Introduction:
Eclair cake is one of the most beloved sweet dishes in the world. Delicate choux pastry combined with velvety cream, all topped with a delicious chocolate glaze. This classic French sweetness not only looks beautiful, but is also incredibly tasty. If you dream of making this exquisite cake in your kitchen, this recipe is for you!
Ingredients:
Cake:
1 cup water
100 g butter
1 pinch salt
1 cup wheat flour
4 eggs
Cream:
500 ml milk
3 egg yolks
150 g sugar
40 g wheat flour
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
200 ml whipping cream 30%
Chocolate glaze:
100 g dark chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
Preparation:
Preparation of the cake:
In a saucepan, boil water with butter and salt. When the butter has melted, add the flour and mix until the dough is smooth and starts to come away from the sides of the pan. Then remove from the heat and gradually beat in the eggs, stirring constantly. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag and squeeze onto the baking tray, forming oblong shapes. Bake at 200°C for about 20-25 minutes, until golden and crispy.
Preparing the cream:
Boil the milk with the vanilla sugar. In a separate bowl, mix the egg yolks with the sugar and flour. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, stirring constantly, then pour the whole thing into a pot and cook over low heat until the cream thickens. Set aside to cool, then whip the cream and gently mix with the cooled cream.
Chocolate icing:
Melt the chocolate with the butter in a bain-marie, then mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and shiny.
Assembling the eclair:
After the cake has cooled, cut it lengthwise and fill it with the cream. Then pour the prepared chocolate icing over the cake.
Serving and storage tips:
The eclair tastes best when fresh, just after making it.
Store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
You can also freeze it, but remember that the icing may lose its appearance after defrosting.
Variations:
Eclair cake with fruit: Instead of the classic cream, you can use fresh seasonal fruit as the filling.
Coffee eclair: You can add a little instant coffee to the cream to give the cake a delicate coffee flavor.
FAQ:
Can I use ready-made cream for the eclair cake?
Yes, if you want to save time, you can use ready-made pastry cream.
How to make the cake crispier?
You can add a little potato starch to the dough to give it a crispier texture.
Can choux pastry be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can bake the cake up to a day in advance, then fill it with cream and frost it just before serving.
I hope you enjoy this unique recipe! This cake is delicious, so it’s worth trying.
