Have you ever treated yourself to chocolate eclairs from a bakery, only to find yourself wishing you had more? I definitely have. The truth is, those beautifully made eclairs can be quite pricey, especially the really good ones from proper bakeries or even just from the supermarket. But here’s the thing: you can make them at home, easily and affordably, using my Easy Chocolate Eclair Recipe. And the best part? You can have as many as you like for the price of just a few shop-bought ones!
What I also love about making chocolate eclairs at home is being able to control everything, including the sweetness, the richness of the cream, and how chocolatey they are. It’s entirely up to you. Sounds good? Let’s get into it.
The secret to perfect choux pastry
I know many people have told me they’ve struggled with making choux pastry – either it doesn’t rise or it ends up too dense. But I promise, with my Easy Chocolate Eclair Recipe, you’ll get that light, airy texture that makes eclairs so irresistible.
All you need are four simple ingredients: eggs, butter, water and pastry flour (or cake flour). While plain flour can work, I’ve found cake flour gives the best results every time – light and fluffy, just as it should be.
Start by slowly melting the butter in a pan over low to medium heat. Once melted, add water, a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil. At that moment, quickly add your flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon. This bit takes a bit of elbow grease – especially if you’re making a big batch like I did recently for my daughter’s birthday. Keep stirring until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a thick dough.
Switch off the heat and continue stirring for another minute. Then, let the dough cool slightly, 15 minutes is ideal. After that, transfer it into a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and mix on medium speed. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. By the end, your dough should be silky smooth and shiny – exactly what we want.
Shaping and baking the eclairs
Now for the fun part. Transfer your choux dough into a piping bag fitted with either a round or star nozzle. I prefer to make mini eclairs, piping them around 1.5cm wide and 8-10cm long. Just remember they will expand so give them space!
Bake in a preheated oven at 160°C (fan assisted) for around 35 minutes. At the 30-minute mark, quickly open and close the oven door to release the steam; this helps them dry out nicely. Once baked, let the eclairs cool naturally. They should feel light, dry and hollow inside.
Creamy mascarpone filling
Once your eclairs are cooled, it’s time to fill them. I use mascarpone cheese filling that’s super simple and delicious. Start by beating mascarpone cheese with icing sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. While mixing, gradually add double cream and beat until you get stiff peaks. Be careful not to overmix – you’ll know it’s ready when the peaks hold their shape. If in doubt, stop and check often.
Rich chocolate ganache topping
For the topping, I make a quick chocolate ganache. Heat double cream in the microwave until it starts bubbling, then pour it over a bowl of chocolate buttons or chopped chocolate. Wait a couple of minutes then stir until smooth and glossy.
Assemble your eclairs
Now for the assembly. Use a bread knife to slice each eclair in half lengthways.
Pipe the mascarpone filling along the bottom half using a star nozzle.
Dip the top half in the ganache, then place it on top. And voila – your first eclair is done! Continue with the rest and you’ll have a tray of beautifully homemade treats.
These eclairs can be enjoyed straight away or stored in the fridge for up to three days. They’re light, creamy, chocolatey and absolutely moreish.
Why you’ll love this Easy Chocolate Eclair Recipe
Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just want to treat yourself, this Easy Chocolate Eclair Recipe is one to keep. It’s reliable, customisable and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. I really can’t wait to hear how yours turn out!
Let me know how you get on in the comments or over on Instagram. Happy baking!
Easy Chocolate Eclair Recipe (But Seriously Delicious)
Description
Make these Easy Chocolate Eclairs at home with my foolproof recipe that's simple, delicious and seriously satisfying. Light choux pastry, a rich mascarpone cream filling, and glossy chocolate ganache come together for the perfect treat. Whether you're baking for a party or just fancy something sweet, this recipe is easier than you think - and way better than shop-bought!
Ingredients
For the choux pastry
For the mascarpone filling
For the chocolate ganache
Instructions
-
Make the choux pastry
- Preheat your oven to 160°C (fan).
- Slowly melt the butter in a pan over low-medium heat.
- Once melted, add the water, salt and bring it just to a boil.
- Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Turn off the heat, keep stirring for another minute, then set aside to cool slightly for 15 minutes.
- Transfer the warm dough to a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
- Beat at medium speed, adding the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- The dough should become smooth and glossy.
-
Pipe and bake
- Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a round or star nozzle.
- Pipe eclairs about 8-10 cm long onto a lined baking tray, leaving space between them.
- Bake for 35 minutes, opening the oven briefly at the 30-minute mark to release steam.
- Cool completely before filling.
-
Prepare the mascarpone filling
- Whisk the mascarpone and icing sugar together until smooth.
- Slowly add the double cream, vanilla extract and whisk to stiff peaks.
- Be careful not to overmix.
-
Make the chocolate ganache
- Heat the double cream in the microwave for 1 minute or until it starts bubbling.
- Pour over the chocolate and let it sit for 2 minutes.
- Stir until smooth and glossy.
-
Assemble the eclairs
- Slice each eclair in half. Pipe the mascarpone filling onto the bottom half using a star nozzle.
- Dip the top half into the ganache and place it on top.
- Chill or serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 30
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 198.04kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 15.61g25%
- Saturated Fat 9.52g48%
- Trans Fat 0.37g
- Cholesterol 66.2mg23%
- Sodium 51.3mg3%
- Potassium 66.08mg2%
- Total Carbohydrate 12.02g5%
- Dietary Fiber 0.25g1%
- Sugars 7.51g
- Protein 2.79g6%
- Vitamin A 151.81 IU
- Vitamin C 0.13 mg
- Calcium 37.5 mg
- Iron 0.63 mg
- Vitamin D 0.48 IU
- Vitamin E 0.44 IU
- Vitamin K 1.42 mcg
- Thiamin 0.05 mg
- Riboflavin 0.12 mg
- Niacin 0.38 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.02 mg
- Folate 7.75 mcg
- Vitamin B12 0.15 mcg
- Phosphorus 50.24 mg
- Magnesium 7.21 mg
- Zinc 0.33 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
