Valentine's Day is a time to indulge. Candy and cakes are certainly par for the course.

If you desire something that strays from the traditional chocolate and strawberries, consider an easy recipe for homemade cream puffs. These light but decadent confections are sure to please.

Vary the recipe depending upon your personal tastes, including dipping the puffs in chocolate, or topping them with cherry pie filling. The options are endless.

Easy Cream Puffs
Yield: 20 to 25 puffs
The secret is using instant pudding mix to create a simple cream filling. Avoid opening the oven door while puffs are baking to prevent them from deflating.

For the puff shells:
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the filling:
• 2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding (choose chocolate pudding if you prefer a chocolate filling)
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup milk

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Mix filling ingredients in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator to set up.
3. In a large pot on the stove top, bring water and butter to a boil.
4. Stir in the flour and salt until the dough forms a ball. Remove the pot from heat.
5. Stir in one egg at a time until all the eggs are incorporated.
6. Drop tablespoons of the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet (or larger balls if you desire larger cream puffs); place in oven.
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until centers of the puff shells are dry and the outsides are golden brown.
8. When the shells are cool, cut in half and fill, or use a pastry bag to pipe in the filling.
9. Dust with powdered sugar to serve, drizzle with chocolate, or use your topping of choice.