Best 2 Homemade Eclairs Recipes

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Indulge in the delightful world of éclairs, a classic French pastry that combines delicate choux pastry with a variety of tempting fillings and toppings. These elegant treats are perfect for any occasion, whether you're hosting a special event or simply craving a sweet indulgence. With our comprehensive guide, you'll discover the secrets to creating homemade éclairs that are both visually stunning and bursting with flavor. From the perfect choux pastry to the most decadent fillings and glazes, we've got you covered. Get ready to impress your friends and family with these irresistible pastries that are sure to become a favorite.

**The article includes the following recipes:**

* **Choux Pastry:** The foundation of the éclair, this recipe provides detailed instructions for creating the perfect choux pastry, ensuring a light and airy texture.

* **Chocolate Ganache Filling:** A rich and decadent filling made with dark chocolate and heavy cream, this classic combination is a timeless favorite.

* **Vanilla Crème Pâtissière:** A smooth and creamy filling made with milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla, this versatile filling can be used in a variety of pastries and desserts.

* **Strawberry Glaze:** A vibrant and flavorful glaze made with fresh strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice, this glaze adds a touch of sweetness and color to your éclairs.

* **Caramel Glaze:** A rich and decadent glaze made with sugar, butter, and heavy cream, this glaze adds a touch of sophistication to your éclairs.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS



Homemade Chocolate Eclairs image

When you talk about eclairs, homemade is always a better option. Bakery-bought eclairs mostly have soggy and mushy crusts, because bakers freeze their choux pastries for days. Therefore you're better off baking and filling them fresh at home.

Provided by Zainab Pervaiz

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     French

Time 1h50m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 11

¾ cup water
1 ½ tablespoons water
8 ½ tablespoons butter
1 pinch salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
5 eggs
5 ⅓ ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
¼ cup butter
1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 drops vanilla extract, or to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Butter a baking sheet.
  • Heat 3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons water, 8 1/2 tablespoons butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; turn off the heat and sift in flour. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture is well combined and leaves the sides of the pan.
  • Cool the mixture to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Crack in eggs, 1 at a time, stirring gradually into a smooth dough. Lift the spoon to check the consistency; dough should slide gradually back into the bowl.
  • Fit a piping bag with a coupler and 3/4-inch round nozzle. Drop piping bag, nozzle-down, into a tall glass and fold edges down around the glass. Spoon dough into the bag. Gather edges and twist together.
  • Pipe dough into 5-inch-long logs onto the prepared baking sheet. Press logs down with wet fingers if any peaks form.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden and firm, 30 to 35 minutes. Let eclairs cool on a wire rack while preparing the topping and filling.
  • Place chocolate and 1/4 cup butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Beat cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl using an electric mixer until frothy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract gradually, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Fill a clean piping bag with the whipped cream.
  • Use a paring knife to cut an X in either end of each eclair. Pipe a portion of the whipped cream into one end of each eclair until it starts to ooze out the other side. Dip the top halves in melted chocolate-butter mixture. Refrigerate eclairs until filling hardens, about 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 416.7 calories, Carbohydrate 36.9 g, Cholesterol 140.8 mg, Fat 28.9 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 17.3 g, Sodium 136 mg, Sugar 26.9 g

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS



Homemade Chocolate Eclairs image

What an easy way to prepare eclairs! Do be sure to double the recipe as Phyllis suggests... you'll be glad you did.

Provided by Phyllis owens

Categories     Other Desserts

Time 1h35m

Number Of Ingredients 13

CREAM PUFFS
1/2 c boiling water
1/4 c butter
1/2 c all purpose flour
3 eggs
CREAM FILLING FOR PUFFS
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c scalded milk
1 egg beaten
1 1/2 Tbsp butter
3/4 Tbsp vanilla

Steps:

  • 1. First off, I doubled this recipe when I made it because my family would devour this in one sitting. Pour boiling water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and stir in butter until butter melts. Now add flour all at once and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture leaves the side of the pan and forms a ball. Remove from the heat. IMMEDIATELY add unbeaten eggs one at a time beating to a smooth paste after each one. Then beat the mixture until smooth and velvety. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a greased baking sheet, keeping mounds uniform in shape and height, about three inches apart. Bake in Hot Oven (450F) 15 minutes or until well puffed and delicately browned. Then reduce heat to 300f and bake 30 to 40 minutes longer. This will bake the centers thoroghly, but puffs should become no browner. Remove to a cake rack to cool. When cool cut off tops with a sharp knife. Fill with cream Filling, thick custard,whipped cream or Ice Cream, and replace tops.
  • 2. For Cream filling, Mix sugar, flour and salt in the top of double boiler. Gradually stir in the hot milk and cook over the direct heat until thickened, stirring constatnly! Stir a little of the hot mixture into the beaten egg, return this to the rest of the mixture, add the butter and place over the boiling water, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Remove from heat stir in flavoring and cool. Fill into cream puffs. I added some choclate frosting for the tops. Refrigerate if not eaten same day.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients, especially the chocolate. This will make a big difference in the taste of your éclairs.
  • Make sure your choux pastry is cooked through before filling it. Otherwise, it will be doughy and won't hold its shape.
  • Don't overfill the éclairs. Otherwise, they will burst when you bake them.
  • Be patient when decorating the éclairs. It takes a little time to get them just right, but it's worth it.

Conclusion:

Éclairs are a delicious and elegant dessert that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They're perfect for special occasions or just a sweet treat. With a little practice, you can easily make éclairs at home. So next time you're in the mood for something sweet, give this recipe a try!

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