Classic Eclair Recipe

a French patisserie classic
A French patisserie classic
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Ingredients

for the choux pastry:
½ cup Water
½ cup Whole milk
8 tbsp Butter unsalted
1 tsp Granulated sugar
¼ tsp Salt
1 cup All-purpose flour
4 Large eggs
for the pastry cream:
2 cups Whole milk
2 tsp Vanilla extract
¾ cup Granulated sugar
¼ cup Cornstarch
1 pinch Salt
4 Egg yolks large
4 tbsp Butter unsalted , at room temperature, cut into cubes
for the chocolate glaze:
4 oz Chocolate chips semi-sweet
½ cup Heavy whipping cream

Nutritional information

241
calories
15g
fat
20g
carbohydrates
4g
protein
115mg
cholesterol
71mg
sodium
Ingredients
  • for the choux pastry:

  • for the pastry cream:

  • for the chocolate glaze:

Classic Eclair Recipe

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I love making this Classic Eclair Recipe when I want to please a crowd. North, south, east and west of France, you will find these oblong pastries made with a light choux dough filled with pastry cream and topped with chocolate icing in any cake shop you visit. The French love them and you’ll soon see why.    

I start by making choux pastry from water, milk, butter, sugar and salt and flour which I pipe onto a baking sheet. Then I make a custard pastry cream from milk, vanilla bean sugar, corn starch, salt, egg yolks and butter. Once the eclair pastry shells are cooked and cooled, pipe the pastry cream inside and decorate with a chocolate glaze. 

To make this Classic Eclair Recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingridiens for Classic Eclair Recipe

So, how to make Classic Eclair Recipe?

Steps to make Classic Eclair Recipe

1

Heat oven

5

Preheat oven to 425 °F.

2

Start making the choux pastry

5

Combine the water, milk, butter, sugar and salt in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon.

3

Return to the heat

1

Return the saucepan to medium heat and cook for 1 ½ to 2 minutes more, stirring constantly until dough comes together into a smooth ball.

4

Add eggs

4

Transfer the choux to a large mixing bowl. To cool the mixture down slightly, beat with an electric mixer on medium for about 1 minute. Gradually, add 4 eggs one at a time, and beat well to incorporate each egg fully between additions. Beat until you have a smooth dough which forms a thick ribbon when you pull it up out of the bowl.

5

Pipe eclair dough

5

Using a piping bag with a ½ inch round tip, pipe 18-20 4 inch long and ¾ inch wide eclairs onto a baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment paper.

6

Bake

40

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, reduce the temperature to 325°F and continue to bake for 30 more minutes until the pastry is golden brown. Transfer to wire rack and leave to cool.

7

Make pastry cream

3

While the eclairs are cooling, bring the milk and vanilla just to a boil, stirring constantly to prevent a film from forming.

8

Whisk sugar, cornstarch, salt and eggs

2

Mix the sugar, cornstarch and salt together in a large bowl. Add the egg yolks and whisk until the mixture is smooth, creamy and lightened in color. This step will take a few minutes to reach the correct color and consistency.

9

Add hot milk

2

While whisking constantly, add hot milk to the sugar and egg mixture gradually (so the eggs don't curdle). Pour the mixture back into saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Whisk for another 30 seconds until the mixture is thick with a pudding-like consistency.

10

Add butter

33

Transfer the pastry cream to a separate bowl and add butter cubes. Quickly whisk the butter into the custard until it is fully incorporated Cover with plastic placed directly onto the surface of the cream. Allow to cool slightly, then place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until cool.

11

Pipe eclairs with pastry cream

10

Pipe pastry cream into each eclair. Scrape off any excess cream and place the eclairs in the refrigerator to chill.

12

Make the chocolate glaze

3

Place the chocolate chips into a small heat-safe bowl. Heat heavy whipping cream in a saucepan or microwave until it is just at a simmer. Remove from the heat and pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Allow to rest for 2 minutes then whisk from the center outwards until you have smooth glossy sauce.

13

Decorate and serve

2

Dunk the top half of the filled eclairs into the chocolate sauce. Place on a wire rack to allow the excess sauce to drip off. Serve with coffee.

This Classic Eclair Recipe is a real crowd pleaser! Make these oblong cream-filled pastries topped with chocolate ganache soon and don’t forget to tag #cookmerecipes in your pretty baking photos!

Jelena is an interior designer and young mom! As a busy working mom, her time is precious so she’s always looking for a quick and efficient way to get things done. Jelena is very creative, but has a strong practical side. She loves trying new things and travels a lot, especially around Europe. The kitchen is Jelena’s safe space, where she can let her creative side out and dedicate herself to her favorite hobby - cooking!

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Total Reviews: 1
Athina

Amazing! Thank you! Approved!

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