Baking · serves 2

Chocolate Eclairs

Choux is intimidating once and easy forever. The dough is cooked on the stove.

90 min A proper cook Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 100g butter
  • 1 cup maida
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt
  • Filling: 2 cups cream whipped, or custard
  • Topping: 150g dark chocolate, 1/2 cup cream

Method

  1. Boil water, butter, sugar and salt. Tip in all the flour at once and beat hard over the heat for 2 minutes until it forms a ball and films the pan base.
  2. Cool 10 minutes. Adding eggs to hot dough scrambles them.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stop when the dough falls from the spoon in a slow V — you may not need the last egg.
  4. Pipe 10cm lengths. Smooth any peaks with a wet finger or they burn.
  5. 200°C for 15 minutes, then 180°C for 20. DO NOT open the oven before 30 minutes or they collapse.
  6. Pierce each one to let steam out and cool. Fill, then dip in chocolate melted with warm cream.

Questions people ask about Chocolate Eclairs

How long does Chocolate Eclairs take?

About 90 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a proper cook. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What is the one thing to get right in Chocolate Eclairs?

200°C for 15 minutes, then 180°C for 20. DO NOT open the oven before 30 minutes or they collapse.

What can I use instead of maida in Chocolate Eclairs?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make Chocolate Eclairs ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Chocolate Eclairs vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Chocolate Eclairs?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Chocolate Eclairs?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

More ideas by ingredient

If you liked this

Caramelised Onion Tart
80 min · Some work
Stuffed Baked Potatoes
80 min · Easy
Adzuki Bean Brownies
80 min · Some work
Pistachio, Apricot and Chocolate Bars
85 min · Some work
Orange Almond Cake
90 min · Some work
No-Knead Bread
90 min · Easy