Nun’s Puffs

Nun's Puffs-1-9When I was an engaged young woman, I knew that I would soon be cooking for my own family. I bought myself a thick hard cover notebook and spent many hours browsing through my Mom’s hand written recipes, rewriting them into my own notebook. I felt so happy with anticipation and also proud to think that soon I would be a homemaker myself.
The very first cookbook that I bought for myself was a bridal edition New Cook Book of Better Home and Gardens. I found it on one of my many trips to Barnes and Noble. I was looking for a good comprehensive book with all kinds of basic recipes, starting from pancakes, and covering all the bases-  salads, sides, entrees, desserts, etc. I also really appreciated all the tips in the book too.
I vividly remember my first few months as a married woman. I loved planning my menu, getting dinner cooked and then waiting eagerly for my wonderful husband to come home from work. I even made sure to put on a cute outfit, do my makeup and fix my hair:). There was something so special about that time.
One day, as I was looking for a new dessert to try, I stumbled upon a recipe for Nun’s Puffs. The name itself was intriguing enough, and I loved how simple it was to prepare with only 4 ingredients. I’ve been making Nun’s Puffs ever since. If you open my cookbook, it will automatically open to that recipe, because the binding is permanently creased there. That’s how much I love this recipe. It is basically a pate choux dough, (the same one used for cream puffs and eclairs) except it’s made with milk instead of water. The texture really reminds me of a popover or a Dutch baby pancake, crisp on the outside and the inside tastes like a crepe. 

Ingredients:

1 stick butter (1/2 cup)

1 cup milk

3/4 cup flour
4 eggs
sugar, for sprinkling the puffs
honey, optional
Instructions:
Nun's Puffs-1Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a regular size muffin pan with oil, on the inside and on the rim.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the milk and bring to a low boil. Nun's Puffs-1-2Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon, keeping the saucepan on low heat, until the dough comes together in a ball that stays together. Nun's Puffs-1-3Cool for 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, using a wooden spoon, until each egg is evenly mixed in. Nun's Puffs-1-4At first, the dough will separate into chunks, but then will become smooth. Nun's Puffs-1-5
Nun's Puffs-1-6Divide the dough evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle each puff with sugar. Nun's Puffs-1-7Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until puffy and golden brown. Nun's Puffs-1-8Serve with a drizzle of honey. Nun's Puffs-1-10
Nun's Puffs
 
Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Sweets
Serves: 12 puffs
Ingredients
  • 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¾ cup flour
  • 4 eggs
  • sugar, for sprinkling the puffs
  • honey, optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a regular size muffin pan with oil, on the inside and on the rim.
  2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the milk and bring to a low boil.
  3. Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon, keeping the saucepan on low heat, until the dough comes together in a ball that stays together.
  4. Cool for 5 minutes.
  5. Add the eggs, one at a time, using a wooden spoon, until each egg is evenly mixed in. At first, the dough will separate into chunks, but then will become smooth.
  6. Divide the dough evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle each puff with sugar.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until puffy and golden brown.
  8. Serve with a drizzle of honey.

64 Comments

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Weekly Menu Ideas, Recipes, Kitchen Hacks:

Join thousands of others to get my best cooking and meal prep tips plus handpicked seasonal menu ideas in your email.