Classic Chocolate Éclairs

 

Classic Chocolate Éclairs: A Timeless French Dessert That Will Wow Your Taste Buds

If you’ve ever dreamed of mastering a truly impressive yet irresistibly delicious dessert, Classic Chocolate Éclairs are the perfect place to start. These delicate pastries, filled with rich pastry cream and topped with glossy chocolate ganache, are a timeless treat that brings a touch of French patisserie magic into your kitchen.

What Makes Éclairs So Special?

Éclairs are made from choux pastry, which bakes into a light, airy shell with a crisp exterior and a hollow center perfect for holding luscious fillings. The silky pastry cream inside and the shiny chocolate glaze on top create a perfect harmony of textures and flavors. While they may look fancy, with a little patience and care, they’re surprisingly doable at home.

Ingredients:

• For the choux pastry:

  • 1 cup water

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

• For the pastry cream filling:

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 4 large egg yolks

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• For the chocolate glaze:

  • 4 oz dark chocolate, chopped

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

1. Make the choux pastry: In a saucepan, bring water, butter, and salt to a boil. Add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Beat in eggs one at a time until smooth and glossy.

2. Pipe the dough into 4-inch strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes until puffed and golden. Let cool completely.

3. Prepare the pastry cream: Heat milk until almost boiling. In a separate bowl, whisk sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch until pale. Slowly whisk hot milk into egg mixture, then return to heat and cook, stirring until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Chill until set.

4. Make the chocolate glaze: Heat cream until steaming, pour over chopped chocolate, let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth.

5. Slice éclairs lengthwise, fill with pastry cream using a piping bag, then dip tops in chocolate glaze. Let set before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your éclairs chilled or at room temperature. They make an elegant dessert for dinner parties or a special treat for afternoon tea.

Final Thoughts

Making Classic Chocolate Éclairs may seem intimidating, but with this step-by-step recipe, you can achieve bakery-quality results right at home. The combination of light choux pastry, creamy filling, and rich chocolate glaze is simply unbeatable.

Treat yourself to these French classics and impress everyone with your baking skills!