🍫 How to Make Classic Chocolate Éclairs at Home

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  • August 11, 2025

Light choux pastry, creamy vanilla filling, and glossy chocolate ganache — a French pastry dream you can make in your own kitchen!

📝 Ingredients

For the Choux Pastry:

  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter

  • 1 cup (240ml) water

  • 1 tbsp sugar

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour

  • 4 large eggs

For the Pastry Cream Filling:

  • 2 cups (480ml) whole milk

  • 1/2 cup (100g) sugar

  • 4 egg yolks

  • 1/4 cup (30g) cornstarch

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Ganache:

  • 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream

  • 4 oz (115g) semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

  • 1 tsp butter (for shine)


👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Make the Choux Pastry

  1. In a saucepan, heat butter, water, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil.

  2. Add flour all at once and stir quickly until a dough forms and pulls from the sides.

  3. Cool slightly, then beat in the eggs one at a time until the dough is smooth and glossy.

  4. Pipe the dough into éclair shapes on a lined baking sheet.

  5. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool completely.

Step 2: Prepare the Vanilla Pastry Cream

  1. Heat milk in a saucepan until warm.

  2. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until pale and thick.

  3. Slowly add warm milk to temper, then return mixture to heat and stir until thick.

  4. Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla. Cool completely and refrigerate.

Step 3: Make the Chocolate Ganache

  1. Heat cream until just simmering. Pour over chopped chocolate and let sit for 1 minute.

  2. Stir until smooth. Add butter for extra shine.

Step 4: Assemble the Éclairs

  1. Slice éclairs in half or poke holes underneath. Fill with pastry cream using a piping bag.

  2. Dip tops in ganache or spoon it over. Let set.


💡 Tips for Perfect Éclairs:

  • Don’t open the oven door during baking — it can collapse the pastry.

  • Cool pastry cream completely before piping.

  • Use a star tip for fancy filling or presentation.

  • Store in the fridge, best eaten fresh within 1–2 days.


🎥 Want to See How It’s Done?

Watch the full video tutorial here: