Cream Puff Recipe with Bavarian Cream and Honey

Cream Puff Recipe with Bavarian Cream and Honey are delicious easy to make cream cream filled profiteroles that are absolutely delicious when finished off with a drizzle of honey and powdered sugar.

Cream puffs are a fantastic after dinner dessert that are incredibly easy to make as well not being too expensive either.  They are single serving, just like authentic beignets, and great to make at home with few ingredients and tools necessary to make them .

WHAT IS BAVARIAN CREAM

If you’ve never heard of Bavarian cream, don’t be alarmed.  It definitely sounds much more intimidating than it actually is to make, so before you freak out, don’t it’s super easy to make.  The supposed creator of it or more appropriately, Crème Bavaroise, was by Marie-Antoine Carême one of the fathers of modern day cuisine along with Auguste Escoffier.

Bavarian cream was obviously founded in Bavaria, which is a state in Germany and finally made its way to the states in the late 1800’s and it consists of eggs, sugar, gelatin and heavy whipping cream.  Thank you to whomever got it here, because dang is it delicious.

IS PASTRY CREAM THE SAME THING

Pastry cream is not the same as Bavarian cream.  Pastry cream uses different ingredients such as butter, cornstarch and milk instead of gelatin, heavy cream and egg yolks.  Like Bavarian cream, you can use pastry cream to stuff desserts, cakes and donuts.

• CHEF NOTE: Bavarian cream is much richer and delicious in flavor compared to pastry cream.

WHAT IS BAVARIAN CREAM USED FOR

Bavarian cream is often used as a filling for cakes, donuts and desserts and are occasionally added to the tops of desserts like fresh berries or pies.  It is incredibly delicious and can add a lot of body to any dessert.

HOW TO MAKE IT

You have to make the Bavarian cream ahead of time in this recipe because it needs a bit of time to set.  You can also super set it by popping it in the freezer, but I don’t recommend doing it.

STEP 1: Bavarian Cream starts by making a simple crème anglaise, which in English is custard and a mixture of vanilla beans, egg yolks, heavy cream and sugar.

STEP 2: While the anglaise is being whisked up over heat be sure to sprinkle your gelatin packets over cold water.

STEP 3: Pour the gelatin mixture into the hot anglaise and then completely chill it in the refrigerator.

STEP 4: To finish off the Bavarian Cream you fold in some whipped cream and make sure to keep it cool while you make the profiteroles.  Once cool, transfer the mixture to a piping bag with no tip.

• CHEF NOTE: You will have some cream leftover and it goes great poured over desserts or stuffed into desserts like donuts. The longer you can keep it in the refrigerator before using them in the cream puffs the better.

WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE

Bavarian cream tastes like a rich vanilla custard.  This is mainly due to the fact that the base is made with creme anglaise which is essentially a vanilla custard.  After it’s set and folded with the whipped cream it becomes very rich and thick.

MAKING HOMEMADE CREAM PUFFS

For the cream puffs recipe I’m not sure there is an easier dessert out there.  The dough is more classically known as pate a choux.  It’s literally 5 ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes to make.  It’s actually the Bavarian Cream that takes all the time in this recipe.

• Pour in the water to a large pot and add in the butter and salt as well.  Bring this mixture to a boil.
• Add in the flour and whisk the mixture vigorously with a firm wire whisk until it becomes smooth and forms a dough like ball.
• Continue to whisk while adding 1 egg at a time until it is completely mixed into the dough.

• Once combined, transfer to a large piping bag and begin to pipe out small amounts of the dough about 2 inches apart from one another on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper.
• Bake the cream puffs in the oven for about 35 to 40 minutes or until they become firm on the outside and soft and tender in the center.

• Using your finger press a hole into the bottom of the cream puffs and pipe as much of the Bavarian cream into the cream puff as possible.
  • CHEF NOTE: If you don’t have a pastry bag you can just use a tablespoon, no problem.
• Serve by sprinkling powdered sugar and drizzling honey over top.

I’m not even kidding when I say I ate 10 immediately.  They are small and are like 2 bites so I couldn’t resist.  You’ll have a hard time controlling yourself, believe me.  You’ll actually have just as hard of time not eating the Bavarian Cream by itself because it’s just so good!

However if you are looking to make these ahead, totally fine to serve these on the cooler side, but honestly when they are warm, they are to absolutely die for!

HOW TO SERVE THEM

I finished them off with a little drizzle of honey and then some powdered sugar just to tease them up a little bit more.  I feel like the combo of honey along with the Bavarian cream and warm profiterole really is a treat.

It’s definitely one of those classic recipes that honestly never gets old if you ask me.  It’s so versatile too if you want to switch up the cream filling, it doesn’t always have to be bavarian cream!  These really are phenomenal and I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t at least try and make them :-).  No really you would!

The Best Dessert Recipes:

If you love this recipe then you will love these recipes!

• Homemade Puff Pastry Peach Tart
• Old Fashioned Fresh Peach Cobbler
• Ricotta Cheesecake Recipe
• Olive Oil Cake
• Rose Apple Pie

STORING AND FREEZING BAVARIAN CREAM: It will hold in the refrigerator covered for up to 2 days.  The cream will separate after that amount of time.  The cream freezes well covered for up to 2 months and is delicious if you chose to eat it like ice cream frozen, but do not thaw it expecting it to resume to a thick delicious cream.

STORING AND FREEZING CREAM PUFFS: They will last covered in plastic for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.  Cream puffs without the Bavarian cream will last up to 5 days covered in the refrigerator.  You can freeze the cream puffs covered for up to 2 months but if they are stuffed with the cream I recommend eating them frozen.  If they are not stuffed with the Bavarian cream, you can thaw them and use them as you wish.

*If you’re loving this Cream puffs with Bavarian cream recipe then you absolutely have to check out my Key Lime Pie Recipe and be sure to drop me a comment below and a rating if you’ve had the chance to make this.* 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for my latest updates.

Print Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Cream Puffs Recipe with Bavarian Cream and Honey

Do you have a ridiculous sweet tooth and love desserts?  Learn how to make this delicious Cream Puff Recipe with Bavarian Cream.

Prep Time1 hr

Cook Time40 mins

Resting Time2 hrs

Total Time1 hr 40 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Servings: 25

Calories: 223kcal

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

Ingredients

For the Bavarian Cream:

• 4 cups of heavy whipping cream
• 1 vanilla bean sliced in half long ways
• 6 egg yolks
• ½ cup of sugar
• 5 ounces of cold water
• 1/4 ounce of gelatin

For the Profiteroles:

• 4 ounces of unsalted butter
• 1 cup of water
• ½ teaspoon of Kosher salt
• 1 cup of Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• honey for garnish
• powdered sugar for garnish

Instructions

• Bavarian Cream: Whisk 2 cups of heavy whipping cream in a standing mixer with the whisk attachment on high speed until stiff peaks are formed and then cool.
• In a medium bowl add the cold water and gelatin together and let sit.
• Next add 2 cups of heavy whipping cream and the vanilla bean to a medium size pot and scald.
• While the cream is scalding whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl until completely combined.
• Once the cream has scalded slowly pour it into the egg yolk and sugar mixture to temper it while whisking.
• Pour the mixture back in the pot and return it to the burner and constantly whisk over medium heat until it becomes thick.
• Next, whisk in the gelatin/water mixture and chill completely. Once it’s chilled fold in the whipped cream and add back to the refrigerator to continue to keep cold and then transfer to a piping bag with a circle tip.
• Profiteroles: Preheat the oven to 400°.
• Bring the butter, water and salt to a boil and then whisk in the flour until it forms a ball. Turn the heat off and let it sit for 5 minutes.
• Next, whisk in 1 egg at a time until completely combined and then transfer it to a piping bag, no tip required.
• Pipe 1 tablespoon of dough onto a sheet tray lined with parchment paper until the dough has been used up.
• Bake for 40 minutes and then cool to room temperature.
• Using your finger push the bottom of the profiterole to make an opening and pipe the Bavarian cream right into the profiterole until it begins to slightly come out of the bottom.
• Drizzle some honey and sprinkle on some powdered sugar to the Bavarian Cream Stuffed Profiteroles once they are done. Enjoy!

Notes

CHEF NOTES:

• You will have some Bavarian Cream leftover and it goes great poured over desserts or stuffed into desserts like donuts. The longer you can keep the Bavarian cream in the refrigerator before using them in the cream puffs the better.
• If you don’t have a pastry bag to stuff the cream puffs with, you can just use a tablespoon, no problem.
• STORING AND FREEZING BAVARIAN CREAM: Bavarian cream will hold in the refrigerator covered for up to 2 days.  The cream will separate after that amount of time.  Bavarian cream freezes well covered for up to 2 months and is delicious if you chose to eat it like ice cream frozen, but do not thaw it expecting it to resume to a thick delicious cream.  
• STORING AND FREEZING CREAM PUFFS: The cream puffs will last covered in plastic for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.  Cream puffs without the Bavarian cream will last up to 5 days covered in the refrigerator.  You can freeze the cream puffs covered for up to 2 months but if they are stuffed with the Bavarian cream I recommend eating them frozen.  If they are not stuffed with the Bavarian cream, you can thaw them and use them as you wish. 

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 773IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg