Smoked Sea Salt and Almond Eclairs

  0.0 – 0 reviews  • Pastry Recipes
Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 15 min
Active: 1 hr 15 min
Yield: 8 eclairs

Ingredients

  1. 1 cup milk
  2. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  3. 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  4. 1 stick unsalted butter
  5. 1 1/4 cups bread flour, sifted
  6. 3 large eggs, plus more if needed
  7. 2 egg whites
  8. 2 cups heavy cream
  9. 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
  10. 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  11. 1 cup heavy cream
  12. 8 ounces milk chocolate, roughly chopped
  13. Roasted almonds, crushed, for garnish
  14. Smoked sea salt

Instructions

  1. For the eclairs: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F with a rack on the middle shelf.
  2. In a non-reactive saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, salt, sugar and butter, and bring to a simmer. Once the butter has melted, quickly add the flour and stir constantly with a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes.
  3. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix to cool down, until the dough mostly stops steaming, 1 minute. Add the eggs and whites, slowly until evenly incorporated and glossy. To check the consistency of the batter, run your finger or spoon through it. It should leave a pathway that slowly falls in on itself. If it’s too stiff, you may have to add an additional egg.
  4. Place the batter in a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag and cut a hot-dog-size hole in the corner. On a silicon-lined sheet tray, pipe long and fat hot-dog-size lines about 6-inches long, evenly spaced. Use a wet finger to press down any peaks and lightly mist with water from a spray bottle. Bake until slightly golden and puffed, 20 minutes.
  5. Then lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and bake an additional 20 minutes.
  6. For the whipped cream: In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the cream, confectioners’ sugar and almond extract until stiff peaks form.
  7. For the glaze: Heat the cream in a small pot until slightly simmering. Pour over the chocolate in a metal bowl and whisk until smooth. If there are still chocolate chunks in the glaze, heat it briefly on the stovetop and stir until smooth. Set aside.
  8. To assemble: Split the baked pastry and, using a resealable plastic bag or pastry bag with a 1/2-inch hole cut in the corner, pipe in the almond filling. Top with the chocolate glaze, crushed roasted almonds, and a couple pinches of smoked sea salt.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 20 servings
Calories 287
Total Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 14 g
Carbohydrates 18 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugar 11 g
Protein 4 g
Cholesterol 93 mg
Sodium 202 mg

 

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