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Venchi

Homemade Chocolate Éclairs

Venchi's Homemade Chocolate Éclairs are a perfect combination of textures and flavors. Their crisp pastry, smooth chocolate cream, and rich glaze come together in a sophisticated dessert that’s worth the effort. While this recipe is quite challenging, our step-by-step instructions ensure you can achieve excellent results, even without professional training. 

This dessert is ideal for special occasions or when you want to create something memorable for yourself or a loved one: for an extra touch of luxury, you can pair it with a sweet red wine, such as a Porto Tawny or a Banyuls. For more inspiration on how to elevate your dessert experience, explore our guide to chocolate and wine pairings, where you'll discover how different wines can complement and enhance the rich flavors of chocolate. 

What is an éclair and where does it come from?

Éclairs are a classic treat, found in bakeries around the world, characterized by their light choux pastry, a rich custard filling, and a smooth chocolate icing. While often confused, there is a clear difference between icing and frosting—éclairs traditionally feature chocolate icing, giving them a glossy, elegant finish. 

Their exact origin is debated, but most food historian attribute their creation to the renowned pastry chef Marie-Antoine Carême, the mastermind behind profiteroles, millefeuilles and croquembouches. Regardless of their roots, éclairs have become a beloved dessert for those who appreciate delicate textures and rich flavors. 

 

Our chocolate éclair recipe

Discover Venchi's chocolate eclairs with chocolate filling recipe below. You'll create pastry heaven with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. 

 

Ingredients

For the Éclair Pastry:  

  • 1 cup water  

  • 1 cup white flour  

  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes  

  • ½ teaspoon salt  

  • 1 ½ teaspoons white sugar  

  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature  

For the chocolate glaze:  

  • 2/3 cup heavy cream  

  • 2 teaspoons corn syrup  

For the chocolate filling:  

  • 2 cups whole milk 

  • 1/2 cup sugar 

  • 1/4 cup flour 

  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder 

  • 4 egg yolks 

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

  • 2 oz dark chocolate (chopped) 

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 

 

Instructions

First, prepare the pastry:  

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.  

  1. To a saucepan, add the water, butter, salt and sugar. Set on medium heat.  

  1. Once it starts boiling, mix the flour with a wooden spoon and leave the pan on the heat. You'll need to mix vigorously.  

  1. Once the dough forms a ball and starts to come away from the walls of the pan, remove it from the heat. Leave it to cool for 10 minutes.  

  1. Use an electric mixer to whisk one egg at a time into the cooled dough.  

  1. The dough is ready when it's sticky, thick, and holds its shape well.  

  1. Scoop the dough into a piping bag. Pipe 12 eclairs onto the baking tray, roughly 1 inch wide and 4 inches long. Space the eclairs about 2 inches apart.  

  1. Bake in the oven for a total of 45 minutes or until they're puffy and golden. After 35 minutes, open the oven door for a few seconds to let out steam, then open it again at 40 minutes. When you open the oven, be sure to do it quickly and close it immediately, to avoid losing too much heat. Once your pastries are done, let them cool completely on the tray.  

Then, prepare the chocolate glaze and spread it evenly over the éclairs:  

  1. Put chopped-up chocolate in a bowl.  

  1. In a saucepan, heat cream and corn syrup. Take off the heat just before the mixture starts to boil.  

  1. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate glaze evenly over the top of the éclairs. Let the glaze set. 

Prepare the cream filling:  

  1. In a saucepan, heat the milk until it's just about to boil. 

  1. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder. 

  1. Gradually pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling. 

  1. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. 

  1. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate and butter until melted and fully combined. Let it cool completely before using.  

Assemble your homemade chocolate éclairs!  

  1. Cut the pastries in half lengthwise.  

  1. Spread the chocolate glaze over the top of the éclairs using a spatula to achieve a smooth, even finish. Allow the glaze to set before filling them.  

  1. The other half of the pastries should be filled with the cream.  

  1. Put the chocolate-glazed pastries on top and serve.  

 

Nutrition facts

Per éclair:  

  • 322 calories  

  • 18g carbohydrates  

  • 4g protein  

  • 28g fat 

 

Discover all sweet chocolate recipes from Venchi

Venchi’s tradition of creating luxurious, high-quality chocolates extends to an array of delightful dessert recipes you can easily recreate at home. 

From these rich chocolate éclairs to pecan pies with a twist, each recipe showcases the versatility of chocolate in both classic and contemporary creations. Explore our collection of sweet chocolate recipes, perfect for elevating any special occasion or simply treating yourself to something extraordinary. 

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