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| I was going for QUICK and easy - not 'pretty' this time. But had I used a pretty star tip these could be guest-worthy! |
I've posted about cream horns (also can be called by some 'lady locks' or 'clothespin cookies') in the past but I thought I'd update and let everyone know how unbelievably easy and FAST they are to make using a puff pastry.
Note; You WILL need a 'form' to make these. Our Great Grandmothers used round clothespins, but I prefer a cream horn mold as it makes them tapered from larger to smaller which not only makes them pretty but makes them simple to fill.
Quick and Easy Cream Horns
1 package Puff Pastry (2 to a package, makes about 32 total if you use both sheets)
1 recipe cream filling*
Sugar (or Xylitol sugar substitute) for sprinkling
Thaw the puff pastry according to directions. I used just 1 of the two sheets and it makes about 15-16 cream horns so the whole package would make about 32.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Lay the puff pastry out on parchment paper (or lightly flour your counter). Slice the pastry about every half-inch to make about 15 strips or if you want to make them larger, about 8 1-inch slices.
Wrap one long strip of pastry around your mold. Leave the large round end open without it overlapping to make removal easier later. You can brush with melted butter - I spray the tops with butter flavored Pam in a hurry, and then sprinkle with large crystals of sugar (or sugar free sweetener substitute).
Bake on a lightly greased or non-stick baking sheet for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown and crisp. While they are baking, mix up your favorite butter cream or other filling. Removal from oven, remove from pan to a cooling rack and let cool completely. Use a pastry bag with a large tip to squeeze filling into each horn. These are wonderful if you can let them set up or even refrigerate them to chill the filling but they are delicious eaten immediately too!
Fill with whatever whipping cream or buttercream filling you prefer! For a summer event or when temperatures are an issue - this is a good, stable buttercream type filling.
1 c Crisco
1 c butter
4 c powdered sugar
4 t vanilla
3/4 c marshmallow creme
Cream the Crisco and butter. Add the sugar gradually and then the creme and vanilla. Beat well until it's smooth like whipped cream. Fill cooled or chilled cream horn forms. Does not need to be refrigerated for storage.
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| Makes homemade cream puffs effortless |
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| Wrapping around a form |
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| Sprinkled with Xylitol or Sugar and ready to bake |
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| Mix up your filling |
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| Baked golden brown |
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| Leave the end open so you can slide it right off the form |
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| Mmmmmm. |
