Chocolate eclairs
Instructions:
- Pastry
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup unbleached white flour
- 3 large eggs
- Filling
- 1 (6 serving size) box sugar-free instant vanilla or chocolate pudding Chocolate Icing
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup mashed banana
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
- 1 1/4 cups instant powdered milk.
- In a medium-size saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil. Turn heat to low.
- Add flour and mix with a spoon until mixture becomes a cohesive ball. Remove pan from heat.
- Using an electric mixer or mixing by hand, add 1 egg at a time and beat until thoroughly blended and smooth. Continue to add 1 egg at a time, beating well. Mixture will be shiny and smooth.
- Drop dough by tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets.
- For each eclair, place 2 tablespoons dough with 2-inches in between. Spread each to tablespoons to form 1 x 4-inch rectangles.
- Smooth top and sides with a knife to mold uniformly shaped logs. Leave 4 inches between each eclair.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes until well browned.
- Remove gently with a spatula to wire racks to cool.
- Prepare pudding as directed on box.
- In a small saucepan combine butter and water. Bring to a boil over low heat.
- Meanwhile, beat together mashed banana, lemon juice and vanilla extract until creamy.
- Add cocoa and powdered milk. Beat thoroughly.
- Gradually add boiling water mixture and beat thoroughly after each addition so mixture is smooth and without lumps.
- Additional hot water may be added for a thinner icing.To assemble eclairs, slice tops off horizontally and set tops aside.
- Scoop out any wet pastry and discard. Spoon prepared pudding into eclairs.
- Replace tops and spread with chocolate icing.
- NOTE: Fill eclairs just before serving so that the pastry remains crisp and light.