Eclairs Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

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Chocolate Eclairs Recipe, a classic French dessert made of choux dough, vanilla cream filling and topped with chocolate glaze. These éclairs are a big hit with my family, and it's a dessert we always enjoy at special occasion. Absolutely delicious, and so easy to make.

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Jump to:
  • A classic French Dessert
  • How to make crème pâtissière (vanilla cream)
  • How to make choux pastry (pastry dough)
  • Expert tips
  • Can you make them ahead?
  • Eclairs Recipe

A classic French Dessert

You will probably hear more about profiteroles, although who hasn't heard about eclairs?!. And while the difference between them is minimal when it comes to texture, they share the same dough: the classic choux pastry (pastry dough).

Of course, the main difference is the shape: the eclairs are long, while the profiteroles are small and round. It's a lot simpler to make them than you would think, and this is the only eclairs recipe you will ever need.

The vanilla cream filling is silky and luscious, the one and only French crème pâtissière recipe, which can be used as a base for so many other desserts, likeCremeschnitte Recipe. Then they are topped with a chocolate glaze/

It's almost a tradition now to make these eclairs for the New Year's Party, mum bakes them every single year without a fail. As a child I used to love giving a helping hand when making them, or shall we say licking the cream bowl clean. Still helping, right?

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How to make crème pâtissière (vanilla cream)

  • add half of the amount of milk to a pan together with the sugar and vanilla seeds or vanilla extract and bring to a boil

I like to add the vanilla pod too after I scrape out the seeds, it adds even more flavour. But do remove it before adding the flour mixture, otherwise it's a lot more difficult to do so once the cream thickens.

  • in a jug, add the other half of the milk, and gradually whisk in the sifted flour, making sure you whisk it well to avoid any lumps forming
  • once the sugar milk has come to a boil, mix in the flour milk, and continue to mix until the cream thickens

Note! It is very important to whisk continuously, otherwise you get a lumpy cream.

  • leave the cream to cool slightly, then add the cubed butter, and mix well to get a smooth, silky cream. Refrigerate until it's ready to use.
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How to make choux pastry (pastry dough)

Once the cream is done, we can get on with the pastry dough. Again, super easy to make, with simple ingredients we all have in the pantry.

  • in a pan, add the water, oil and a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil
  • add the sifted flour, and use a silicone spatula to mix well, you will get a dough-like mixture
  • leave to cool, then add the eggs one by one, mixing well before each addition
  • line 2 or 3 baking trays with non-stick baking paper, add about one heap tablespoon of pastry, depending how big you want the profiteroles to be
  • bake for about 20 minutes or until golden

Once the pastries are ready and cooled, cut them in half horizontally, fill with the cream, and top with the chocolate glaze and desiccated coconut.

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Expert tips

The amount I have listed below give you a pretty large batch, about 15 eclairs, depending on their size. So you will have to use 2 or 3 baking trays to make the choux pastry, or the dough.

Note! Do leave plenty of space between them, otherwise they might stick to each other.

The cream filling, if you happen to have any leftover, can be easily used for any tarts. Or just sandwich some crackers together, dip them in chocolate sauce, and you've got a dessert in seconds.

When you make the chocolate topping, do leave it to cool down, preferably in the fridge, so it can get a chance to harden a bit, otherwise it won't really top the chocolate eclairs, and you'll end up with really messy hands when you eat them.

Don't worry if the choux pastry is crispy when they come out of the oven, the soften nicely once they are refrigerated. And here you have, an indulgent dessert to treat yourself with no matter the occasion.

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Can you make them ahead?

No time to bake them on the day of your party? They can be safely made ahead. Just store the cream and glaze in the fridge, and the pastries in a cool place, and they can be filled whenever you need them.

I would suggest you leave them in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours once they have been filled with cream and topped with chocolate glaze, the cooler they are, the more delicious. I guarantee you, these beauties will be the star of any party. They are absolutely amazing!

And there you have, a super easy chocolate eclairs recipe that everyone will just love. Do give them a try, you will make them over and over again for every occasion!

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Eclairs Recipe

Chocolate Eclairs Recipe, a classic French dessert made of choux dough, vanilla cream filling and topped with chocolate glaze. These éclairs are a big hit with my family, and it's a dessert we always enjoy at special occasion. Absolutely delicious, and so easy to make.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 15 eclairs

Calories: 325kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 250 ml water
  • 150 ml sunflower oil
  • 250 g flour
  • 5 eggs
  • a pinch of salt

For the filling:

  • 500 ml milk
  • 120 g sugar
  • 7 tablespoon plain flour
  • 80 g butter
  • 1 vanilla seeds from a vanilla pod or vanilla extract

For the glaze:

  • 100 g icing sugar
  • 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 3 tablespoon sunflower oil
  • 4 tablespoon boiling water

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. (350 Fahrenheit).

  • To make the pastry, mix the water, oil and salt into a pan and bring it to the boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the flour mixing quickly with a spatula. You will get a dough-like texture. Leave it to cool.

  • Add the eggs one by one and mix well until you get a smooth texture.

  • Line 2 or 3 large baking trays with greaseproof paper.

  • You can either use a piping bag or just a spoon to scoop the mixture onto the baking trays. Make sure you leave about 2 cm between each of the pastries.

  • Bake them at 180 degrees C for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

  • To make the filling, boil half of the milk with the sugar and vanilla seeds or extract.

  • In a separate bowl, mix the flour with the other half of milk.

  • Pour the milk and flour mixture over the sugar one and simmer them until the cream thickens.

  • Allow the cream to cool a bit, then add the butter and mix well. The cream will become really smooth and delicious.

  • For the glaze, mix all the ingredients together.

  • Once the pastries are ready, transfer them to a rack and allow them to cool. Half each of the pastries and fill them with cream and glaze with the cocoa powder mixture.

Video

Notes

  • Click on the US Customary link to see the measurements displayed in cups and ounces.
  • The servings can be adjusted by clicking the number next to Servings.
  • The amount I have listed below give you a pretty large batch, about 15 eclairs, depending on their size. So you will have to use 2 or 3 baking trays to make the choux pastry, or the dough.
  • Note! Do leave plenty of space between them, otherwise they might stick to each other.
  • The cream filling, if you happen to have any leftover, can be easily used for any tarts. Or just sandwich some crackers together, dip them in chocolate sauce, and you've got a dessert in seconds.
  • When you make the chocolate topping, do leave it to cool down, preferably in the fridge, so it can get a chance to harden a bit, otherwise it won't really top the chocolate eclairs, and you'll end up with really messy hands when you eat them.
  • Don't worry if the choux pastry is crispy when they come out of the oven, the soften nicely once they are refrigerated. And here you have, an indulgent dessert to treat yourself with no matter the occasion.

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 266IU | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg

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Eclairs Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I make eclairs the night before? ›

Making Ahead: The pastry cream can be made up to 2 days in advance. Unfilled, baked eclair shells store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

What is the filling of an éclair called? ›

Once cool, the pastry is filled with custard (crème pâtissière), whipped cream or chiboust cream, then iced with fondant icing. Other fillings include pistachio- and rum-flavoured custard, fruit-flavoured fillings, or chestnut purée.

What kind of pastry is a classic éclair made from? ›

Classic Eclairs. Light and crisp golden brown shells made with French choux pastry encase smooth vanilla pastry cream in these Classic Eclairs that are finished with a rich chocolate ganache. They are a delicious French treat, always a crowd pleaser, and easier to make at home than you might think!

Will cream puffs get soggy overnight? ›

How long will the cream puffs be good for? We usually recommend consuming the cream puffs the same or next day, after 2 days they will start to become soggy, especially if your refrigerator has a lot of humidity in it. Can I freeze the cream puffs? Can you customize the cream puffs?

Why are my eclairs soggy inside? ›

Answer: This can happen if your choux pastry wasn't thick enough, and too runny. It's important to make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one. It is also important not to open your oven and peak. This releases steam and can result in a soggy and flat éclair.

What's the difference between an éclair and a French éclair? ›

Other than form and name, they are continents apart in taste. An American eclair is made from frozen ingredients such as frozen pre-separated egg whites and yolks and frozen pre-made cream. A French eclair is fresh: freshly separated eggs, freshly stirred creme, freshly picked or ground ingredients.

What's the difference between a long john and an éclair? ›

Like all non-cake doughnuts, Long Johns are made with a yeasted dough, which gives them their trademark chewiness. Eclairs, meanwhile, are made with a French Choux pastry, which uses no leavening agent whatsoever and consists primarily of butter, flour, water, and eggs.

What's the difference between cream puff and éclair? ›

What is the Difference Between a Cream Puff and an Eclair? They are both made from Pate a Choux and the difference is the shape and what you fill them with. An eclair is long and rectangular and is filled with a custard and topped with chocolate where a cream puff is round and filled with Chantilly Cream.

How do you crisp éclair shells? ›

If cooled éclair shells are not as crisp as you like, pop them back into a 375° F oven for 6-8 minutes until they are extremely hot to the touch. Cool completely before filling. Here's a bonus: You can bake shells in advance and freeze them in a Ziploc bag as soon as they are cool.

What does éclair mean in English? ›

French, literally, "lightning" Word Origin. The English word éclair comes directly from a French word whose chief meaning is "lightning" or "flash of lightning." No one is sure why a pastry was named after lightning.

What French pastry is similar to an éclair? ›

Chouquettes are a famous French pastry made from choux dough. They are small, hollow puffs filled with cream or custard and topped with chocolate sauce. They are also known as cream puffs, eclairs, and profiteroles. The ingredients for making chouquettes only need water, butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.

Why are eclairs so expensive? ›

As Serious Eats reported, luxury eclairs are the result of French chefs facing competition, and putting their skills to the test, which explains the high-end fillings and intricate decoration. For now, the Maitre Choux versions are made in the tiny kitchen beneath the shop.

Why are my eclairs not puffing up? ›

Oven temp too low, doesn't create enough steam to puff up. Try setting the temp high at 450F to start and then lowering it to 350-375 for the rest of the baking time. Dough was chilled before baking. Never do this as this can stop your eclairs from rising.

Should eclairs be soft or crunchy? ›

Don't let the grocery store eclairs fool you. Those soft, soggy logs are not what eclairs should be. Trust me, I know good pastries. Good eclairs are crisp and brown on the outside and dried out on the inside.

Can you refrigerate choux dough overnight? ›

Keep raw choux dough in the fridge in an airtight bag for up to three days if you're not baking it right away. Once baked, store choux pastries in an airtight container for two to three days, or in airtight bags or containers in the freezer for two to three weeks.

Can I make choux pastry the day before? ›

Make Ahead Instructions: Prepare choux pastry dough through step 3. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before shaping and baking.

Can you refrigerate éclair dough? ›

Though it's not difficult to make, mixing the dough, piping out the shapes, and baking the pastries can be time-consuming. Luckily, we found that you can save on precious prep time during the holiday season and refrigerate the dough (stored in a pastry bag or zipper-lock bag) for a couple of days with no ill effects.

How do you keep choux pastry fresh overnight? ›

When you want to store uncooked choux pastry for a day or two, you can place them in an airtight container (or piping bag, with both ends tightly closed) in the fridge. Baked, unfilled choux pastry shells can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 day or frozen for up to 1 month, in an airtight container.

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