Classic Chocolate Eclairs
Ingredients
Choux Pastry:
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
Filling:
- 2 ½ cups cold milk
- 1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing:
- 2 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons hot water
How To Make Classic Chocolate Eclairs
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet; set aside.
Make choux pastry:
Combine water and butter in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until butter melts completely. Reduce heat to low; 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 after each addition until incorporated. Using a spoon or pastry bag fitted with a No. 10 or larger tip, spoon or pipe dough onto the prepared cookie sheet in 1 1/2×4-inch strips.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and continue baking until the bottoms sound hollow when lightly tapped, about 20 more minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Make filling:
Combine milk and pudding mix in a medium bowl according to package directions. Beat heavy cream with an electric mixer in a separate medium bowl until soft peaks form. Beat in confectioners’ sugar and 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.
Make icing:
Melt chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Stir in hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until icing is smooth and has reached desired consistency. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Drizzle chocolate icing over filled eclairs. Store in the refrigerator until serving.