CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS

Ingredients

For the Choux Pastry

• 250 ml (1 cup + 2 tsp) water
• 70 grams (5 tbsp) butter
• 150 grams (1 cup) all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1/8 tsp salt

For the pastry cream

• 350 ml (1 1/2 cup) cold milk
• 30 grams (3 3/4 tbsp) corn starch
• 100 grams (1/2 cup) sugar
• 75 grams (1/3 cup) butter at room temperature
• 200 ml (3/4 cups + 2 tbsp) heavy whipping cream, cold
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the chocolate glaze

• 150 grams (3/4 cups (it depends on what size of chocolate chips you are using. ¾ cup is for the regular size)) chocolate chips
• 125 grams (1/2 cup plus 2 tsp) heavy cream

Instructions

Prepare the choux batter:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and line two sheet pans with a parchment paper.
2. In a medium non-stick pot combine water with salt and bring to a boil.
3. Add butter and bring to a boil one more time.
4. Add flour and whisk vigorously until no lumps remain and the batter thickens, about 1 minute.
5. Remove pot from the heat and let the batter cool for 5 minute.
6. Whisk in the first egg and mix with a wooden spoon until the egg is fully incorporated into the batter with no white lumps. Continue whisking in the remaining eggs, one at a time
7. Using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (I use Wilton #1A), pipe fat lengths of dough (about ¾ - 1 inch thick and 4 inches long) onto the lined baking sheet, leaving 1 inch of space between them. 
8. Bake for 15 minutes.
9. Without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 340 F and bake for another 15-20 minutes until eclairs are light golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on the wire rack.

Prepare the pastry cream:

1. In a small bowl dissolve a cornstarch in 3-4 tablespoons of milk. 
2. To a small sauce pan add the remaining milk and bring to a simmer. Add 50 grams (1/4 cup) of sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
3. When milk starts to boil, add a dissolved cornstarch and whisk until no lumps remain. Remove from the heat and cool until just slightly warm or completely cold.
4. In a large bowl beat the butter with the remaining 50 grams (1/4 cup) of sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture turns almost white.
5. Combine the whipped butter with the milk and cornstarch mixture. Mix well and set aside.
6. In a large bowl and using the electric mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into the butter and milk cream.
7. Using the tip of a small knife, cut 3 small Xs along the top of each pastry. Using a small tip (I used Wilton tip #32), pipe the pastry cream into the shells through each opening.

For the chocolate glaze:

1. Melt the chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream in a medium saucepan set over a pot with about 1 inch of boiling water. Whisk until the mixture is nice and smooth. Alternatively, you can heat chocolate and cream in a microwave for about 30 seconds and whisk until smooth.
2. Remove from the heat and cool for a few minutes.
3. Dip the top of each eclair into the chocolate glaze and set aside to allow the glaze to harden.