Name: Gluten-Free Cream Puffs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 18
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ⅔ cup (107 g) white rice flour; ⅓ cup (68 g) sweet rice flour; ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) xanthan gum; Pinch of salt; 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking powder; 1 cup (250 ml) water; ½ cup (125 ml) unsalted butter, cut into cubes; 4 large eggs, at room temperature

Why You’ll Love These Gluten-Free Cream Puffs

No rolling or folding: Mix the dough on the stovetop, beat in the eggs, and scoop.
No piping bag required: A two-tablespoon cookie scoop helps keep the portions even.
Your choice of filling: Use whipped cream, pastry cream, or a savory filling.
No added sugar in the shells: The filling determines how sweet the finished pastries taste.
A useful refresh step: Reheat unfilled shells to bring back some crispness before serving.

Ingredient Notes

White rice flour: This forms the base of the dough. Choose finely ground white rice flour for a smoother texture, and use the listed gram weight for consistency.

Sweet rice flour: Also called glutinous rice flour, this flour is made from sticky rice and is naturally gluten-free despite its name. It helps give the dough cohesion. It is different from regular white rice flour, so use both as listed.

Xanthan gum: A small amount helps bind the dough and support its structure. Measure carefully; extra gum can change the texture.

Baking powder: Use the amount listed to provide additional lift alongside the steam created during baking.

Butter: Start with unsalted butter, then add just as much salt as you like. Cutting it into cubes helps it melt evenly as the water heats.

Eggs: Eggs provide structure and help the pastry expand. Add them one at a time, mixing well before adding the next.

Water: The supplied recipe uses a 250 ml cup measurement. Measure 250 ml to follow that formula closely; a standard US cup is slightly smaller.

Filling: Choose a filling made with gluten-free ingredients. Whipped cream, chocolate cream, or gluten-free pastry cream are sweet options.

How To Make Gluten-Free Cream Puffs

1. Prepare the oven and baking sheet

Heat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine the dry ingredients

Whisk the white rice flour, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Set aside.

3. Cook the dough

Bring the water and cubed butter to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.

Add the dry ingredients all at once. Stir well with a wooden spoon until all the flour is mixed in and the dough comes together. It should be thick and soft, like modeling clay.

4. Cool slightly, then add the eggs

Transfer the hot dough to a large mixing bowl or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed for 1–2 minutes to release some heat.

Reduce the speed to medium. Add one egg and beat until fully incorporated before adding the next. The dough may look separated at first; keep mixing until it comes back together.

Repeat with all four eggs, then beat on medium-high speed for 1 minute, until smooth.

5. Scoop and smooth

Use a two-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough onto the baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between puffs.

Dip a fingertip in water and gently smooth any pointed tops.

6. Bake

Bake for 30 minutes, until puffed, golden, and firm. Avoid opening the oven early, while the shells are still setting.

7. Release the steam

Turn off the oven. Carefully make a small slit in the side of each puff with a sharp knife to let steam escape.

Leave the puffs in the switched-off oven with the door open a few inches until the oven has cooled completely.

8. Fill and serve

Once the shells are completely cool, cut them open and spoon in your chosen filling, or pipe the filling through a small opening.

Fill close to serving time for the best contrast between the shell and creamy center.

Tips for Better Gluten-Free Cream Puffs

Weigh both flours. Scooping flour into a measuring cup can give inconsistent amounts.
Let the hot dough cool slightly before adding eggs. Follow the mixing step rather than adding eggs straight to the saucepan.
Keep the portions even. Similar-sized puffs bake more evenly.
Check the shells before turning off the oven. They should look golden and feel set, rather than pale and soft.
Don’t skip venting. Releasing trapped steam helps the shells dry inside.
Cool before filling. Warm pastry can melt whipped cream and soften other fillings.

Filling Ideas

For a simple sweet version, use sweetened vanilla whipped cream. Gluten-free pastry cream gives a richer filling, while chocolate whipped cream adds another flavor without much extra decorating.

For a savory version, try an herbed cream cheese filling. Since the shells contain no added sugar, they can work as small appetizers too.

Storage and Reheating

Cream puffs are best served the day they are made. Keep completely cooled, unfilled shells in an airtight container.

To refresh unfilled shells, place them in a 400°F oven for about 10 minutes, checking to prevent overbrowning. Let them cool completely before filling.

Refrigerate cream-filled puffs in a covered container. Filled shells soften over time, so assemble them close to serving when possible. Do not reheat filled cream puffs.

FAQs About Gluten-Free Cream Puffs

Are cream puffs gluten-free?

Traditional cream puffs usually contain wheat flour, so they are not normally gluten-free. This version uses white rice flour and sweet rice flour instead. Choose gluten-free ingredients for the shells and filling, and prepare them with clean equipment.

Does Pepperidge Farm offer gluten-free puff pastry?

Cream puffs use choux pastry, a dough cooked on the stovetop before eggs are added. They do not use the rolled, layered puff pastry sold in sheets.

I couldn’t confirm a gluten-free version in Pepperidge Farm’s current range. Its standard puff pastry sheets contain wheat flour and are not gluten-free. They also would not replace the choux dough used in this recipe.

Does Trader Joe’s have gluten-free puff pastry?

I couldn’t verify a current gluten-free puff pastry at Trader Joe’s. The company lists All Butter Puff Pastry Sheets, but that listing should not be treated as confirmation of a gluten-free product. Check the package and ask your local store about current options; Trader Joe’s notes that its website does not show every product.

Does Walmart carry gluten-free puff pastry?

Walmart’s website lists Schär Gluten-Free Puff Pastry Dough. An online listing does not guarantee availability at your local store, so check the seller, shipping options, and stock for your ZIP code. Remember that puff pastry sheets are for other pastries, not the cream puff shells in this recipe.

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Yield: 18 servings