These Cream Puffs with Vanilla Pudding Filling are light, fluffy, and delectable! They are easy to make with instant pudding mix!
The Best Cream Puffs Recipe
Cream puffs are a classic French dessert that melt in your mouth, and this easy recipe makes them simple to whip up at home. Using a box of instant vanilla pudding for the filling gives you that creamy, decadent flavor without the fuss.
The combination of flaky baked pastry and soft vanilla pudding cream makes these cream puffs irresistible. With just a little prep, you’ll have homemade cream puffs that rival any bakery — perfect for dessert, parties, or sharing with friends!
How to Make Cream Puffs
First, you’re going to mix together the instant pudding mix, heavy cream, and milk in a large saucepan. Bring it to a light boil and stir until the mixture forms into pudding consistency.
Once at pudding consistency, take it off the burner and place into a bowl so it can set in the refrigerator.
In a saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil. Lower the heat and stir in the flour and salt until the dough forms into a ball. Take off heat and transfer dough into a large mixing bowl.
Beat in the eggs using a hand mixer.
Add dough in small mounds onto a cookie sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper.
Bake until the puffs are golden brown.
Once baked, let them cool down, and then slice each puff in half so you can begin to fill the bottom of each cream puff with vanilla pudding cream and place the other half on top, so it closes like a sandwich. You can use either a spoon or a piping bag to add the pudding mixture.
Serve warm, or put in the refrigerator to serve chilled later on! I like sprinkling some powdered sugar on top of each one! Enjoy these delicious cream puffs!
Optional Cream Puff Topping
If you can’t get enough sweetness, some opt to place a drizzle of chocolate syrup over the top of the cream puffs for a fun design and even more flavor. For something more simpler simply dust the top of each one with powdered sugar!
Storing Leftovers
Store in an air-tight container and in the refrigerator. If stored properly, your cream puffs with pudding filling will last up to two to three days. It had to be refrigerated since the pudding filling was made with dairy. It can be left safely at room temperature for up to 4 hours only.
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Cream Puffs with Vanilla Pudding Filling
PrintIngredients
For the Vanilla Pudding Cream Filling
- 1 (3.4 ounce package) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk
For the pastry puffs
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Mix together pudding mix powder, heavy cream and milk in a sauce pan. Bring to a light boil and stir until it forms a pudding consistency. Take off burner, put into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator to set until pudding consistency.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet by covering with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan add butter and water, bringing to a low boil. Lower heat and stir in flour and salt. Stir until the mixture forms a dough ball. Take off heat immediately. Transfer this dough mixture into a large mixing bowl.
- Beat in eggs to dough mixture, one at a time, using a hand mixer.
- Drop tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 20-23 minutes.
- Take out of oven, allow to cool and then slice each puff in half. Add pudding filling mixture onto the bottom of a puff using a spoon or piping bag. Place another puff on top making a cream puff sandwich.
- Serve immediately or chill them in refrigerator to serve later on.
Valerie Roman says
Love it! Thank you! Can I freeze them after I fll them?
Pamela Reed says
Yes, you can freeze filled cream puffs! Place them (not touching) on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for about 4 hours. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer safe bag store in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to eat. Hope this helps!
Joanne says
I only have jello cook and serve vanilla pudding. Can I use that
Pamela Reed says
Hey Joanne, I’ve never tried using cook and serve, but from my research – it seems like it could work ok! If you try, let me know!
Pauline says
Question if your use salted butter do you still use salt
Pamela Reed says
Bakers will all have a different views on this, but personally I always use salted butter and still use salt. Hope this helps!
Kim says
Can i gill and freeze
Julia Baranek says
I was wondering if it will be a problem if i add the eggs while the dough is hot?
Peg says
Can anyone tell me if this recipe calls for the small box off pudding or the large one????
Pamela says
Hey Peg, you need the 3.4 ounce box. Thanks for asking! Enjoy the puffs!
KES says
You call for instant pudding. You usually don’t cook instant. I’m confused and don’t want to waste time.
Pamela says
Hey Kes, the instructions are correct. You will mix together pudding mix powder, heavy cream and milk in a sauce pan. Enjoy the cream puffs – they’re delicious!
KES says
Ok.. I’m just confused by the word you use “instant” I suppose. Box saying nstant the directions are not cooking and use mixer and cold milk, the box that says Cook n Serve you do cook.
Pamela says
Buy the “instant” kind and ignore the directions on the box, instead follow the recipe directions.
Chris says
I did not cook the wet ingredients. I just mixed it all together with the electric mixer until well blended and then I covered it and put it into the refrigerator to set. It was delicious!!! I also added 1/2 tsp vanilla to the ingredients.
Pamela Reed says
So happy to hear it worked!! Thank you for letting me know! 🙂
Beth @ Kids Recipe World says
Wow these looks so yummy … definitely try this one 🙂
Peggy says
All I have is the vanilla pudding that needs to be cooked. Could I used that instead?
Pamela says
Hey Peggy, are you talking about the boxed pudding mix? If so that’s exactly what you need. 🙂
kimmythevegan says
Those look so cute!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
Yum! I love cream puffs! The cream fillings looks excellent!
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says
oh my gawd. . I love these!! and what a brilliant idea to use the coffee-mate creamer in the cream filling!!! yum!
✽. aimée .✽ / WallflowerGirl.co.uk says
Oh my, these sound so good. I am obsessed with vanilla flavour so I’d be worried I would eat all of these to myself in a matter of minutes…
Rebecca @ Dorm Room Baker says
These look so good! I’m just worried I’ll ‘accidentally’ eat all the pudding filling before it ever makes it into the cream puffs! Guess I’ll just have to make a double recipe haha.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
I love to put Coffee Mate in my coffee and I also love that it can be used in recipes! These cream puffs look delicious Pamela!
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania says
OMG! I loved your cream puffs…and yes, it is hard to find someone who won’t love these.
dina says
they look hard to make. you did a great job!
Pamela says
They’re super easy Dina, I swear! Give them a shot!
Kelly says
Oh my goodness, I love cream puffs and yours look so good Pamela! Love the pics – they look amazing!
Choc Chip Uru says
So soft and fluffy, I need these puffs in my life 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
laurasmess says
Cue collective sigh. These look divine, Pam! I am a sucker for anything custardy or creamy, particularly if said treat involves choux pastry. Awesome recipe. I’ll definitely be making these! xx
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Yes! Absolutely love cream puffs and yours look beyond mouthwatering! Love the pictures – can’t wait to try these!!
Serena @ Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch says
Cream Puffs have been on my must make list for like the last 3 months and now I feel the strong urge to make some for dessert! These look amazing!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
These look amazing… Love the idea of using the coffee creamer in the filling for flavoring. Delicious!
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
ohhhhh!!!!!!!! Cream Puffs make me go weak in the knees and these have my name written allllllll over them! 😀
marcie says
I love cream puffs, and these look amazing, Pamela!
Bam's Kitchen says
Your cream puffs look dreamy. Who can resist licking pudding off their fingers?!
Joanne says
Who can resist a cream puff! Certainly not I. These look like the perfect pastry!
Koko says
Ohh my goodness. I have completely forgotten about homemade cream puffs- I haven’t made them since pastry school, what is wrong with me! Thank you for the inspiration…these look amazing and especially sweet and creamy 😉
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
Looks like a perfect bite of pleasure 🙂
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine says
How fun Pamela, you always come up with something good!