Mr. Z's Cream Puffs

By minicoopercraig

This recipe is highly guarded, and prized, throughout the Z clan. :) It was recently brought to light while searching through his recipe collection, and I knew I just had to be on here! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• Batter:
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup, 1 stick, butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• Custard:
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup corn starch
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 cups milk
• 4 egg yolks (slightly beaten)
• 2 tsp vanilla

Preparation

Step 1

To make the puffs:

Place water, butter and salt in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Remove the pan from the heat and add in the flour, all at once, and beat with a wooden spoon until the flour has been incorporated.
Return the pan to the heat and continue beating until the dough is thick and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Remove the pan from the heat and beat in the eggs, one at a time until after each addition the mixture is smooth.
Once done, drop the dough, by the tablespoonful, onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Once browned, turn off the oven and pierce the puffs with a toothpick or wooden skewer. Leave the puffs in the oven for about 10 more minutes, with the door slightly cracked, to dry out.

To make the custard:

Blend the butter, starch, sugar, salt and milk in a saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Add the egg and vanilla. Return to a boil and keep it there for 2 minutes. Stirring continuously. Remove from the heat, and when cooled slightly, spoon into the cooled down puffs and serve.