Description
Classic French chocolate eclairs featuring light choux pastry filled with rich chocolate cream and topped with a glossy chocolate glaze. These elegant pastries offer the perfect balance of airy texture and decadent chocolate flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate (for glaze)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (for glaze)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make choux pastry: Bring water, butter, and salt to boil. Add flour all at once, stir vigorously until dough forms ball. Cool 5 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time until smooth. Pipe 4-inch strips onto baking sheet.
- Bake 15 minutes at 425°F, then reduce to 375°F (190°C) and bake 20 minutes more until golden. Cool completely.
- Make chocolate cream: Heat milk until simmering. Whisk sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks. Gradually whisk in hot milk.
- Return to heat, whisk constantly until thickened. Remove from heat, add butter and chocolate. Stir until smooth. Chill 2 hours.
- Make glaze: Heat cream until simmering. Pour over chopped chocolate, let sit 2 minutes. Add butter, stir until smooth.
- Assemble: Cut cooled pastry shells horizontally. Fill with chocolate cream. Dip tops in warm glaze. Let set 30 minutes.
Notes
- Ensure pastry shells are completely cool before filling to prevent cream from melting.
- Use high-quality chocolate for best flavor in both filling and glaze.
- Chill filling thoroughly for proper consistency.
- Store assembled eclairs in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Unfilled pastry shells can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 eclair
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 120mg