Mel’s Eclairs

May 06, 2023May 6, 20230 9
An indulgent French pastry with a creamy custard filling and chocolate icing.
in Dessert

Prep

20 min

Cook

30 min

Ready In

50 min

Level

Difficult

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

Eclair Shells ( Pate a Choux ) :
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
Custard :
6 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 egg , lightly beaten
2 teaspoons almond extract ( optional )
Chocolate Icing :
1 square unsweetened chocolate
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup confectioners ' sugar

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
8-10
Calories
290
Sugar
25g
Fat
14g
Mel's Eclairs are a deliciously decadent French pastry that are perfect for special occasions or when you simply want to treat yourself. The light and airy eclair shells are filled with a creamy custard and topped with a rich chocolate icing, creating a heavenly balance of flavors and textures. While making eclairs from scratch may seem daunting, taking the time to make each component yourself is well worth the effort.

Instructions

1.Eclair Shells:
2.Preheat oven to 425°F and grease a baking sheet.
3.In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water and butter until the butter melts.
4.Stir in flour until the mixture forms a ball.
5.Remove from heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
6.Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
7.Pipe or spoon the mixture onto the greased baking sheet, forming 8-10 finger-shaped shells.
8.Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
9.Custard:
10.In a saucepan, mix together sugar, flour, salt, and milk until smooth.
11.Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly.
12.Reduce heat and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
13.Remove from heat and stir in beaten egg and almond extract.
14.Let cool.
15.Chocolate Icing:
16.In a saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and butter.
17.Add water and confectioners' sugar.
18.Stir until smooth.
19.Assembly:
20.Cut the cooled eclair shells horizontally.
21.Fill with custard.
22.Top with chocolate icing.
23.Serve immediately or chill in the fridge.

PROS

A classic and indulgent dessert.
Eclair shells can be made ahead of time and filled when ready to serve.
Custard can be prepared in advance for convenience.

CONS

Requires some technique to get the eclair shells just right.
Can be time-consuming to make all components from scratch.
High in calories and sugar.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Eclairs are not known for their health benefits, but the almond extract in the custard could provide a small boost of vitamin E.

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