Delicious Chocolate Eclairs Recipe
Introduction
Chocolate eclairs are a classic French pastry that is popular all over the world. They are made by filling a light and fluffy pastry shell with a rich and creamy chocolate custard and then topping it with a smooth and shiny chocolate glaze. This delightful dessert is perfect for any occasion, and it's surprisingly easy to make at home.Ingredients
To make chocolate eclairs, you'll need the following ingredients:- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Pastry Shell Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). 2. In a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a boil over medium heat. 3. Once the butter has melted, remove the pan from the heat and add the flour. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. 4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 5. Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. 6. Pipe the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making 4-inch (10-cm) long strips. 7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry shells are golden brown and puffed. 8. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.Chocolate Custard Instructions
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk until it begins to steam. 2. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks until smooth. 3. Add a ladleful of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs. 4. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining hot milk. 5. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. 6. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. 7. Transfer the custard to a separate bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming. 8. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.Chocolate Glaze Instructions
1. In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream until it begins to steam. 2. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until they are completely melted and the mixture is smooth. 3. Set aside and let cool slightly.Assembly Instructions
1. Cut the pastry shells in half horizontally. 2. Spoon the chilled chocolate custard into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. 3. Pipe the custard onto the bottom half of each pastry shell. 4. Dip the top half of the pastry shell into the chocolate glaze, letting any excess drip off. 5. Place the glazed pastry shell on top of the custard-filled bottom half. 6. Repeat with the remaining pastry shells. 7. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.Nutrition Information
Here is the approximate nutrition information for one chocolate eclair:- Calories: 320
- Total Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
- Sodium: 170mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 31g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 20g
- Protein: 6g