Holiday Cream Puffs.    
                                               

These Christmas Cream Puffs are a delight.  At deliciouscookies.com we fill them with  sweet Italian cannoli cream made of Ricotta Cheese, confectioners sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and Pure Vanilla Extract. You may substitute the Vanilla with Amaretto. 

Dusted with confectioners sugar they are the perfect pastry with your Christmas dinner.  In the center of a platter we stack three cream puffs on top of one another using toothpicks to anchor them together.  Then sprinkle it with confectioners sugar to create a snowman.  We use a small wedge of carrot to create a nose. 

Around the snowman we fill the cream puff with a variety of different cannoli cream fillings .  Use your favorites.  Ours are mini chocolate chips, chopped pistachio nuts, multi color sprinkles and chopped glace cherries.                                              

Cream Puffs.  

Ingredients: 
Flour-2 cups. 
Water-1 1/2 cups. 
Salt- 1/2 teaspoon. 
Butter-1 1/2 sticks. 
Eggs-8. 
Sugar-1 tablespoon.                     

Instructions: 
Put the water and butter into a pan and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and sift in the flour, sugar and salt.  Mix vigorously to combine.  Return to a medium heat and mix until the dough begins to leave the sides of the pan.  Remove the pan from the flame and let cool for 2 minutes.  Beat in one egg at a time until well incorporated in to the dough.  After all eggs are added the dough should look like a glistening paste.  Remove from flame.  Place dough immediately in a pastry bag and form shapes on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  If you don't have a pastry bag use a tablespoon amount to create balls.  Place in a preheated 400F degree oven.  Bake for 10 minutes near the top of the oven until pastry puffs up.  Allow to cool.  Slice off the tops and remove any unwanted pastry from the center of the puff. 
Fill with Cannoli Cream.                                 

Cannoli Cream Filling. 

Ingredients:     
Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese-1 1/2 pounds. 
Confectioners Sugar-1 1/4 cup. 
Cinnamon- 1/4 teaspoon. 
Nutmeg- 1/4 teaspoon. 
Pure Vanilla Extract-1/2 teaspoon. 
Optional Ingredients to blend into the Ricotta mixture:  Mini chocolate chips, Chopped Pistachio Nuts and Chopped Glace Cherries.               

Instructions: 
 Place all the ingredients into a metal bowl  Mix well.  Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator overnight until ready to use.  Using a pastry bag fill the cream puffs.   Top with color sprinkles and replace top of cream puff.  Dust with confectioners sugar.