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:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, confectioner’s sugar, and salt.
- 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.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- 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.
- Punch down the dough and roll out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch (3 mm).
- 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.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Allow the Éclairs to cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the cream filling:
- In a medium bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Add granulated sugar and vanilla extract; whip until combined.
- Fill a piping bag with the whipped cream mixture.
Assembly:
- Once the Éclairs are completely cool, fill each pastry with a generous dollop of cream filling using your piping bag.
- 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!
Text model: llama3
Image model: WildCardXXLAnimation
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