Éclair au Chocolat
An iconic French patisserie classic: crisp, elongated choux pastry shells filled with rich vanilla pastry cream and enrobed in a glossy chocolate glaze. Perfect for special occasions or a delightful afternoon treat.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 batch Choux pastry(Prepare your favorite choux pastry recipe. Ensure it's at room temperature before piping.)
- 500 g Pastry cream (Crème Pâtissière)(Homemade or high-quality store-bought. Ensure it's thick and well-chilled.)
- 200 g Dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa)(Finely chopped for easy melting.)
- 100 ml Heavy cream (35% fat)(Cold.)
- 30 g Unsalted butter(Unsalted, cut into small pieces.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the choux pastry and pipe 4-inch (10 cm) logs onto parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving space between them. Ensure the pipes are even in thickness for uniform baking. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 180°C (350°F) and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the éclairs are deep golden brown, puffed, and feel light and hollow when tapped. They should sound crisp. Turn off the oven, prop the door open slightly with a wooden spoon, and let the éclairs dry in the oven for 10 minutes to prevent them from becoming soggy. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
⏱️ 30-35 minutes - 2
Prepare the pastry cream according to your recipe. Once smooth and thickened, pour it into a clean bowl, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming, and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until completely cold and firm.
⏱️ 1 hour (active prep) + 2 hours (chilling) - 3
Prepare the chocolate glaze (ganache). Place the finely chopped dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the heavy cream and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to simmer around the edges. Do not boil. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate. Let it sit undisturbed for 1-2 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt, then gently whisk starting from the center and working outwards until the glaze is smooth, glossy, and emulsified. Let the glaze cool slightly to a thick but pourable consistency.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Assemble the éclairs. Once the choux shells are completely cool and the pastry cream is chilled and firm, gently slice the éclairs in half horizontally or poke two small holes in the bottom of each éclair shell. Fill a piping bag fitted with a plain or star tip with the chilled pastry cream. Pipe the pastry cream generously into the bottom half of each éclair shell, or through the holes, until filled. Alternatively, spoon the cream into the shells. Dip the top of each filled éclair into the slightly cooled chocolate glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Place the glazed éclairs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to catch any drips. Let the glaze set for at least 15-20 minutes before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure éclairs are fully baked and dry; they should sound hollow when tapped. This is crucial for texture.
- ✓Choux pastry shells can be baked ahead of time and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days once completely cooled.
- ✓Pastry cream must be thoroughly chilled and firm before filling.
- ✓The chocolate glaze should be smooth and glossy. If it becomes too thick, gently warm it slightly over a double boiler or in short microwave bursts.
- ✓Fill éclairs as close to serving time as possible to prevent the shells from becoming soggy.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Coffee Éclair: Add a teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the pastry cream and a tablespoon of coffee extract to the glaze.
- Vanilla Bean Éclair: Infuse the milk for the pastry cream with a scraped vanilla bean for a more intense vanilla flavor.
- Fruit Éclair: Pipe fresh berries or a fruit compote alongside or instead of some of the pastry cream.