Cream Puffs / Baked Bignè di San Giuseppe
Baked Bignè, Cream Puffs or Even Profiterole these choux pastry baked pastries are delicious. Filled with a sweetened whipped cream or even a simple Italian Pastry Cream either way they make the perfect dessert or St. Joseph’s day treat!
You can make this easy to follow Cream Puff Recipe in about an hour. This classic French dessert will be a big hit with everyone.
If there’s one thing the Italian loves it’s his Bigne on St. Joseph’s Day. In Italy and most Catholic countries it is celebrated as Father’s Day on March 18th. So I decided to make these again a few days early, and of course he didn’t complain.
How to make them
In a medium pot on medium heat, add the water, butter, sugar and salt mixing to combine as the butter melts.
When it starts to come to a rolling boil remove from the heat and add the flour all at once. Mix quickly and combine well with a wooden spoon.
Again place the pot on low heat and stir rapidly with a wooden spoon to allow the chioux paste to dry, it is ready when it starts to form a ball loses its wet appearance and leaves a white skin on the bottom of the pot, remove from heat.
Place the dough in the mixing bowl mix on low for a couple of minutes to cool the dough, then add the eggs one at a time, beating well between additions.
The dough batter should be glossy and creamy and fall in a stream from your paddle when ready.
Using a spoon or a pastry bag, form round mounds of pastry on the prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for about 35 minutes, leaving the puffs in the oven for about 10 minutes, turn the oven off, but leave the door slightly ajar. Then remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack before filling with an Italian Cream Filling or a simple whipped cream.
What is Choux Pastry?
It contains only 5-6 ingredients. Instead of a raising agent such as baking powder or baking soda, it uses high moisture content to create steam during cooking to puff the pastry. In French the word choux means cabbage, therefore the name comes from the small balls of choux pastry are thought to resemble little cabbages.
Tips on how to make the best Choux Pastry.
- The pastry is made with 6 ingredients.
- Make sure to add the flour all at once to the hot liquid and keep stirring.
- Let the dough cool before adding your eggs.
- Make sure to add the correct size eggs. In my recipe I use 4 eggs between 60-61 grams (shell included).
- Be sure to add the eggs one at a time into the dough and mix well before each addition.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375° for approximately 30-35 minutes, and make sure you don’t open the oven door before 25 minutes.
What is the difference between Profiterole and Cream Puffs?
The difference is that Profiteroles are frozen and the other is not. Although both can be filled and topped the same way. When making Profiteroles, after they are cooled from baking, they are filled with whipped cream or pastry cream and sometimes even ice cream, then they are frozen. In other words when you freeze your cream puffs they become Profiteroles!
How to store them
The puffs can be made 2-3 days in advance, be sure to store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator, they will keep for 2-3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
More Pastry Desserts you may enjoy!
There are two types of Bignè, Baked or fried. We prefer the Baked Bignè although I’m sure the Italian would never say no to either.
In Italy they are usually filled with an Italian cream or a simple whipped cream (Chantilly Filling). Either way these Creamy Puffs are delicious. Let me know if you try them. Enjoy!
Cream Puffs/Baked Bigne di San Giuseppe
Ingredients
FOR THE CHOUX PASTRY
- ¾ cup water (176 grams)
- 1½ teaspoons sugar
- 7 tablespoons butter (98 grams)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour (130 grams)
- 4 large eggs (room temperature) (each egg should weigh 60-61 grams with shell)
CHANTILLY CREAM FILLING
- 1 cup whole or whipping cream (240 grams)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons icing /powdered sugar (sifted)
Instructions
FOR THE CHIOUX PASTRY
- In a medium pot on medium heat, add the water, butter, sugar and salt mixing to combine as the butter melts, when it starts to come to a rolling boil remove from the heat and add the flour all at once. Mix quickly and combine well with a wooden spoon.
- Place the pot on low heat and stir rapidly with a wooden spoon for approximately 2 minutes to allow the choux pastry to dry, it is ready when it starts to form a ball, loses its wet appearance and leaves white skin on the bottom of the pot, remove it from the heat.
- Pre-heat oven to 375° (190° celsius). Line a 1-2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Transfer the dough to your mixing bowl and with the flat beater attachment start to mix on low for 1-2 minutes until the choux cools enough to add the eggs. Add one egg at a time and beat well before adding the next egg, one at a time. Scrape the bowl down after adding each egg. The dough batter should be glossy and creamy and fall in a stream from your paddle.
- Using a spoon or a pastry bag with the large round tip, form mounds of pastry. Wet your finger with a little water to flatten down (any pointy parts)on the tops of the cream puff.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes. Turn off the oven. Leave cream puffs in the oven to dry for an additional 10 minutes, leave the oven door slightly ajar with a wooden spoon handle in the door. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack before filling with Italian Cream Filling or a simple Chantilly cream. Enjoy!
CHANTILLY CREAM
- In a medium bowl beat the cream until it reaches the soft peak stage then add the icing sugar and vanilla, beat again until stiff peaks appear. Fill cooled shells.
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from January 19, 2018.
Can these be filled by piping the pastry cream. I did not want to cut them. Also, I was going to make them a couple of days early and fill them the morning of the event. Will that work?
Hi Kathi, I think you could pipe the filling in rather than cut. They can be made 2-3 days in advance. Hope that helps. Let me know how it goes. Take care.
I was wondering what type of flour you use as it just says flour
Hi Eve, sorry about that it should be all purpose flour. I hope you like them. Have a great weekend.
Loved it! I followed all the steps, and the details like letting the mixture cool down before adding the eggs really helped. I even added a chocolate ganache topping that brought it to another level. I will definitely be making these again.
Hi Jasmine, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Take care.
In the ingredient list, you have milk. But, in the directions you do not mention it. I made the dough and am now wondering if the milk was supposed to go into it but was accidentally left out of the instructions?
Hi Dee, the milk is for the cream filling not for the cream puffs. Take care.
Hi, I dont have a food processor, can I use my kitchen aid mixer, or should I use my ninja blender?
Hi Celeste I think the best choice is the kitchen aid with the paddle attachment. Hope that helps.
Hi Rosemary i have just tried your blueberry crostata which turned out so well and am about to try the puffs i just wanted to let you know that due to early arthritis i have a problem with my right hand and mixing for a long time can be difficult but this is the second recipe that i can use the processor its exciting to get back into backing….thank you
Hi Tania, so glad you enjoyed it and I have to say a processor is one of my favourite kitchen machines. Hope you like it.
Just printed the recipe. Hope to make these around St. Joseph’s day here. Thank you.
Hi Ann, thanks so much I hope you enjoy them. Have a great weekend.
Never had one! Now I’m so curious! That cream in there is calling my name.
Hi Veronica, hope you enjoy it!
These bignè look so good!! I have to try one!
Erika
http://whaterikawears.com/
Hi Erika, thanks, hope you like it! Have a great day.
one of my favorites! yummm. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. xo
Hi Katherine, thank you and thanks for hosting. Have a lovely weekend.
These look amazing! Thanks for sharing.
I haven’t made these in years! I just saw a recipe by Mary Ann Esposito. She says the “trick” to getting DRY cream puff is to use more egg whites. I’ll have to try both ways. Once again your photos are beautiful! Thanks for the post.
Hi Diane, Let me know which one you prefer, I would love to know. Thanks, have a great weekend.