Cream Puffs with Homemade Whipped Cream

                     If hell were a snow globe, it would look like this year's winter.My legs have hired their own personal hairstylists, and new brides can now order their dresses to match the color of my pasty skin. Oh Summer, Summer, wherefore art thou Summer? At this point I'm convinced that a taxidermy groundhog could predict the weather better than Puxatony Phil. Seriously, where is the heat?
                     Although it may seem like we will never be able to bust out our new Victoria Secret swimsuits (Ha, sure! I got mine at Wal-Mart), believe it or not, there is a way to bring the summer vibes straight to you. Cream puffs, guys, cream puffs! Nothing says Summer Fun quite like this tasty dessert. Although, being passed out on the beach with a cooler full of Bud Light Lime also seems to ring a bell. Unlike the latter, however, eating cream puffs doesn't require me to leave my house. Really though, you probably have majority of these ingredients in your kitchen! So don't you even worry about pausing your Netflix binge, baby! Let's get cookin.

"Cream Puffs" 

Ingredients: 

•  1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 2 tblsp. milk
• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 
• chocolate chips for melting (optional)
• strawberries (optional)
• additional powdered sugar (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In saucepan bring water, butter, and salt to a boil
2. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes
3. Add eggs one at a time, beat in between additions. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. 
4. Drop 1/4 cup fills (3 in. apart) onto greased baking sheets. Cook for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cut slit in puffs for steam to escape. 
5. While puffs cool, in a large bowl, beat whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until almost stiff. Cut puffs horizontally and scoop out soft insides. (It will appear as almost uncooked dough). 
6. Put cream into puffs. Dust with extra powdered sugar. Garnish with strawberries, whipped cream, or melted chocolate. Better yet, get a dessert orgy goin' and do all three!
7. Store in refrigerator.

                  Cream puffs without the carnies? Sign me up! These puffs are perfect for any occasion, especially if you want to make as large of a mess as possible. Sorry, bibs are unfortunately not included. Thank you to Taste of Home for posting the original recipe. Although I may not be as famous as that website, I guarantee I can make as delicious of a puff. Now you all can, too!

                
                        Number of Pinterest recipes completed: 21
                        I declare this recipe a: reason for Grease 3? Summerlovinhappenedsofast!