Description
Christmas Tree Cream Puffs are a festive easy recipe that turns classic choux pastry into a beautiful holiday dessert. These light cream puffs are filled with silky green mascarpone whipped cream and stacked into charming little trees, making them perfect for Christmas dessert tables, party food ideas, easy entertaining, and special baking days when you want fun holiday food ideas that still feel elegant.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons pistachio paste or a few drops green food coloring
2 tablespoons powdered sugar for dusting
6 small star cookies or fondant stars
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add the water, butter, salt, and granulated sugar to a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
3. Add the flour all at once and stir quickly until a smooth dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and let the dough cool for 5 minutes.
5. Beat in the eggs one at a time until the dough is glossy and thick.
6. Transfer the dough to a piping bag and pipe large, medium, and small rounds onto the prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until puffed, golden, and dry.
8. Cool the shells completely on a wire rack.
9. Beat the mascarpone, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and pistachio paste or green food coloring until smooth.
10. Whip in the heavy cream until thick peaks form.
11. Fill or sandwich the cream into the pastry rounds, stacking large, medium, and small puffs to create tree shapes.
12. Dust with powdered sugar, top with star cookies, and chill for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Make sure the choux shells are fully baked so they stay crisp and do not collapse.
Cool the pastry completely before adding the filling so the cream stays thick and neat.
For the best texture, assemble the cream puffs shortly before serving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Holiday Baking
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cream puff tree
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: Christmas Tree Cream Puffs, cream puffs, holiday dessert, easy recipe, Christmas dessert, choux pastry, festive dessert, party food ideas, holiday food ideas