Éclair shells
- 4 cups Water
- 1 1/4 cups Butter
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Salt
- 3 3/4 cups Flour
- 10 - 14 Eggs
Pastry cream
- 2 cups Milk
- 1/2 Vanilla bean
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 4 Egg yolks
- 3 1/2 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 1/8 cup Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 1/2 cups Chocolate chips (milk or dark)
Directions
Shells:
In a pot add water, butter, sugar, and salt and bring to a
boil. When it comes to a boil remove from heat and add all the
flour at once. Mix with a wooden spoon and continue mixing
till it starts to pull away from the sides of the pot.
Transfer to a mixer with a paddle attachment and mix on high
till you do not see any more steam coming from the mix.
Now add the eggs one by one, incorporating them completely
before adding another. After the 6th egg test the dough. To
test, take some dough between your thumb and index finger and
pull it apart. If the dough does not stay together in a string
between your fingers add another egg. Continue adding eggs
until you get this result. You may not use all eggs. When done
place the mix in a piping bag with a large star tip. Or Spoon
long thin (1" wide by 4" long). Line a baking sheet
with parchment or wax paper and pipe rows of 4 inch long
lines, make sure to keep the same thickness all the way
through the line. Egg wash each line and bake at 375 F until
golden brown. Remove from oven and let dry out for about least
2 hours.
Pastry Cream:
Put milk in a pot with 1/2 cup sugar and the vanilla bean and
its seeds (Take vanilla bean and cut it open lengthwise. Then
scrape out the seeds and add them to the milk). Add the butter
to the pot also and heat over medium heat. In a bowl add the
egg yolks, 1/8 cup sugar, and cornstarch and whisk well. Now,
blend the milk mixture into the eggs by slowly adding a
little at a time and constantly stirring. When both are
completely mixed together, strain into a bowl and cover
with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap touches
the pastry cream so no skin with form. Chill until
cold.
When the pastry cream is chilled place in a piping bag with a
medium plain tip. Poke two little holes in the bottom of the éclairs so
that the tip can
fit into it. Pipe the pastry cream into the éclair carefully
not to overfill, the éclair should feel a lot heavier
when filled. Once filled set aside and finish the rest.
Melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave.
When chocolate is melted take the éclair and dip only the,
top in the chocolate. Serve or refrigerate until ready
to serve.
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