Light and Luscious Vanilla Cream Puffs
Indulge in these airy, delicate vanilla cream puffs, reimagined to be lower in fat without sacrificing flavor! Crafted with a light choux pastry and a velvety vanilla cream filling that rivals vanilla ice cream, these delightful bites make a perfect dessert for parties, holidays, or an everyday treat with a twist. Your family and friends will love the creamy texture and sweet vanilla taste, while you can feel good about serving a lighter version of this classic dessert.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
water
1 cup (none)
unsalted butter
1/2 cup (cut into pieces)
salt
1/4 teaspoon (none)
all-purpose flour
1 cup (none)
eggs
4 (beaten)
cold nonfat milk
1 1/2 cups (none)
fat-free half-and-half
1/2 cup (none)
fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
2 (1 ounce) boxes (none)
fat free cream cheese
4 ounces (softened)
Cool Whip Topping
1 (12 ounce) container (none)
Instructions
1
In a saucepan, combine the water, unsalted butter, and salt over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
2
Once boiling, add the all-purpose flour all at once. Stir vigorously until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball, about 1-2 minutes.
3
Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes.
4
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until the mixture is smooth and shiny.
5
Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto a greased baking sheet or parchment paper, spacing them a few inches apart.
6
Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (204°C) for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and puffed up.
7
Once baked, remove the puffs from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool.
8
Immediately split each puff open, removing the tops and discarding the soft dough inside. Let the shells cool completely.
9
In a mixing bowl, combine the cold nonfat milk, fat-free half-and-half, and vanilla pudding mix. Whisk until thoroughly blended and let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
10
Blend in the softened fat-free cream cheese until smooth and well combined.
11
Gently fold in the Cool Whip until fully incorporated, creating a light and fluffy filling.
12
Fill the cooled cream puffs with the vanilla cream mixture and replace the tops.
13
Chill the filled cream puffs for at least one hour before serving for the best texture and taste.
14
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this recipe for?
This recipe is for Light and Luscious Vanilla Cream Puffs, a lower-fat version of the classic pastry dessert.
Is this recipe low in fat?
Yes, it uses nonfat milk, fat-free cream cheese, and fat-free sugar-free pudding to reduce the fat content.
What are the main ingredients for the choux pastry?
The pastry is made from water, unsalted butter, salt, all-purpose flour, and eggs.
How do I start making the pastry?
Begin by boiling water, unsalted butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat.
When should I add the flour to the pastry mix?
Add the all-purpose flour all at once after the water and butter mixture has reached a boil.
How long should I stir the flour mixture?
Stir vigorously for about 1-2 minutes until the mixture pulls away from the sides and forms a ball.
Do I need to let the dough rest?
Yes, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes before adding eggs.
How many eggs are required for the dough?
You will need 4 beaten eggs, added one at a time to the dough.
What is the correct way to add eggs to the dough?
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until the mixture is smooth and shiny.
How should I place the dough on the baking sheet?
Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto a greased baking sheet or parchment paper, spaced a few inches apart.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) for baking the puffs.
How long do the cream puffs take to bake?
Bake the puffs for 30-35 minutes or until they are golden brown and puffed up.
What should I do immediately after baking?
Remove the puffs from the oven and place them on a wire rack, then immediately split them open.
Why do I need to split the puffs open right away?
Splitting them open allows you to remove the soft dough inside so they can cool completely and be filled.
What components make up the vanilla cream filling?
The filling includes nonfat milk, fat-free half-and-half, instant vanilla pudding mix, fat-free cream cheese, and Cool Whip.
What type of pudding mix is used?
The recipe calls for two 1-ounce boxes of fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix.
How do I prepare the base of the filling?
Whisk together the cold nonfat milk, fat-free half-and-half, and pudding mix until blended.
How long does the pudding mixture need to sit?
Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to thicken before adding the other ingredients.
When should the cream cheese be added?
Blend in the softened fat-free cream cheese after the pudding mixture has thickened.
How is the Cool Whip incorporated?
Gently fold in the Cool Whip until it is fully incorporated into the mixture for a fluffy texture.
How much Cool Whip is needed?
The recipe uses one 12-ounce container of Cool Whip topping.
When do I fill the cream puffs?
Fill the shells once they have cooled completely and the filling is prepared.
Do I need to chill the puffs before serving?
Yes, chill the filled puffs for at least one hour for the best texture and taste.
How should leftovers be stored?
Any remaining cream puffs should be stored in the refrigerator.
Can I serve these at a party?
Absolutely, these are described as a perfect dessert for parties and holidays.
What is the texture of the cream puffs?
They are designed to be airy and delicate with a velvety, light, and fluffy filling.
Is the cream cheese supposed to be cold?
No, the cream cheese should be softened to ensure it blends smoothly into the filling.
What is the purpose of the fat-free half-and-half?
It adds richness to the filling without adding as much fat as traditional cream.
Does the recipe use salted or unsalted butter?
The recipe specifically calls for 1/2 cup of unsalted butter.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 10 total ingredients used to create these vanilla cream puffs.