Valentine’s Day Cream Puffs for #SundaySupper

***Love is in the air!*** At this time of the year, everything starts turning heart shaped in hues of red, pink, and purple. Sweet treats abound, and warm fuzzy feelings are all around. I’m not going to lie: I kind of like it! Today in honor of the upcoming Valentine’s Day celebrations, I’m serving up some Valentine’s Day Cream Puffs for Sunday Supper!

To be completely honest, there are only a few times of the year when I actually break out desserts. Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and birthdays seem to be the dominant dates. So, in celebration, I thought it appropriate to break out one of my all time favorite desserts: cream puffs! The Sunday Supper family is partnering with Gallo Family Vineyards today to bring you twenty different recipes for Valentine’s Day, perfect for pairing with their Riesling and Sweet Red wines.

Have you ever made cream puffs before? They are such a simple dessert, but sometimes the best things in life are uncomplicated. My love for cream puffs actually started when we lived in Wisconsin years ago. The Wisconsin State Fair is known for their absolutely epic cream puffs. Their shells are golden, they’re packed with fresh whipped cream, and sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar. Plus they are about the size of a salad plate: HUGE. It has been 15 years since I’ve actually experienced one of the Wisconsin State Fair cream puffs, but I still think about how insanely wonderful they are. The quest to recreate my own version has been long and drawn out. I am not sure that I’ll ever actually succeed, but I think we’ve come close. My mom has been making cream puffs for years (in an attempt to get them to a similar level of deliciousness), and I looked to her to teach me how to make them myself.

Personally, I am a fan of a more “miniature” cream puff when I’m making them at home. They are handheld, adorable, and when they’re smaller that means you can have more than one, right? When you make them, you absolutely HAVE to whip up fresh whipped cream. Trust me: it is worth it. While you’re at it, make more whipped cream than is needed for the recipe, because having some leftover is always great (dollop on ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or just scoop it out of the container with a spoon)!

To make these little desserts perfect for Valentine’s Day, there are so many options. You can keep them simple as-is, or add some red food coloring to the cream puff dough to bring them to a festive hue. Holiday themed sprinkles are another great touch for some fun. If you’re a fan of chocolate, drizzling chocolate sauce on top of the puffs is another delectable addition.

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without some wine involved, would it? To kick up the romance with this dessert, I suggest pairing these cream puffs with Gallo’s Riesling or Sweet Red. The Riesling is light bodied and sweet, with flavors of citrus and peach. It is a versatile choice that is sure to be a hit. On the other hand, the Sweet Red is medium bodied with flavors of red fruit and jam. It’s a great wine for dessert, and the beautiful red hue has Valentine’s Day written all over it!

So, what will you be making to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? Will there be a special menu involved?

5.0 from 1 reviews

Valentine's Day Cream Puffs

 

Print

Light, fluffy, with just enough sweetness! These miniature cream puffs are a perfect dessert treat, especially for Valentine's Day!

Author: Katie Compton

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

• For the cream puffs:
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• For the whipped cream:
• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• ¼ cup confectioner's sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• To serve:
• Confectioner's sugar
• Sprinkles (optional)
• Chocolate sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat the water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in the flour and remove from the heat, stirring until the mixture forms into a ball.
2. Stir in the eggs all at once. Beat with a spoon until the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes. The dough will become thick and you should be able to stand a spoon up in it.
3. Drop dough in large spoonfuls (about golf ball sized) onto an ungreased baking sheet.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cream puffs are golden and puffed up.
5. Remove the puffs from the baking sheet and allow them to cool. When cool, slice the tops off and pull out any filaments of soft dough inside.
6. To make the whipped cream, place a metal mixing bowl and whisk attachment into the freezer for about 15 minutes. Then, remove from the freezer - add the heavy whipping cream, confectioner's sugar, and vanilla into the metal bowl. Whisk on high with a mixer until the whipped cream forms stiff peaks.
7. Carefully fill the bottoms of the puffs with the whipped cream. Place the tops on, then sprinkle with a dusting of confectioner's sugar. Add sprinkles and chocolate sauce, if desired. Serve immediately - enjoy!

Notes

I recommend leaving the puffs unfilled until just before serving to keep the puff shells from getting soggy!

3.2.2925

For more information on Gallo Family Vineyards wines and menu pairing ideas, visit their website (where you can also find a store locator). Get connected with Gallo Family on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, see their snaps on Instagram, and watch their videos on YouTube for more ideas and updates. Finally, see what is inspiring Gallo Family Vineyards for Valentine’s Day on their blog.
Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.

Make sure you check out all of the Valentine’s Day recipes and wine pairings from the Sunday Supper family!

Alluring Appetizers and Brunch:

• Burrata and Garlic Tomato Appetizer by Family Foodie
• Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms by Life Tastes Good
• Strawberry Love Bombs by Peaceful Cooking

Magnificent Main Dishes:

• Braised Lamb Ragu by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Bruschetta Chicken and Pasta by Casa de Crews
• Mahi Mahi with Roasted Tomatoes and Fennel by The Messy Baker
• Seafood Risotto by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
• Thai Sweet Chili Glazed Salmon by The Foodie Army Wife

Dazzling Desserts and Sweets:

• Caramel Apple Pie Bites for Two by Feed Me, Seymour
• Chocolate Coconut Haystacks by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Chocolate Coeur a la Creme by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Chocolate Espresso Creme Brulee by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Gluten Free Deep Dish Red Velvet Brownies for Two by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Creamy Lemon Tart by Magnolia Days
• Mocha Fudge by Alida’s Kitchen
• Polenta Cake with Honey Yogurt and Peach Preserves by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Raspberry Custard by Nosh My Way
• Raspberry Meringue Hearts by Desserts Required
• Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Brownie by Flavor Mosaic
• Valentine’s Day Cream Puffs by Ruffles & Truffles

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.