For the **filling** (classic vanilla cream):

* 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding
* 1 1/2 cups cold milk
* 1 cup heavy whipping cream
* 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional, for sweetness)

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### How to Make Mom’s Cream Puffs

#### Step 1: Make the Pastry

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil.
3. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
4. Let cool slightly, then beat in eggs one at a time until smooth.
5. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet (lined with parchment), spacing them out.
6. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Let cool completely.

#### Step 2: Make the Filling

1. Whisk pudding mix with milk until thickened (about 2 minutes).
2. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream (and powdered sugar, if using) until stiff peaks form.
3. Fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture for a light, fluffy filling.

#### Step 3: Assemble the Cream Puffs

* Slice puffs in half horizontally.
* Fill generously with the cream mixture.
* Dust tops with powdered sugar — or drizzle with chocolate for an extra treat.

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### Tips from Mom

* **Don’t open the oven early!** Let the puffs finish baking or they might collapse.
* **Make them ahead.** Store the shells unfilled in an airtight container and fill just before serving.
* **Double the filling.** Trust me — people will want extra.

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### Final Thought

Mom’s Famous Cream Puffs aren’t just a dessert — they’re a tradition. The kind of recipe that gets handed down, requested often, and never fails to make people smile. One bite, and you’ll see why they’ve earned their “famous” title.

Whether you’re making them for the first time or bringing them back for the hundredth, these cream puffs will always be **the highlight of the table**.

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Want a printable version of the recipe or a variation with chocolate or fruit filling? Just let me know — I’d be happy to help!