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Chocolate Eclairs on a white plate next to silver forks

Chocolate Eclairs

Course: Pastry
Cuisine: French
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 425kcal
Author: Kris Longwell
This Chocolate Eclairs recipe is truly something special. You'll need to set aside a few hours in the kitchen. But they are easy to make in stages. It's just important to remember that the pastry dough should be baked when the mixture is still warm from cooking on the stovetop. And for the ganache, let it cool in the fridge just long enough to make it easily spreadable, don't leave it in too long or it will completely harden. For this recipe, you'll need a total of 19 oz. of bittersweet chocolate. Now, go and make these amazing chocolate eclairs!
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Ingredients

FOR THE CHOCOLATE FILLING

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 6 tablespoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoon cornstarch
  • Kosher salt a pinch
  • 7 oz. bittersweet chocolate melted
  • 2 ½ tablespoon unsalted butter cubed, at room temperature

FOR THE PASTRY DOUGH

  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ cup water
  • 8 tablespoon 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature

FOR THE GANACHE

  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ¾ lb 12 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (a food processor works best)

Instructions

MAKE THE CHOCOLATE FILLING

  • Bring the milk to a boil in a small saucepan.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium sturdy pan, whisk the yolks together with the sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt until slightly thickened and well blended.
  • Temper the yolks by whisking them continuously, and drizzling in ¼ cup of the hot milk. Add the remainder of the milk in a steady stream.
  • Put the pan over medium heat and, whisking vigorously, constantly, and thoroughly (make sure to get into the edges of the pan), bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Continue whisking until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  • Whisk in the melted chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Whisk in the bits of butter, stirring until fully incorporated and the custard is smooth and silky.
  • Set aside to cool completely. (To expedite cooling, scrape into a bowl and place the bowl in a larger bowl with ice water).

MAKE THE PASTRY

  • Pre-heat the oven to 425°F.
  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Bring the milk, water, butter, sugar, and salt to a rapid boil in a medium sturdy saucepan over high heat.
  • Add the flour all at once and lower the heat to medium-low, and immediately start stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon or heavy whisk.
  • The dough will come together, and a light crust will form on the bottom of the pan.
  • Keep stirring for another minute or two to dry out the dough. The dough should be very smooth.
  • Turn the dough into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or into a bowl you can use to mix with a hand mixer or a wooden spoon and a good amount of arm muscle.
  • Let the dough sit for a minute, then add the eggs one by one and beat until the dough is thick and shiny.
  • Make sure each egg is completely incorporated before you add the next, and don't be concerned if the dough falls apart - by the time the last egg goes in, the dough will come together again.
  • Fit a large pastry bag with a large (⅔-inch diameter) plain tip.
  • Fill the pastry bag with half of the dough and pipe out thick strips of dough that are 4 to 4 ½ inches long on the first baking sheet; keep the strips about 2 inches apart so they'll have room to puff.
  • Pipe the other half of the dough onto the second baking sheet (the eclairs at this point can be frozen for up to 2 months).
  • Bake the eclairs for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and continue baking for another 7 minutes, then wedge the handle of wooden spoon into the oven door so it stays slightly ajar, and bake for about 3 minutes more, or until the eclairs are golden, firm, and puffed.
  • Transfer the eclairs to a rack and cool to room temperature.

MAKE THE GANACHE

  • Bring the heavy cream (¾ cup) to a boil.
  • Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and wait for 30 seconds.
  • Gently stir to blend.
  • Place the ganache in the refrigerator just long enough for it to become spreadable.

ASSEMBLE THE CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS

  • Using a serrated knife, in a gently sawing motion, cut the eclairs horizontally in half and lift off the tops.
  • Whisk the pastry cream lightly to loosen it a bit and spoon it into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip and pipe enough into each eclair base to fill it. (Or, fill with a spoon).
  • (You will have chocolate filling left over, which you can cover and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days...there a lots of ways to use up this amazing cream).
  • Using a small icing spatula, or butter knife, glaze the tops of the eclairs.
  • Gently place the tops over the filled bases.
  • Refrigerate the eclairs for at least 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 425kcal