Recipe: Cream Puff Dessert

CREAM PUFF DESSERT

DESSERT SHELL:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter (no substitute)
1 cup all purpose flour
4 eggs
FILLING:
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups cold milk
2 packages (3.9 oz each) INSTANT chocolate pudding mix
TOPPING:
1 carton (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed!
1/4 cup milk chocolate ice cream topping
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/3 chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts

TO MAKE THE DESSERT SHELL:
In a sauce pan, over medium heat, bring water and butter to a boil. Add flour all at once; stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat until smooth. Spread into a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish.

Bake at 400 Degrees for 30-35 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
While the Dessert Shell is cooling, beat cream cheese, milk and pudding mix until smooth.

Spread over cooled puff shell and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

TO TOP THE DESSERT:
Spread dessert with whipped topping refrigerate until serving. Drizzle with chocolate and caramel toppers, sprinkle with almonds, pecans or walnuts. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

VARIATION:

LIGHTER ALTERNATIVE:
I also made a sugar-free, low-fat version of this Cream Puff Dessert. Be sure to notice the ounces noted on the INSTANT Chocolate Pudding Mix (regular recipe uses 3.9 oz box) (sugar-free recipe uses 1.4 oz box). CREAM PUFF DESSERT (Sugar-free, low-fat version) Tastes exactly the same as regular version above!

DESSERT SHELL:
No substitutions from original recipe above. This dessert shell can be used for many things when fixing meals and desserts for diabetics.

FILLING:
Ingredients remain the same as above except for the following Substitutions: 1 package (8 oz) Lite (low fat) cream cheese, softened; 3-1/2 Cold Skim Milk; 2 packages (1.4 oz) INSTANT Sugar-Free Chocolate Pudding Mix

TOPPING:
Use any non-dairy whipped topping. Chopped almonds or pecans or walnuts look and taste great!

Source: Wearever