Tea Party Diva

Chocolate Eclairs look like they come from a Patisserie, but they are easy to make. Try them for your next Tea Party or Afternoon Tea. The Chocolate Eclairs recipe can also be used to make Chocolate Profiteroles.

The choux pastry for chocolate eclairs is light, and makes this recipe a melt in the mouth treat for a Tea Party, afternoon tea, or special occasion.

Chocolate Eclairs - Choux Pastry Ingredients

• 1/8 liter water (1/4 pint)
• 1/4 tablespoon caster or superfine sugar
• 100 grams (2 ounces) butter
• 60 grams (2 1/2 ounces) plain sifted flour
• 2 small eggs
• pinch salt

Method

In a saucepan, mix the sugar, butter and salt. Bring to the boil, stirring gently. When the butter has melted, remove the pan from the heat. Add the flour, and mix well. On a moderate heat, continue to stir with a wooden spoon, until the choux pastry mixture comes away cleanly from the pan. Mix in a blender, or by hand, adding the eggs one by one. Continue to mix after each egg until the mixture is smooth. Using a piping bag or spoon, add the mixture (approx 3 inches long for each eclair) to a greased *Eclair Pan. One pan will fit about 6-8 chocolate eclairs.

Bake for 10 minutes in a hot oven (approx 400-450 degrees F). Reduce heat to a moderate (approx 350 degres F) for a further 30-35 minutes, or until golden. The outside should be firm, and the inside hollow and not “doughy”. When cooled, fill eclairs with cream or custard. Top with melted chocolate or chocolate icing.

Makes 6-8 Chocolate Eclairs

* HINT - A baking tray can be used, but an Eclair Pan has indentations guiding you with the exact size, shape and spacing between each chocolate eclair.

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VARIATIONS
Quantities can be doubled for more eclairs.

Profiteroles
Spoon one tablespoon of choux pastry for each profiterole. They will need less time to cook.

Coffee Eclairs
Use coffee flavoured filling and coffee icing

Savoury Choux Pastry
Use the Chocolate Eclairs choux pastry recipe, but omit the sugar. Add desired seasonings e.g. cracked black pepper or cayenne pepper. Fill the Savoury Puffs with any savoury filling. Reheat before serving.

Small Cakes, Muffins, Scones & Slices, Tea Party Recipes