How to Make the Perfect French Eclairs
French · Easy · 65 min · 12 servings
These French Eclairs are a kid friendly treat that combines light choux pastry with creamy chocolate filling. Kids love the fun shape and rich chocolate glaze that makes these pastries irresistible.
Why this recipe works
This French Eclairs recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 65 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 280 calories with 5g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 1 cup water
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 4 whole large eggs
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Make the Choux Pastry
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bring water and butter to a boil in a saucepan. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously until dough pulls away from the sides. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
Step 2: Add Eggs and Pipe
Beat eggs into the dough one at a time until smooth and glossy. Transfer to a piping bag and pipe 4 inch logs onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes until golden and puffed.
Step 3: Make the Filling
Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small tip. Pierce the bottom of each cooled eclair and fill generously with whipped cream.
Step 4: Glaze and Serve
Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals stirring between each. Dip the top of each eclair into the melted chocolate and let set on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- heavy whipping cream → pastry cream made with whole milk and cornstarch
- semi sweet chocolate chips → milk chocolate chips for a sweeter kid friendly flavor
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Opening the oven door during baking which causes the pastry to collapse
- Not beating the eggs in one at a time causing a lumpy dough
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 280 calories, 5g protein, 28g carbs, 17g fat, 1g fiber.
Ready to cook?
Get the interactive recipe with adjustable servings, built-in timers, and ingredient checklist.
View full recipe →