Sunday, August 31, 2008

Eclairs Extraordinaire!!

Tony Tahhan and Meeta K. were in charge of this month's Daring Bakers Challenge. My third challenge, thank you very much.

From the acclaimed pastry chef Pierre Hermé I proudly present my interpretation of Chocolate Éclairs!!
We were allowed to change the fillings as we pleased as long as we incorporated Chocolate! No problems there right?

I decided to make a strawberry filling. I pureed fresh strawberries to create a coulis, or thick sauce. Then I added the strained mixture into some whipped cream until it was the color and flavor I liked.This version also had a really nice almond flavored glaze that I made. The secret is to mix in about 1 tablespoon of very soft butter into the powdered sugar, then add milk to desired consistency, and almond extract. This really imparts a nice flavor.
You can see I also made a lovely chocolate version too. Here below.
Éclairs Elements I learned:
  • French pâte à choux
  • Pastry Cream--a mixture of milk, egg yolks, bittersweet chocolate. This recipe I will make again.
  • Chocolate glaze. I will use this on ice cream. But I think I have a better recipe in my own collection that would have worked better here.
This recipe took me only a couple hours to put together. It was positively a joy to make. I asked myself why I had not attempted to make these before? Compared to last months challenge , the Filbert Gateau; which was extremely difficult, expensive and time consuming, this was a walk in the park, a walk I will take any day of the week!!

33 comments:

NKP said...

I love the different flavours you made, very creative!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! :)

Cari said...

um, you know where i live. yum!

Beth said...

I agree with you about the ease and cost effective-ness of this challenge. It was a dream! Although I don't think effectiveness is really a word...

Anonymous said...

Stunning, absolutely stunning!!!!!

Sara said...

Those look fantastic! The strawberries and almonds would be so delicious.

Helene said...

Love your choice of straberry filling! Sounds delicious!

April said...

Your version looks wonderful! I am loving the variations!

Joey Biscotti said...

beautiful eclairs!!!

Meryl said...

Good idea with the strawberry filling--looks really good!

Shirley said...

Wow!! I haven't seen any yet that look like yours. Nice work!

http://whataboutsecondbreakfast.blogspot.com/

The Blonde Duck said...

Those look wonderful! I like how it's so different!

Anonymous said...

These look so decadant! Bravo for a beautiful job!

Shayne said...

I like the strawberry filling idea.

Last month I did not even think twice about scipping all that work, price of ingredients and the heat of summer, not gonna happen and it didn't.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Shayne

maybelles mom said...

very nice flavors. yum.

Leslie said...

Phhh.I love the strawberry filling!! Great job. And thank you for your kind words on my Eclairs!!
they sure were a blast to make and even better to eat! :)

Lot-O-Choc said...

Mmm wow love the look of the strawberry filling.
Bet that was goooooood!

Anne said...

Strawberry filling sounds incredibly delicious! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, strawberry filling, sounds delicious! :)

Anonymous said...

These look great! I love the strawberry filling- it sounds delicious!

Mary said...

Strawberry coulis...yummy! Your eclairs looks phenomenal!

Katie said...

Yum! This is the first eclair variation I have seen with strawberries in it. What a great idea!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Very tempting and beautiful! Great job!

Cheers,

Rosa

Anonymous said...

Stunning! I love the strawberry version!

lynne said...

Your Eclairs look great! Really nice flavor choices, too.

Meeta K. Wolff said...

well done and glad you enjoyed your "walk in the park"

Jen said...

That strawberry filling looks so good!!

Nora B. said...

Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I used to be a DBaker. Your eclairs looks fab!! Even though I usually go for choc, I love the stawberry filling you made.

nora

Jacque said...

Wow, those really do look delicious. Your glaze sounds heavenly. Nice work!

Ruth said...

Yummy fillings your eclairs look beautiful

Katerina said...

Strawberry filling, that is so creative and it looks fabulous.

Susie Homemaker said...

Oooh - strawberry filling! Yum! These look really great.
I am so jealous of all of the travelin pics on your sidebar. We have been to many of the places you show - but now, alas, we are too poor to leave the house. Maybe someday - I really want to be able to show Seven the world! COngrats!

Marie Rayner said...

What a delicious looking interpretation of the recipe! I bet it tasted sooo good. I love strawberries, me, and with that chocolate glaze this must have been heavenly!

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