Chocolate Eclair Recipe: Making the Elegant French Dessert at Home

Liputan6.com, Jakarta If you are looking for a sweet treat that is both elegant and delicious, then an eclair recipe is the perfect choice. Eclairs are loved around the world because of their light pastry, creamy filling, and smooth topping. They are not only tasty but also a beautiful dessert to share with family and friends.

An eclair is a French dessert made from choux pastry, filled with cream, and usually topped with chocolate icing. The texture is soft, airy, and creamy at the same time. When you follow an eclair recipe, you learn how to make a dessert that feels fancy but can be created at home with a little practice.

In this article, we will share our classic chocolate eclair recipe and tips you can follow to make this tasty dessert at home. We will also share some other tasty filling ideas for your eclair. We gathered the recipe and tips from various sources, Wednesday (10/9/2025).

Eclairs may look difficult to make, but with the right steps, you can prepare them at home from scratch. The combination of crispy pastry, smooth cream, and chocolate glaze makes them a favorite for dessert lovers.

Ingredients:

For the Choux Pastry:

- 1/2 cup butter (unsalted)

- 1 cup water

- 1 cup all-purpose flour

- 1/4 teaspoon salt

- 4 large eggs

For the Pastry Cream Filling:

- 2 cups whole milk

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 4 egg yolks

- 1/4 cup cornstarch

- 2 tablespoons butter (unsalted)

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Glaze:

- 1/2 cup heavy cream

- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Instructions:

1. Make the Choux Pastry: In a saucepan, bring butter, water, and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir quickly until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Let it cool for a few minutes. Add eggs one by one, mixing well after each, until the dough is smooth and shiny.

2. Bake the Shells: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the dough into a piping bag and pipe long strips (about 4 inches) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave space between each strip. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and firm. Let them cool completely before filling.

3. Prepare the Pastry Cream: Heat milk in a saucepan until it is warm but not boiling. In another bowl, whisk together sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch until smooth. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg mixture while whisking. Return mixture to the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla, and stir. Cover with plastic wrap, touching the surface to prevent skin from forming. Chill until cold.

4. Fill the Eclairs: Once shells are cool, cut them in half or make small holes at the bottom. Fill a piping bag with pastry cream and carefully fill each shell until full.

5. Make the Chocolate Glaze: Heat cream until hot but not boiling. Pour over chopped chocolate and stir until smooth and glossy.

6. Assemble the Eclairs: Dip the tops of the filled eclairs into the glaze or spread it on with a spoon. Place them on a tray and let the glaze set before serving.

Making eclairs can be tricky, but these tips will help you succeed.

1. Dry the Dough Properly: When cooking the dough, make sure to stir until it leaves a thin film at the bottom of the pan. This step removes extra moisture, which helps the pastry rise well.

2. Pipe Evenly: Use steady pressure on your piping bag so your eclairs bake evenly. Uneven piping can cause some eclairs to be undercooked while others become too crisp.

3. Avoid Opening the Oven Early: Do not open the oven door during baking. A sudden drop in temperature can make your eclairs collapse.

4. Cool Completely Before Filling: If you add cream while the shells are still warm, the filling will melt and become runny. Always wait until they are fully cooled.

5. Use High-Quality Chocolate: The glaze is the finishing touch. Good chocolate makes a big difference in flavor and texture.

6. Keep Cream Thick: When cooking pastry cream, stir constantly and wait until it thickens. A thin cream will not hold well inside the eclair.

7. Chill Before Serving: Once filled and glazed, put your eclairs in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This makes them easier to handle and improves their taste.

While the classic eclair recipe uses vanilla cream, there are many other flavors you can try. Changing the filling can make each batch of eclairs unique and exciting.

1. Coffee Cream: Add instant coffee to your pastry cream for a rich and slightly bitter flavor that pairs well with chocolate glaze.

2. Strawberry Cream: Mix fresh strawberry puree with whipped cream for a fruity and refreshing filling.

3. Matcha Cream: Use matcha powder to create a smooth green tea filling with a slightly earthy taste.

4. Caramel Cream: Stir caramel sauce into your pastry cream for a sweet and buttery flavor.

5. Lemon Cream: Add lemon zest and juice to the cream for a bright, tangy twist.

6. Hazelnut Cream: Blend hazelnut paste into the filling for a nutty taste similar to popular chocolate spreads.

7. Coconut Cream: Mix coconut milk with the cream base to create a tropical flavor.

8. Raspberry Cream: Use raspberry puree to make a tart yet sweet filling that goes well with dark chocolate glaze.

9. Pistachio Cream: Add ground pistachios or pistachio paste for a unique and colorful filling.

10. Chocolate Cream: For chocolate lovers, mix melted chocolate into the cream for a double chocolate eclair.