Mexican Dessert Dream: Make These Churro Éclairs
"No, I don't want an éclair," you said, in your worst nightmare ever. Thankfully, there's a cookbook remedy to ensure you never experience this unlikely interaction again. Food writer Charity Ferreira's collection of éclair recipes was influenced by desserts around the world that all translate splendidly into the custard-filled pastry we all know and love. Ever wish your churro was filled with chocolate cream? Now's the time!
These fluted éclairs are like a day at the boardwalk or the zoo, but better!
Mexican Dessert Dream: Make These Churro Éclairs
Prep Time
1
hour
Cook Time
1.67
hours
Servings
20
éclairs
Total time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 egg yolks
- 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 recipe Pâte à Choux
- 3 tablespoons powdered or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4 eggs
Directions
- :::pâte à choux:::
- In a small bowl, stir together the flour, sugar and salt.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat the water and butter. When the butter is melted, bring the mixture to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat and add the flour mixture. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together in a smooth mass. Return the pan to low heat and cook the mixture for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring continuously to keep it from scorching. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool for 5 minutes.
- Add one egg and mix vigorously with the wooden spoon until it is incorporated. The mixture will look separated and curdled after you add the egg, but don't be deterred! Just keep mixing, and it will come together smoothly. Add the remaining eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. After the fourth egg, you will have a smooth, shiny pâte à choux mixture. Beat the mixture vigorously for a few seconds after the last egg is incorporated. The pâte à choux is now ready to pipe into your preferred shape.
- :::éclairs:::
- To make the pastry cream: Place a fine-mesh strainer over a clean bowl and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk and ¼ cup of the granulated sugar and heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved.
- In a small bowl, stir together the remaining ¼ cup [50 grams] granulated sugar, the cornstarch, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk in the egg yolks and as much of the milk mixture as you need to make a smooth paste. Set aside.
- When the milk mixture is steaming, whisk about ½ cup [120 milliliters] of the milk mixture into the egg mixture. Then whisk the egg mixture back into the milk. (Use a flexible spatula to scrape all of the egg mixture from the bowl.) Cook gently over low to medium-low heat, whisking continuously, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the mixture starts to thicken and bubbles begin to break the surface. Once bubbles start to break the surface, cook for 1 minute more (keep stirring!), and then remove the pan from the heat. Add the chocolate and stir until melted and incorporated. Stir in the vanilla and the almond extract.
- Using a flexible spatula or a wooden spoon, rub the pastry cream through the strainer into the reserved bowl. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to keep a skin from forming. Chill until cold, about 3 hours or up to 1 day.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F [200°C]. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Spoon the pâte à choux into a pastry bag fitted with a ¾‑inch [2‑centimeter] star tip. Holding the tip at a 45-degree angle to the baking sheet, pipe batons that are about ¾ inches [2 centimeters] wide and 4 inches [10 centimeters] long, leaving 1 to 1½ inches [2.5 to 4 centimeters] of space between them.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 375°F [190°C] (keep the oven door open for 3 to 5 seconds to bring down the oven temperature; if you’re baking two sheets at once, switch their position in the oven) and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Using a paring knife, prick each shell several times close to the bottom along one side. Return the shells to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes to dry out the eggy insides. Allow the shells to stand at room temperature until they are cool to the touch. You can leave them on the baking sheet or, if you prefer, you can transfer them to a wire cooling rack.
- Gently whisk the pastry cream to smooth it to the consistency of pudding. Then use one of the following methods to fill the éclairs.
- Halve the shells and pipe or spoon in the filling—cut the cooled éclair shells in half horizontally. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a round tip with pastry cream and pipe filling into each bottom half. Alternatively, simply spoon in the filling. Place the top on the filled bottom.
- Keep the shells whole and pipe in the filling—use a sharp paring knife to make a small hole close to the bottom at both ends of each shell. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip with pastry cream. Starting at one end of the shell, pipe in the filling until it reaches the middle of the éclair. You’ll be able to feel the weight of the filling going in; you can give the middle a gentle squeeze to see if the cream has made it that far. Now do the same thing from the other end. You should have an éclair that is completely filled with pastry cream. Dip the top in the warm glaze, letting the excess drip back into the bowl.
- Using your chosen method, repeat to fill the remaining éclairs.
- In a shallow bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Sift the cinnamon-sugar over the éclairs.
- Serve immediately. Or refrigerate, covered loosely with plastic wrap, for up to 1 day; the éclairs will taste best if you let them stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.