Description
This Easy Cream Puff Recipe features light and airy pastry shells filled with a luscious banana cream cheese filling, topped with a rich chocolate ganache. Perfect for an elegant dessert or a special treat, these cream puffs combine flaky choux pastry with creamy, sweet banana filling and a decadent chocolate topping.
Ingredients
Cream Puff Pastry
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
Banana Cream Cheese Filling
- 2 bricks (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whipping cream, whipped
- 2 bananas, sliced
Chocolate Ganache Topping
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Prepare Cream Puff Pastry: In a saucepan, bring 1 cup water and ½ cup butter to a boil. Add 1 cup flour and ¼ teaspoon salt; stir vigorously over low heat until the mixture forms a smooth ball.
- Incorporate Eggs: Remove from heat. Add the 4 eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to fully incorporate and achieve a smooth dough.
- Shape and Bake: Drop ten ½ cupfuls of dough onto a lightly greased cookie sheet, shaping each to form a 9-inch ring. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 50 to 55 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool Pastry Shells: Immediately remove the puffs from the cookie sheet with a spatula and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make Banana Cream Cheese Filling: In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla extract; mix until well blended. Reserve ½ cup of this mixture separately. Fold the whipped cream and sliced bananas into the remaining cream cheese mixture gently. Chill until ready to use.
- Fill Cream Puffs: Carefully cut the tops off each cooled puff. Fill each with the chilled whipped cream and banana mixture, then replace the tops.
- Prepare Chocolate Ganache Topping: To the reserved ½ cup cream cheese mixture, add the remaining ½ cup powdered sugar, melted unsweetened chocolate, and 1 tablespoon milk. Mix well until smooth.
- Add Ganache Topping: Spread the chocolate ganache evenly over the top of each filled cream puff.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy mixing and a smooth filling.
- Whipping the cream just until soft peaks form will give a light and airy filling texture.
- Baking the cream puffs at high heat helps them puff up and develop a golden crust.
- Cool the pastry shells completely before filling to prevent the filling from melting.
- For best results, serve chilled or at room temperature shortly after assembling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
