The French Origin Story of the Delicious Eclair, and A Simple Recipe to Make It

Written by Yash Chawla | November 17, 2023

There’s normally a lot of debate around the origins of famous desserts. But the eclair has a straightforward story. Read it and then make your own batch following the recipe below.

What Is an Éclair?

Eclairs are decadently puffy desserts, a combination of a choux pastry filled with a sweet cream and topped with a delicate glaze. They are moist when you bite into them, as the bite melts easily in your mouth.

The French Origin Story of the Éclair

The most widely agreed upon story is that they were invented around the 1800s by a French man named Marie-Antoine Carême, who worked as a pastry chef for royals. By the age of eight, he was poor and homeless, and had started working at a local kitchen to earn a living. Luckily for him, this turned out to be his passion, and in time, he became a successful chef, with his name spreading far. He also opened his own shop and worked for big names like George IV of Britain, Tsar Alexander I of Russia, and Napoleon.

Eclairs were first called ‘painàa la Duchesse’ and were made by rolling finger-shaped pastry in almonds. Careme had the idea of eliminating the almonds, adding a custard, and covering it with frosting. The eclair was thus born.

‘Eclair’ is French for ‘flash of lightning,’ and there are two possible reasons that it got its name. One reason is that it got this name because it is eaten very quickly, or in a flash. The other reason might be that the glaze on top of the pastry resembles lightning.

It first appeared in print in English in an 1861 Vanity Fair article, and in 1884 it was included in the Boston Cooking School Cook Book. Since then, the eclair has been a global favorite, and today, many variations and different flavor combinations exist.

How to Make Chocolate Éclairs at Home

Here’s a simple eclair recipe to try your hand at.

Ingredients:

For the choux pastry:

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp coarse kosher salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 large eggs

For the cream:

• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

For the chocolate ganache:

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, optional

Instructions:

For the pastry:

1. Preheat the oven and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a pan, combine the water, butter, sugar, and salt on medium heat and keep stirring, eventually bringing it to a boil.
3. Sift the flour and add it to the pan, stirring quickly to ensure it has all mixed in.
4. Cook this dough, stirring continuously. It will slowly form into a ball. Keep cooking until a light crust forms on the pan base.
5. Then move the dough into a mixing bowl and pulse it for a few minutes.
6. Add the eggs and mix after each egg is added. The dough should be shiny and smooth and thin enough that it falls into a ribbon, but is not too runny.
7. Once combined, move the batter into a pastry bag with a round or star tip. Let it sit for 1-2 hours.
8. Pipe the batter into logs and bake for approximately 30 minutes, until the logs are puffed up and golden brown.
9. Set aside to cool.

For the cream:

1. In a pan, mix the milk and vanilla extract and bring it to a boil. Once boiled, turn off the heat and set aside.
2. In another bowl, beat the egg yolks with sugar, then add the flour and cornstarch.
3. Then add half a cup of hot milk to the mixture and stir rapidly, essentially tempering the mixture.
4. Add the tempered mixture into the milk pan and cook, stirring continuously until it comes to a boil.
5. Move to a clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
6. Whip the heavy whipping cream until hard peaks form, and fold it into the cream until fully combined.
7. Transfer the mixture into a pastry bag with a round tip and set aside.

For the chocolate glaze:

1. Heat the heavy cream until it simmers, but don't boil it.
2. Pour it over the chocolate chips and let it sit for a few minutes. Then stir until smooth, while also adding butter and mixing them well.

To assemble:

1. Pipe the filling into the choux pastry by making holes in it. Dip each filled pastry in the chocolate ganache.
2. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour so it can set and serve cold.

Tips for Perfect Homemade Éclairs

• If you want crisp éclairs, bake them until deep golden brown, then let them cool completely before adding the filling.
• Try to keep the pastry cream smooth by straining it and whisking it well before piping.
• For a glossy chocolate glaze, use high-quality Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate and warm cream, and mix gently until completely silky and lump-free.
• Dip your éclairs carefully for an even finish.
• Avoid filling them early, as retaining moisture can soften the shells. Ideally, make sure to fill and glaze right before serving.
• Keep your éclairs always refrigerated in an airtight container, and consume them within 1-2 days.
• For the best texture, allow the éclairs to thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before serving them to your guests and family members.

1. Kindness Cookies

As a heartwarming gesture to express kindness, these cookies are often baked together, packed in a gift box, and sent to loved ones. These simple cookies made for friends, family, or neighbors are ideal for bakers of all skill levels. As simple as it sounds, kindness cookies are made from pantry staples. To make a fresh batch of these sweet and simple cookies, mix all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs. Mix the batter well and allow it to bake at 180°C for 20-25 minutes.

Once baking is over, allow them to cool completely and add some rainbow sprinkles on top of them. Pack them in a nice gift box. Tie a silk ribbon around it, and it is all set to bring that big smile to the person’s face who taught you how easy it is to be kind.

2. Homemade Brownies

Homemade desserts are special because of a loving personal touch. To express heartfelt gratitude to those kind-hearted individuals, these brownies are a perfect handmade gift for a loved one. These easy-to-make homemade brownies with a perfectly crackly top never fail to bring that sense of comfort, togetherness, and familiarity. This World Kindness Day, bake a fresh batch of these homemade brownies.

The brownies are made with some pantry staples like flour, butter, sugar, eggs, melted chocolate, vanilla essence, and cocoa powder. Mix all the ingredients well to form the batter and bake it at 180 °C for 25 minutes.

With every single bite, these homemade brownies bring in a moist, fudgy, chocolatey burst of taste, flavor, and texture to invoke that bakery-like feeling in the mouth. Served hot or cold, these homemade brownies are the perfect dessert for any occasion and any mood.

3. Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pistachio and Cranberry

Planning to make that one kind soul feel special this World Kindness Day? What better way is there than baking these special chocolate chip cookies? These cranberry-studded chocolate chip cookies offer a delectable combination of soft and buttery flavors infused with the goodness of chocolate, pistachios, and cranberries. The sweet and salty twist in taste makes the cookies unique.

This simple recipe combines three elements of contrasting taste, which work in synergy to bring a delightful festive delicacy. However, the cranberries can be replaced by dried cherries for another tasty variation. The unsalted, softened butter makes the dough creamy and soft. The chocolate chip cookies lend the quintessential chocolatey essence. The lightly salted pistachios and chewy dried cranberries further enhance the flavor palette.

4. Classic Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Frosting

With its unapologetic indulgence, the classic chocolate cake becomes a simple yet ideal gifting option. An abundance of rich chocolate and a visually appealing decoration with chocolate buttercream make this recipe a must-try for everyone.

This simple dessert can be assembled very quickly. To start with, cream the butter and brown sugar before adding the remaining wet ingredients (eggs, vanilla extract). Next, whisk the dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt) together. Add them to the mixture of wet ingredients and mix well to combine. Bake it for 30 minutes at 180 °C.

Prepare the buttercream frosting using chocolate, whipped cream, and butter. Once the cake is out of the oven, allow it to cool completely. Then, cover the entire surface of the cake with the buttercream frosting and add some chocolate sprinkles on top.

5. Spiced Chocolate Almond Mini Jars

This World Kindness Day, pack some of the cute mini jars with these crunchy roasted almonds coated in spiced chocolate and gift them. Be it a friend, neighbor, or colleague, let them experience the contrasting taste, full of sweet-and-spicy flavor.

Mixing the roasted almonds with brown sugar, bitter cocoa powder, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and cayenne and toasting them in the oven makes this delicious. Almonds are often considered a healthy snack. Combining the roasted almonds with a flavorful blend of spices results in a tasty, crunchy yet nutritious treat.

This World Kindness Day, make sure all the kind hearts are celebrated for their tireless efforts to make this world a better place.