Classic French Eclairs Recipe

Indulge in a taste of France with this classic eclair recipe. Crispy yet fluffy, these pastries are filled with a rich vanilla cream and topped with a luscious chocolate glaze. Perfect for special occasions or an afternoon treat, these homemade eclairs will impress your friends and family.

Ingredients

• Pastry Dough:
• - 1 cup water
• - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• - 1/4 teaspoon salt
• - 1 cup all-purpose flour
• - 4 large eggs
• Vanilla Cream Filling:
• - 2 cups milk
• - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• - 4 large egg yolks
• - 1/4 cup cornstarch
• - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Chocolate Glaze:
• - 1/2 cup heavy cream
• - 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a boil over medium heat.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the flour. Stir vigorously until the mixture forms a smooth ball.
4. Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes.
5. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. The dough should be thick and glossy.
6. Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe 4-inch long strips onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.
7. Bake the pastry dough for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue baking for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
8. While the pastry cools, prepare the vanilla cream filling. In a saucepan, heat the milk until steaming.
9. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch until well combined.
10. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
11. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
12. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the cream cool for 10 minutes.
13. Once the pastry shells and vanilla cream are cool, use a thin knife to make a small slit lengthwise in each eclair.
14. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip with the vanilla cream and pipe it into each eclair through the slit.
15. To prepare the chocolate glaze, heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it starts to simmer.
16. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips. Let it sit undisturbed for 1-2 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.
17. Add the butter to the chocolate glaze and stir until melted and well combined.
18. Dip the top of each filled eclair into the chocolate glaze and place them on a wire rack to set.
19. Allow the chocolate glaze to set before serving. Enjoy your homemade eclairs!

Interesting Facts