Cream Puffs With Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon water
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup butter, cut into pieces
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• Chocolate Sauce* (recipe to follow)

Directions

Grease a large baking sheet with 1 teaspoon butter; sprinkle evenly with 1/2 teaspoon water. Set aside.

Stir together flour and sugar.

Bring 3/4 cup water and 1/3 cup butter to a boil, stirring constantly, in a saucepan over medium-high heat; remove from heat, and quickly stir in flour mixture. Beat mixture with a wooden spoon until mixture is smooth and leaves the sides of pan, forming a ball of dough. Gradually add beaten eggs to dough, beating well until mixture is smooth and glossy. Drop dough by rounded 1/8-cupfuls (about 14 mounds) evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until puffy and golden brown. Pierce 1 side of each cream puff with a knife to allow steam to escape; let cool on baking sheet on a wire rack.

Beat whipping cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Cut each cream puff in half horizontally. Fill bottom halves evenly with whipped cream mixture; top with top halves. Drizzle with Chocolate Sauce, and serve immediately.

Makes 14 cream puffs

*Chocolate Sauce:

1 cup (4 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons butter

Stir together all ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until chocolate and butter are melted and sauce is warm.

Makes 1 cup

Southern Living, JANUARY 2006