Persian Cream Puffs (Noon'e Chamei)

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon cardamom 
• 5  eggs 
• 1 cup flour 
• 1 cup honey 
• 4 oz parve margarine unsalted
• 1 cup powdered sugar 
• 0.3 cup rosewater 
• 0.5 teaspoon saffron threads 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup water 
• 8 oz parve whipping cream 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• baking paper
• oven
• wire rack
• pot
• stand mixer
• microwave
• ice cream scoop
• kitchen scissors
• pastry bag
• serrated knife

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a small nonstick saucepan, bring water, margarine, and salt to a boil. When margarine melts, add flour all at once, stirring rapidly. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until a ball of dough that detaches easily from the pot forms. Set aside and let cool for 10 minutes.
3. In the meantime, make the cream filling by beating the parve whipping cream until it forms peaks.
4. Add the powdered sugar and mixing well. Store in a cool place until ready to use.
5. Transfer cooled dough to the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a flat paddle attachment.
6. Add eggs, one by one, making sure each egg has completely incorporated into the dough before adding the next.
7. Transfer dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large star pastry tip (Wilton 4B is perfect) or simply use an ice cream scoop to form puffs. Form meringue-like mounds, 3" in diameter and 2" in height, directly on the prepared pans.
8. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown; transfer puffs to a cooling rack.
9. When the puffs are completely cooled, cut in half, using a serrated knife, and fill the cavity with whipped cream.
10. Optional: To make the syrup, mix all ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute.
11. Drizzle cooled syrup on cream puffs right before serving. Can also be served with a drizzle of melted chocolate or sprinkled with powered sugar.
12. Tricks of the trade
13. If you lack a pastry bag and pastry tip you can use a storage-size zipper-top bag and cut off one corner with scissors, or use an ice cream scoop to shape. Keep in mind: It is important there are no cold drafts in your kitchen when you make these or they will deflate when taken out of the oven. Once cooked, these freeze beautifully.
14. Reprinted with permission from Persian Food From the Non-Persian Bride by Reyna Simnegar, © 2011 Reyna Simnegar