Ingredients
Shells (Pate a Choux):
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 2/3 cup flour
- 3 eggs one at a time
Easy Lemon Cream Filling:
- 1 cup Lemon Creme pie filling, about 10oz
- 1 fresh lemon juice and zest
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Method
Shells (Pate a Choux):
- In a large saucepan bring to boil, water, milk, butter, salt, and sugar.
- Once butter is melted, reduce heat to low, add flour, and stir vigorously.
- Remove from heat. Let cool to 125-135 degrees (hot to the touch but not burning).
- Add eggs, one at a time. Incorporate completely before adding the next egg. Mixture should be a soft paste that will still hold its shape.
- Using a plastic piping coupler or piping tip of your choice (large opening) and Ziploc bag. Pipe large balls of paste (with a base a little bigger than a quarter, rows of 4 by 6 to equal a total of 24 puffs) onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. (Shells will puff to be about a golf ball size shell).
- Bake at 425°F 15 minutes then REDUCE the heat to 375 for 10-12 minutes until the shell is golden brown and hollow inside.
- Cool completely before filling.
Easy Lemon Cream Filling:
- In a bowl, add lemon creme filling, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Blend until fully incorporated.
- In a large bowl, whip heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks. Do not over whip or it will turn into butter.
- Fold in lemon mixture.
- Using a bag with round piping tip, carefully insert tip into cooled shell. Fill slowly until shell is full.
- Dust with confectioner sugar (powdered sugar) if desired.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Nutrition
Notes
- Best if served fresh but can be frozen for later enjoyment. If frozen, allow lemon cream puffs to come to room temperature before serving.
- Use a wet butter knife to cut the paste after every ball is made or wet your finger and pat any peaks that may have formed before baking.
- This recipe can easily be doubled. Shells will have to be baked into sessions. Lemon creme comes in a 21oz can which makes doubling very easy and worthwhile if you don't have another recipe using the filling.
