***Love is in the air!*** At this time of the year, everything starts turning heart shaped in hues of red, pink, and purple. Sweet treats abound, and warm fuzzy feelings are all around. I’m not going to lie: I kind of like it! Today in honor of the upcoming Valentine’s Day celebrations, I’m serving up some Valentine’s Day Cream Puffs for Sunday Supper!
To be completely honest, there are only a few times of the year when I actually break out desserts. Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and birthdays seem to be the dominant dates. So, in celebration, I thought it appropriate to break out one of my all time favorite desserts: cream puffs! The Sunday Supper family is partnering with Gallo Family Vineyards today to bring you twenty different recipes for Valentine’s Day, perfect for pairing with their Riesling and Sweet Red wines.
Have you ever made cream puffs before? They are such a simple dessert, but sometimes the best things in life are uncomplicated. My love for cream puffs actually started when we lived in Wisconsin years ago. The Wisconsin State Fair is known for their absolutely epic cream puffs. Their shells are golden, they’re packed with fresh whipped cream, and sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar. Plus they are about the size of a salad plate: HUGE. It has been 15 years since I’ve actually experienced one of the Wisconsin State Fair cream puffs, but I still think about how insanely wonderful they are. The quest to recreate my own version has been long and drawn out. I am not sure that I’ll ever actually succeed, but I think we’ve come close. My mom has been making cream puffs for years (in an attempt to get them to a similar level of deliciousness), and I looked to her to teach me how to make them myself.
Personally, I am a fan of a more “miniature” cream puff when I’m making them at home. They are handheld, adorable, and when they’re smaller that means you can have more than one, right? When you make them, you absolutely HAVE to whip up fresh whipped cream. Trust me: it is worth it. While you’re at it, make more whipped cream than is needed for the recipe, because having some leftover is always great (dollop on ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or just scoop it out of the container with a spoon)!
To make these little desserts perfect for Valentine’s Day, there are so many options. You can keep them simple as-is, or add some red food coloring to the cream puff dough to bring them to a festive hue. Holiday themed sprinkles are another great touch for some fun. If you’re a fan of chocolate, drizzling chocolate sauce on top of the puffs is another delectable addition.
It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without some wine involved, would it? To kick up the romance with this dessert, I suggest pairing these cream puffs with Gallo’s Riesling or Sweet Red. The Riesling is light bodied and sweet, with flavors of citrus and peach. It is a versatile choice that is sure to be a hit. On the other hand, the Sweet Red is medium bodied with flavors of red fruit and jam. It’s a great wine for dessert, and the beautiful red hue has Valentine’s Day written all over it!
So, what will you be making to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? Will there be a special menu involved?
For more information on Gallo Family Vineyards wines and menu pairing ideas, visit their website (where you can also find a store locator). Get connected with Gallo Family on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, see their snaps on Instagram, and watch their videos on YouTube for more ideas and updates. Finally, see what is inspiring Gallo Family Vineyards for Valentine’s Day on their blog.
Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.
Make sure you check out all of the Valentine’s Day recipes and wine pairings from the Sunday Supper family!
Alluring Appetizers and Brunch:
Magnificent Main Dishes:
Dazzling Desserts and Sweets:
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
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