Description
These Gluten Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Cream Puffs are a delicious, allergy-friendly take on a classic French pastry. Light, crisp, and filled with smooth vanilla pastry cream, they’re the perfect dessert for those with dietary restrictions—without sacrificing flavor or texture. Whether you’re baking for a party or a weekday treat, these cream puffs are sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
- Choux Pastry:
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup unsalted butter (or dairy-free alternative)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (with xanthan gum)
- 4 large eggs
- Pastry Cream Filling:
- 2 cups milk or plant-based milk (oat, rice, etc.)
- ½ cup sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter or non-dairy substitute
- Optional: Powdered sugar for dusting or dairy-free chocolate drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the dough: In a saucepan, bring water, butter, salt, and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in flour until combined. Return to heat and stir until dough forms a ball, about 1-2 minutes. Cool slightly.
- Add eggs: Beat in eggs one at a time until dough is smooth and pipeable.
- Pipe and bake: Pipe or spoon onto baking sheet. Smooth tops. Bake for 25–30 minutes until puffed and golden. Turn off oven and let cool inside for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely.
- Make the pastry cream: Heat milk in a saucepan. In a bowl, whisk sugar, yolks, and cornstarch. Gradually add hot milk, whisking constantly. Return to pan, cook until thick. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter. Chill until set.
- Fill cream puffs: Cut puffs in half or poke a hole in the bottom. Fill with chilled pastry cream using a spoon or piping bag. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate if desired.
Notes
For best results, use a gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum. To keep dairy-free, choose oat or rice milk and plant-based butter. Unfilled puffs freeze well and can be re-crisped in the oven. Filled puffs should be refrigerated and consumed within 2 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cream puff
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg