!
What a fun and cute recipe! This would be great for the holidays coming up!
We have food allergies and can’t have these as a family but wish I did this. Amazing idea!! :D
These are so fun! My kids will surely love these! Perfect treat!
These look super cute and easy to make! Will definitely be trying them with the kids this holiday season!
um. the above should say winter not dinner. lol :)
These look delicious! The snowflake shape is perfect as we head into dinner.
Yesssss!! I’m going to have to pick up Puff Pastry tomorrow to make these! So good!
O man those are cute!! They could be awesome Anna and else flakes too!!
Ah, these are the best! It’s crazy how many fun things you can make with those puff pastry sheets!
I am excited to start my Holiday baking. I will have to add these to my baking list. They look so delicious.
I know my kids are going to love helping me make these. They would be perfect for a holiday party.
These look so delicious and easy to make. I will have to give this recipe a try. I know they will be a big hit.
This looks so good! I am totally making these for our Thanksgiving brunch. It looks so easy!
Mm delicious! I love puff pastries. These would make a great addition to our holiday parties.
OH YUM! I love cream puffs! They’re a holiday favorite for me!
My family would devour these if I made them. I would definitely have to make a whole lot since whenever they are given the option of puff pastry anywhere it is a must!
These would be perfect for our holiday get together that we host every year. I know that my guests would be blown away!
I absolutely love puff pastry but have never made it myself. These look so delicious.
These are so cute! I love that there’s no need to make puff pastry from scratch.
Oh these look so good! I’ve been looking for some fun Christmas cookie ideas, these will be a great addition to our holiday cookie baking.
Oh my goodness, YES, these look amazing. What a fabulous way to celebrate the holidays with the star that started it all :) Thanks so much for sharing. I will totally be trying these.
These look heavenly!!! I love how easy the look to make up, my family would love to eat these.
Oh my gosh this looks so good! I am totally making these for Thanksgiving. Simple,easy, and SOOOOO good.
Those look delicious! I think I’ll serve these when we have the family over for Christmas.