Chocolate Eclairs – So easy a cavema…housewife could do it

Really! These chocolate eclairs were incredibly easy and I am still shocked. Not only that but the pastry and cream can be used in a myriad of other pastry desserts! Cream puffs are the first things to come to mind.

Coudn't help myself!

Now, I know what most of you are thinking, “ha! Eclairs! Hellooo, I’ve got a figure to watch!” Quite honestly I don’t think these are as fattening as people think. It’s not like eating a carrot, obviously, but as a nice treat for a holiday breakfast or for a special someone’s breakfast in bed these would be perfect. Of course you could also do what I do, eat one or two then bring the rest into work!

Split vanilla bean

I do like to eat healthy, make meals from scratch as much as possible, and canning/preserving fruits. Even though I was exhausted after preserving sliced peaches and pears last summer, I found that I can bake lovely pies or galettes with summer fruits in the winter! Baking your own homemade treats/pastries is just another way to help keep what you eat healthy.

This thickened up when I turned my back for 2 seconds!

With homemade goods you can control what goes in there, you can alter most ingredients to suit your health needs! I feel like buying baked goods from a store is just plain wrong! I do admit that bought goods sometimes taste better, though my tastes are changing and now most of them are just too sweet for me. They also stay fresh longer, however I can’t help but think what nastiness was put in there to make it last so long!

We want to avoid a film so place the cling wrap right on top

There are so many pros to baking your own treats compared to buying them that I feel like it’s worth the effort. I do understand the time constraints, it can be difficult to bake your own homemade goodies when you’re also cooking dinner, working full-time, and have children (or in my case, a cat). However, if you find a longing to bake something sweet, airy, chocolately, and creamy at the same time, make some eclairs!!

mmmm

Well, now I’m done pitching homemade baked goods and I’ll talk about the recipe! The filling was easy, however it’s got to be watched the entire time it’s on the stove. That filling thickened up as I was cleaning a counter and one more second could have resulted in a burnt filling! The recipe also calls for a vanilla bean, which I would highly recommend. I chose not to use extract because I did not know how it would affect the way it thickened.

Using a pastry bag to fill the pastry, which is magically hollow

Making the pastry was also different for me. I’ve never made pastry that starts in a saucepan! Yet again, even though it was a new challenge, it was incredibly easy. I will always have one piece of advice for new bakers/cooks. Just try it!! No matter how intimidating it looks, just try it!

Filled eclairs ready for the chocolate

Of course I’ve had failures, it does happen. But, trying something and having it turn out successful is such a great feeling of accomplishment for me. Seeing people’s faces light up and exclaim, “mmmmm!” just brings a huge smile to my face!

Making the chocolate topping

Even if a recipe is fattening, I still love to make it and I only end up eating one or two pieces. The rest is shared among family, friends, and co-workers. So hey! Have fun! Make anything you want, experiment with low-fat recipes, and enjoy baking!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I can’t even take a hint of credit for this recipe, so I will include two great links for the Chocolate Eclairs.

DIY du jour – Great blog and great recipe for Chocolate Eclairs. I want to thank you for providing this recipe and for making the instructions so clear and concise!

Good Food Gourmet – She provides more professional advice and provided me with some great information! Another great blog!

So, thank you DIY du jour and Good Food Gourmet for all your help!

Now, go bake your hearts out!

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Tags: baking, breakfast, chocolate eclairs, choux, eclair, pastry, recipe