Éclair

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The Éclair! A classic French dessert that never fails to impress. This creamy, dreamy treat is essentially a long, thin cream-filled pastry, typically topped with a smooth glaze and a sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar.

To make an authentic Éclair, you’ll need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (200g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (100g) confectioner’s sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) water
  • 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120g) unsalted butter, softened
  • Cream filling ingredients (see below)

Cream Filling:

  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, confectioner’s sugar, and salt.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, water, and yeast. Whisk until smooth, then add the dry ingredients and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
  4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
  5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  6. Punch down the dough and roll out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch (3 mm).
  7. Cut the dough into long, thin strips (about 12 inches / 30 cm each). Place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) between each strip.
  8. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
  9. Allow the Éclairs to cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the cream filling:

  1. In a medium bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
  2. Add granulated sugar and vanilla extract; whip until combined.
  3. Fill a piping bag with the whipped cream mixture.

Assembly:

  1. Once the Éclairs are completely cool, fill each pastry with a generous dollop of cream filling using your piping bag.
  2. Top with a smooth glaze (such as royal icing or a simple powdered sugar glaze) and sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar, if desired.

Tips:

  • To ensure a smooth filling, chill the Éclairs in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • You can also flavor the cream filling with different extracts (e.g., almond, coffee, or orange) to create unique variations.

Bon appétit!

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