Name: Cream Puff Christmas Tree
Prep time: 1 h 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 1-1/4 cups water -; 2/3 cup butter -; 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour -; 1/4 teaspoon salt -; 5 eggs -; Filling: -; 2-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream -; 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar -; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon rum extract, optional -; Icing: -; 3 cups confectioners' sugar -; 1/4 to 1/3 cup half-and-half cream -; Green liquid or paste food coloring, optional -; Red candied cherries, optional -; Additional confectioners' sugar, optional -

Recipe information

Cooking:

1 hour 30 min.

Servings per container:

Source:

More details

Ingredients for - Cream Puff Christmas Tree

1. 1-1/4 cups water -

2. 2/3 cup butter -

3. 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour -

4. 1/4 teaspoon salt -

5. 5 eggs -

6. Filling: -

7. 2-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream -

8. 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar -

9. 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon rum extract, optional -

10. Icing: -

11. 3 cups confectioners' sugar -

12. 1/4 to 1/3 cup half-and-half cream -

13. Green liquid or paste food coloring, optional -

14. Red candied cherries, optional -

15. Additional confectioners' sugar, optional -

How to cook deliciously - Cream Puff Christmas Tree

1. Stage

In a large saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil over medium heat. Add flour and salt; stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.

2. Stage

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2-in. apart onto greased baking sheets. (You will need about 62 puffs to make the tree.) Use a moistened finger to smooth any peaks.

3. Stage

Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

4. Stage

For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar and rum extract if desired until stiff peaks form.

5. Stage

Insert round tip #7 into a pastry or resealable plastic bag; fill with the whipped cream. With a sharp knife, cut a small slit in the side of each puff. Insert pastry tip into slits; fill each puff with whipped cream. Refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

6. Stage

For icing, combine confectioners' sugar and enough cream to achieve desired consistency. Stir in food coloring if desired.

7. Stage

To assemble tree: Separate puffs according to size and shape, choosing the flattest ones for the bottom layer and the smallest ones for the top. Spread the bottom of 18 puffs with icing. Place on the serving platter, forming a 9-in.-diameter solid circle.

8. Stage

For the second layer, spread icing on the bottoms of 18 puffs, then position above the space of the base layer of puffs.

9. Stage

Continue building tree in this manner using about 14 puffs in third layer, about seven puffs in fourth layer, about four puffs in fifth layer and one puff on top.

10. Stage

To decorate: Insert round tip #7 into a pastry or resealable plastic bag and fill with remaining icing. Drizzle over tree. Trim with cherries if desired.

11. Stage

The completed tree may be loosely covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 2 hours. Just before serving, dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.