Description
Candy Corn Cream Puffs are delightful bite-sized pastries filled with a smooth and creamy orange-tinted cream cheese filling and topped with a sweet white icing. Perfect for festive gatherings or a simple sweet treat, these cream puffs combine the light, airy texture of puff pastry shells with a rich, fluffy cream mixture, enhanced by subtle vanilla and vibrant food coloring to evoke the classic colors of candy corn.
Ingredients
Scale
Cream Filling
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon orange food coloring
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
Cream Puff Shells
- 16 yellow cream puff shells*
White Icing
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon white icing color
Instructions
- Prepare the whipped cream: In a large mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream and a pinch of salt on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. This step ensures a light and airy texture for the filling.
- Make the cream cheese mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and orange food coloring. Mix until smooth and well combined. This creates the flavorful base of the filling.
- Incorporate the cream cheese into the whipped cream: Gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the whipped cream, or beat on low speed just until incorporated, ensuring the filling remains light and fluffy.
- Prepare the cream puffs: Carefully cut off the top halves of the yellow cream puff shells. Using a piping bag or spoon, fill the bottom halves generously with the cream mixture, then place the tops back onto the shells to form the filled puffs.
- Prepare the white icing: In a small, deep bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, water, and white icing color until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more water or powdered sugar as needed to make a spreadable icing.
- Decorate the cream puffs: Spread the white icing evenly over the tops of the filled cream puffs to create a glossy, sweet finish reminiscent of candy corn topping.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the prepared cream puffs until ready to serve to allow the filling to set and flavors to meld. Serve chilled for best texture and taste.
Notes
- Use pre-made yellow cream puff shells or make your own pâte à choux and color the dough yellow for a festive look.
- Be gentle when folding the cream cheese mixture into the whipped cream to maintain a light texture.
- Adjust the orange food coloring quantity to reach your preferred shade of orange.
- The white icing can be decorated with additional candy or sprinkles to enhance the seasonal theme.
- Store cream puffs in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days for optimal freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cream puff
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
