Eclairs II

My family loves these eclairs and request them all the time. I usually make them as dessert whenever we have company coming, they are always a hit!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 476 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
• 1 cup water
• 3 tablespoons hot water
• 1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 ½ cups cold milk

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring until butter melts completely. Reduce heat to low, and add flour and salt. Stir vigorously until mixture leaves the sides of the pan and begins to form a stiff ball. Remove from heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to incorporate completely after each addition. With a spoon or a pastry bag fitted with a No. 10, or larger, tip, spoon or pipe dough onto cookie sheet in 1 1/2 x 4 inch strips.

Step 3

Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and bake 20 minutes more, until hollow sounding when lightly tapped on the bottom. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 4

For the filling, combine pudding mix and milk in medium bowl according to package directions. In a separate bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Fold whipped cream into pudding. Cut tops off of cooled pastry shells with a sharp knife. Fill shells with pudding mixture and replace tops.

Step 5

For the icing, melt the chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until icing is smooth and has reached desired consistency. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and drizzle over filled eclairs. Refrigerate until serving.