If you’ve never tried a Nun’s Puffs Recipe before, you are in for a real treat that’s both charming and delicious. These airy, golden puffs delight with a light, tender crumb that seems to melt in your mouth, perfectly balancing a subtle sweetness and a delicate buttery flavor. This classic recipe feels like a warm hug from the inside, an old-fashioned comfort food that is surprisingly easy to make yet impressive enough to bring to any gathering or enjoy as a special breakfast. Each bite offers a crispy top and a soft, fluffy interior that pairs beautifully with honey, whipped cream, or fresh fruit for a fulfilling experience. Trust me, this Nun’s Puffs Recipe will quickly become one of your treasured go-to recipes.

Ingredients You’ll Need
This Nun’s Puffs Recipe calls for simple pantry staples, each playing a crucial role in creating the perfect texture and flavor. From rich butter to silky milk and fresh eggs, every ingredient works harmoniously to bring these puffs to life.
- Unsalted butter: Provides richness and helps create a tender, golden crust.
- Milk: Adds moisture and contributes to the softness of the puff’s interior.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation ingredient that gives structure to the dough.
- Eggs: Key to puffiness and the signature light, airy texture.
- Sugar (optional): Offers a gentle hint of sweetness without overpowering.
- Sugar (for sprinkling): Adds a slight crunch and caramelized flavor on top.
- Honey (for serving): Enhances the flavors with natural sweetness if desired.
- Whipped cream or fruit (optional toppings): Adds a fresh or creamy contrast to your puffs.
How to Make Nun’s Puffs Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C) and generously greasing a 12-cup muffin tin. It’s important to ensure each cup is well-greased so the puffs can rise beautifully without sticking, leading to a perfect shape and easy removal.
Step 2: Melt Butter and Heat Milk
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Once fully melted, add the milk and bring the mixture to a low boil. This warming step melds the butter and milk, creating a rich base that will fully hydrate the flour for a smooth dough.
Step 3: Incorporate Flour to Form Dough
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the all-purpose flour all at once. Mix vigorously until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. This technique creates a slightly thick dough essential for capturing the air that makes the puffs so delightfully light.
Step 4: Cool Dough Slightly
Allow the dough to cool for about 5 minutes. Cooling prevents the eggs from cooking when added, ensuring a silky batter that whips up smoothly for optimal puffing.
Step 5: Beat in Eggs One by One
Beat in the eggs individually, fully incorporating each one before adding the next. This thorough mixing helps the batter become glossy and stiff enough to rise properly, giving nun’s puffs their signature texture.
Step 6: Add Optional Sugar
If you love a touch of sweetness, stir in ½ to 1 tablespoon of sugar now. This step is optional, allowing you to customize the sweetness level depending on your preference or planned accompaniments.
Step 7: Portion and Sprinkle
Divide the dough evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full to allow plenty of room for puffing. Sprinkle sugar on top for a delicate crunchy finish that adds a lovely contrast to the soft interior.
Step 8: Bake Until Puff and Golden
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 30 minutes, or until the puffs are beautifully puffed and golden brown. Resist the urge to open the oven door during baking; the heat is crucial to help these rise magnificently.
Step 9: Serve Warm
Serve your Nun’s Puffs Recipe warm, paired with honey, whipped cream, or fresh fruit to enhance their mild flavor. These accompaniments bring an extra layer of delight to each bite, perfect for breakfast or an elegant dessert.
How to Serve Nun’s Puffs Recipe

Garnishes
Sprinkle a light dusting of powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar over the top of warm Nun’s Puffs for an inviting presentation. Fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream add vibrant color and pleasing textures, creating an irresistible plate.
Side Dishes
These puffs pair wonderfully with light fruit salads, a drizzle of warm maple syrup, or even alongside eggs and bacon for a brunch spread that balances sweet and savory flavors beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving Nun’s Puffs Recipe in decorative ramekins for an elegant touch or stack them on a tiered plate for a festive occasion. You can also fill them with fruit preserves or cream cheese between layers to create elegant puff sandwiches.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Allow leftover Nun’s Puffs to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh for up to two days, maintaining much of their soft texture when kept properly.
Freezing
To freeze Nun’s Puffs, let them cool, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to one month. Freeze any extras to enjoy the puff magic later without sacrificing quality.
Reheating
Reheat frozen or stored puffs in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes to refresh their crisp exterior and warm the soft interior. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the texture chewy instead of light and airy.
FAQs
What makes Nun’s Puffs rise so well?
The combination of eggs beaten into the dough one at a time and baking in a hot oven creates steam that causes the puffs to rise beautifully. The flour and egg structure trap this steam, resulting in a light and airy puff.
Can I make Nun’s Puffs without butter?
Butter adds essential richness and tenderness, but you can experiment with oil for a slightly different texture. However, the flavor may be less traditional, so using butter is recommended for the authentic experience.
Is sugar necessary in the Nun’s Puffs Recipe?
Sugar is optional depending on your preference. Without it, the puffs have a more savory profile, which pairs well with honey or fruit toppings. Including sugar gives a gentle sweetness straight from the batter.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes! This recipe scales well. Just be sure to use two muffin tins or bake in batches, and watch the baking time closely, as it might vary slightly when making larger quantities.
Are Nun’s Puffs gluten-free friendly?
This recipe calls for all-purpose flour, but you can try gluten-free flour blends suited for baking. Keep in mind that texture might differ slightly, so some experimentation could be needed for best results.
Final Thoughts
Making the Nun’s Puffs Recipe is like welcoming a bit of old-world charm into your kitchen, wrapped in warmth, simplicity, and scrumptiousness. It’s a delightful treat that’s easy to prepare yet feels special enough to bring joy to any table. I wholeheartedly encourage you to give this timeless recipe a try soon — you won’t regret adding these heavenly puffs to your baking repertoire.
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Nun’s Puffs Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Description
Nun’s Puffs are light, airy pastries made from a simple dough of butter, milk, flour, and eggs, baked until puffed and golden. Traditionally served warm, these delicate puffs are perfect drizzled with honey and topped with whipped cream or fresh fruit for a deliciously sweet treat.
Ingredients
Basic Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup milk
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
Optional Ingredients
- ½–1 tablespoon sugar (optional, for sweetness)
- Sugar (for sprinkling)
- Honey (for serving)
- Whipped cream or fruit (optional toppings)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and thoroughly grease a 12-cup muffin tin to prevent sticking.
- Melt butter and heat milk: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the milk and bring the mixture to a low boil, being careful not to scorch.
- Add flour and form dough: Quickly stir all the flour into the boiling milk and butter mixture at once. Vigorously mix until a cohesive dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Cool dough slightly: Remove the pan from heat and let the dough cool for about 5 minutes to prevent cooking the eggs when added.
- Incorporate eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until the batter is smooth, glossy, and fully combined.
- Add sugar (optional): For added sweetness, stir in ½ to 1 tablespoon of sugar if desired.
- Fill muffin tin: Spoon the dough evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling about three-quarters full. Sprinkle the tops with sugar for a slightly crisp, sweet crust.
- Bake the puffs: Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the puffs are well risen, golden brown, and light.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm. Enjoy with honey drizzled on top, and if desired, add whipped cream or fresh fruit as accompaniments.
Notes
- Make sure to beat the eggs thoroughly into the dough to achieve the characteristic airy texture.
- Greasing the muffin tin well helps the puffs release easily once baked.
- Sprinkling sugar on top before baking creates a nice sweet crust.
- Serve Nun’s Puffs warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
- Optional toppings like honey, whipped cream, and fresh fruit complement the lightness of the puffs beautifully.