Living Sweet Moments

Delicious and easy recipes from scratch

  • About
    • About Me
    • Honors And Mentions
  • Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Breakfast/Brunch
    • Snacks
    • Beverages
    • Appetizers
    • Breads
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Entrees
      • Meats
      • Pasta
      • Poultry
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
      • Stuffed Eggplant Recipes
    • Desserts
      • Brownies/Bars
      • Fudge
      • Mousses
      • Best Cake Recipes
      • Cookies
      • Cupcakes
      • Frozen
      • Donuts/Quick Breads
    • Spreads
    • Venezuelan Recipes
    • Jewish
    • Holidays
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Halloween
      • Christmas
  • Recipe Index
  • Daily Living
    • Parenting
    • Household Tips
    • Money Saving Tips
    • DIY Projects
    • Random Thoughts
  • Entertainment
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrities I’ve Interviewed
    • Entertainment News
  • Travel
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Recipes / Classic Vanilla Eclairs

Classic Vanilla Eclairs

December 3, 2018 by Tiffany Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

Classic Vanilla Eclairs

Eclairs are one of my favorites French pastries.

They have 3 distinctive elements and textures that you can feel as soon as you take a bite: the crunchy exterior, the creamy interior, and the sweet smooth glaze on top.

Of course, you can flavor all 3 any way you’d like. The flavor combinations are endless.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

Usually when you see “classic eclairs” you may see a pate choux filled with vanilla and topped with chocolate. For me, vanilla is the classic and the main flavor profile of this dessert.

Doing a Google search you may not see much vanilla eclairs, that’s why I decided to post this recipe, in hopes that other vanilla lovers are searching for it too.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

Nevertheless, if you’re a chocoholic I will tell you how to transform your pastry into your dream flavor. For now, let’s just stick to the basics.

Making the pate au choux (the pastry exterior) is not complicated but you need to master it before we move on to the pastry cream.

The Pate Au Choux bakes up crunchy with a hollow shell.

No matter how well I piped mine, they always come up lopsided and deformed. Then I learned up an amazing trick from Topless Baker that was a game changer for me: freezing the piped eclairs before baking would help them maintain their beautiful shape.

Keep in mind that Pate Au Choux is also used to make cream puffs and profiteroles.

Ready to see how to make them? Check out below for step by step pictures:

 

We start by boiling some butter, water, sugar, vanilla and salt.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry

When the mixture boils, add the flour all at once

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

Stir continuously with a wooden spoon until the dough turns into becomes a ball and turns away from the walls of the pot.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

Now we drop the dough into the mixer and turn it on to cool it down.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

When the mixture cools down a bit, we slow add in the beaten eggs

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

To know if your mixture has enough eggs we do a “finger test” – If you put the dough between 2 fingers and it creates a string, then you’re pate au choux is perfect.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

See? Perfect

Now all you need to do it pipe, freeze, and bake. No biggie right?

Since I wanted my eclairs to look uniform in size I went thru the extra trouble of drawing some lines in my parchment paper, but that’s completely optional.

Each eclair should be 5 inches. You can make them “mini” size too.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

Then I turn the paper over and pipe the logs using a star tip.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

If you don’t like the way they turned out simply scoop up the dough and place back in the piping bag.

We now FREEZE THEM for a couple of hours before baking

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

The frozen eclairs are baked until browned and crisp.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

As soon as they cool I turn them over and make 3 holes using a piping tip. You can also use a small knife or a skewer.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

Pour you vanilla pastry cream into a piping bag and fill in the holes. The empty eclairs will now feel heavy (yummmmy)

Create the glaze by just mixing up some confectioners sugar, milk, vanilla, and corn syrup.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

The eclairs are dipped in the glaze and then placed on a rack to dry. At this point you can add some sprinkles or make a decorative pattern.

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.

And voila! That’s it!

Are you hungry yet?

I hope you can try these delicious Classic Vanilla Eclairs Cake at home. If you do, please upload a pic on Instagram and tag me @Livingsweetmoments or use the hashtag #LivingSweet.


5 from 3 votes
These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry.
Print
Classic Vanilla Eclairs
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Freezing Time
2 hrs
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

These delicate vanilla eclairs features a crunchy pate au choux filled homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a sweet glaze. A classic french pastry

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Keyword: classic french desserts, eclairs, french pastries, pastry cream
Servings: 10 eclairs
Calories: 599 kcal
Author: Tiffany bendayan
Ingredients
For Vanilla Pastry Cream
  • 4 cups Milk
  • 1 cup Sugar divided
  • 8 Egg Yolks
  • 1/2 cup Cornstarch
  • 6 tablespoons Butter
  • 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
For Pate Au Choux
  • 2/3 cups Water
  • 2/3 cups Milk
  • 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 2 teaspoons Sugar
  • 10 tablespoons Butter
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 1/4 cups Bread Flour
  • 1 cup Eggs (about 5 large)
For Vanilla Glaze
  • 2 1/4 cups Confectioners Sugar sifted
  • 2 tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
  • 3 tablespoons Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • Food coloring optional
  • Sprinkles optional
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
For Vanilla Pastry Cream
  1. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks until combined. Add in the cornstarch and half of the sugar. Whisk again until creamy

  2. In a large saucepan, bring the milk and the other half of the sugar to a boil. Remove from heat

  3. Carefully, temper the eggs, that means to bring up the temperature of the yolks without cooking. To do that, add a bit of the hot milk mixture into the yolks while whisking vigorously. Then slowly add the rest of the milk mixture. Do not stop whisking 

  4. Pour the whole mixture back into the pot and cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens

  5. Strain the pastry cream into a clean bowl and add the vanilla and butter. Stir until butter melts 

  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap touches the pastry cream directly (to avoid creating a film) 

  7. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until completely chilled. 

For Pate Au Choux
  1. Make 5" straight lines in parchment paper using a pencil. Turn the paper over and use it to line a sheet pan

  2. In a large pot, heat the water, butter, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt on medium heat until the mixture boils

  3. When the mixture boils dump all the flour at once and mix vigorously with a wooden spoon until all the white specks disappear and the dough pulls away from the walls of the pot

  4. Place the dough in a mixer fitter with a paddle attachment and mix on medium speed for a few minutes to cool down the dough

  5. In a small bowl, whisk all the together until combined

  6. Slowly add the eggs into the dough while the mixer is still running

  7. Pate Au Choux should be shiny and hold its shape

  8. Place dough in a piping  bag fitted with a star tip

  9. Using the straight lines as a guide, pipe the eclairs onto the parchment paper lined cookie sheet

  10. Freeze dough for a couple of hours

  11. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

  12. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until eclairs are golden and firm to the tough

  13. Remove from heat and cool 

  14. Make 3 holes on the bottom using a knife or piping tip

For Glaze
  1. Place all ingredients minus the teaspoon of milk in a bowl. Mix until combined. If needed add the teaspoon of milk

  2. Add the food color of your choice (if desired)

  3. Glaze should be thick but still pourable

Assembly
  1. Place chilled pastry cream in a piping bag fitted with a small tip

  2. Pipe in the cream into each of the holes of the eclair until the pastry feels full

  3. Clean the bottom of the eclair with a spatula

  4. Dip each eclair into the glaze while shaking off the excess. Decorate with sprinkles (optional)

Nutrition Facts
Classic Vanilla Eclairs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 599 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 15g94%
Cholesterol 306mg102%
Sodium 490mg21%
Potassium 221mg6%
Carbohydrates 74g25%
Sugar 57g63%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 1090IU22%
Calcium 174mg17%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Other recipes you may like:

 

Elegant Mini Berry Tarts

Perfect for any occasion, these elegant Mini Berry Tarts are made with a buttery crust, vanilla pastry cream and fresh berries on top

Easy French Financiers Recipe

Financiers Recipe - this delicate french almond cake is flavored with browned butter and is super easy to make. The perfect dessert to enjoy with tea.

Irresistible Classic Opera Cake

My favorite French dessert. This scrumptious classic Opera Cake recipe is composed of 7 layers of cake, chocolate, and coffee flavored french buttercream.

Filed Under: Desserts, Other, Recipes Tagged With: eclairs, pastry cream, vanilla eclairs

« Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe
Slow Cooker Sausage Puttanesca With Zoodles »

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Get More Updates!

Sign up to get exclusive updates & tips!

Privacy Policy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me:

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search This Blog

Categories

Popular Recipes

These decadent Salted Caramel Cupcakes are healthier, flourless, & high in protein. Served with creamy frosting and caramel sauce. Dessert without the guilt

Flourless Salted Caramel Cupcakes

This Easy Peanut Butter Cookies recipe is made without flour or oil/butter but a healthier cookie recipe. It is chewy and delicious. Kid friendly too! Enjoy

Flourless Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies : these easy to make chocolate cookies have the pudginess of a brownie with the taste of a cookie. Perfect for dessert.

Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies

This delicious Sugar Free Angel Food Cake recipe is super easy to make, low carb, and perfect for diabetics. An incredible sugar free dessert.

Incredibly Delicious Sugar Free Angel Food Cake

These delicious mini valentine's cookies are made from scratch and topped with a sweet glaze. The perfect DIY valentine's gift idea for kids and adults.

Scrumptious Mini Valentine’s Cookies

More yummy Recipes..

LSM Cooking Channel

Newsletter

Subscribe for email updates!

Privacy Policy
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
my foodgawker gallery
Living Sweet Moments

Welcome!

Hello! I am Tiffany, the blogger, cook and photographer of Living Sweet Moments.
I a married and have 2 little girls. We currently live in Miami, Fl
I spend my days cooking and baking delicious recipes that you will surely love. So sit back and enjoy! Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

More From the Blog

These amazing keto-friendly gluten-free Almond Flour bagels are super easy to make and don't require any proofing. Perfect for breakfast and snacks. They are also great for Passover.
For an easy and quick dinner, these delicious teriyaki salmon bowls are topped with spicy mayo and served with warm rice and veggies
Get dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less with this delicious Garlic Butter Skillet Chicken. Easy to make and family friendly.
Take your burger game to a whole new level with homemade hamburger buns plus check out how to make the most delicious sauce on top
Perfect for breakfast or snacking, these delicate and soft Vanilla Tea Muffins are made with black tea giving it a beautiful & aromatic flavor
Delicious and hearty ! These easy falafel bowls are served with veggies, and make the perfect vegan quick lunch.
  • Home
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress