Creamy Vanilla Filling Recipes

Steps:

• Whisk yolks until smooth. Mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add milk in a slow, steady stream. Cook, stirring, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken, about 5 minutes.
• Pour 1/3 of milk mixture into yolks, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thick, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
• Pass vanilla cream through a fine sieve into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on surface. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.

Steps:

• For the puffs: Preheat oven to 400.
• Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a medium sized saucepan. Turn heat down to low, and stir in flour with wooden spoon. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball.
• Remove from heat, and either place mixture into stand mixer or have a hand mixer ready. Add eggs all at one time, and beat everything together until smooth and shiny.
• Drop dough by scant 1/4 cup 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake 35-40 minutes until puffed and golden brown. (Do not pull out too early or they will "fall." It is better to slightly overbake than to underbake!).
• Remove from oven, and cool to room temperature.
• For the filling: While the puffs are baking, in a medium to large mixer bowl, blend pudding with milk until all lumps are gone on low speed.
• Add whipping cream, and beat on medium speed for two minutes or until soft to semi-firm peaks form. Refrigerate mixture until puffs are ready to be filled.
• For the icing: Melt chocolate and butter over low heat in small saucepan. Remove from heat; stir in confectioner's sugar and about 2 tablespoons of hot water (more or less). Beat until smooth. Consistency should be able to "drizzle.".
• Assembly: Either cut tops off completely, or cut to the back to leave a "hinge." Fill puffs with pudding mix, replace tops, then drizzle with chocolate icing. Refrigerate until serving time. Best served day of.

Steps:

• Place the milk, half the sugar and the vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Combine the egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a bowl and whisk until light in color. Add in the flour and the salt, mix to combine.
• When the milk just begins to boil, remove from heat and remove vanilla bean. Very slowly dribble the hot milk into the yolk mixture, stirring all the time. When about half of the milk has been added, place all of the yolk mixture into the saucepan over medium heat. Using a spatula or a whisk, mix the pastry cream as it heats, making sure to reach all of the corners of the pan when you stir. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let boil for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. The mixture will be thick.
• Remove from heat and add the butter. Strain if you wish for a smoother cream. Place into a bowl and cover directly with plastic wrap to stop a skin from forming on the cream. Chill and use within a few days.

Steps:

• Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and beat in confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, scraping down side of bowl as necessary, until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla, and beat until smooth.

Steps:

• Split vanilla bean lengthwise with the tip of a sharp knife. Holding the pod open, scrape seeds from each half using the flat side of the knife. Transfer seeds to a large bowl; discard pod.
• Pour heavy cream over vanilla seeds. Add sugar and vanilla extract. Whip with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until serving.

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and shortening until well combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla, and beat to combine. Set aside at room temperature until ready to use.