Sunday, April 10, 2011

Eclairs

My boyfriend was trying to invent something new for me to make. As he was describing his "creation," it sounded so much like an eclair. He thought an eclair was a fried doughnut, so he never said "I want you to make an eclair." He kept describing a custard filled pastry with a chocolate glaze on top.

When I asked him if he wanted an eclair, he said kind of like that but not a fried one. Thats when I corrected him and told him eclairs are not fried. The creation he kept describing was indeed an eclair. So here it is:

Recipe:

Ingredients:

Shells:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs

Filling:
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 1/2 cups cold milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Glaze:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup whole milk
1 tbs light corn syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.

In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring until butter melts completely. Reduce heat to low, and add flour and salt. Stir vigorously until mixture leaves the sides of the pan and begins to form a stiff ball. Remove from heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to incorporate completely after each addition. With a spoon or a pastry bag fitted with a No. 10, or larger, tip, spoon or pipe dough onto cookie sheet in 1 1/2 x 4 inch strips.

Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and bake 20 minutes more, until hollow sounding when lightly tapped on the bottom. Cool completely on a wire rack.

For the filling, combine pudding mix and milk in medium bowl according to package directions. In a separate bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Fold whipped cream into pudding. Cut tops off of cooled pastry shells with a sharp knife. Fill shells with pudding mixture and replace tops.

For glaze, combine butter, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla in medium saucepan and heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Decrease the heat to low, add the chocolate, and whisk until melted. Turn off heat, add the powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth. Place the mixture over a bowl of warm water and dip the eclairs immediately. Allow glaze to set for 30 minutes before serving.


7 comments:

  1. I have yet to try my hand at eclairs. I'm not sure why though, they are so simple and definitely a favorite of mine!
    By the way, your photos are always so gorgeous! I wish I could reach into the computer screen and grab the food right out of it :)

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  2. Thankies Jess!! Eclairs are quite easy to make. I think you will definitely enjoy these ones. Right now, I'm making a second batch of eclairs, my boyfriend ate all of the first batch and demand more. =]

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  3. How delicious looking! Your boyfriend had a great idea :) I'd love to make some of these for my family for breakfast. Yum!

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  4. I saw these featured over at These Chicks Cooked and had to check these out... me and my fiancee LOVE eclairs. I tried to make some once but they didn't turn out too pretty.. tasted good though! I am your newest follower :)

    Check out my blog and follow back if you like!

    http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com

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  5. Hi Desi, thank you for following me! I'll go check out your blog immediately! The eclairs were easy to make. Give it a try, I think you will love them!

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  6. Gwen- Desi beat me to the punch :) I'm featuring your delicious eclairs today in my "These Chicks Cooked" spotlight! Thanks for sharing your recipe :)
    Katie

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  7. Hi Katie, I saw the feature! Thank you for featuring me!! I feel so honored!! =]

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