Eclairs
- 4 cups Pastry Cream (page 655)
- Pate a Choux (page 653)
- Oil, for plastic wrap
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- Preheat the oven to 425F, with a rack in the center.
- Line 2 unrimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats (French nonstick baking mats).
- Make the pastry cream; refrigerate.
- Make the pate a choux batter.
- Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch (Ateco #806) tip; pipe out oblong shapes, about 3 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide, onto the baking sheets at 2-inch intervals.
- Gently run a fork dipped in water along the top, making straight lines to ensure even rising.
- Cover 1 sheet with lightly oiled plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator.
- Transfer the other to the oven.
- Bake 10 minutes; reduce the oven heat to 350F.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Turn off the oven; prop the door open slightly to let steam escape.
- Allow the eclairs to dry in the oven about 15 minutes, or until the center is damp but no wet dough remains (test by cutting into the center of one).
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
- Raise the heat back to 425F, and repeat the process for the remaining batch.
- If serving immediately, fill while still warm so the eclairs can take more cream.
- If filling at a later time, insert a skewer into one end of each, and move it around to expand the opening for cream; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir the pastry cream to soften.
- Fill a pastry bag fitted with a coupler and filling tip (Ateco #230) with pastry cream.
- Insert the tip into one end of each eclair; fill.
- Serve, or glaze as follows.
- To make the glaze, combine the water, corn syrup, and sugar in a small saucepan.
- Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, washing the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming.
- Once at a boil, remove from heat; add the chocolate.
- Let stand 2 minutes; stir gently until smooth.
- Transfer the glaze to a shallow bowl.
- Dip the top of each eclair into the glaze; let excess drip off before turning over.
- Transfer to a wire rack to allow glaze to set.
- Serve, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 day.
pastry cream, water, light corn syrup, sugar, semisweet chocolate
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/eclairs-393134 (may not work)