Valentines Strawberry Éclairs (Print Version)

Airy éclairs filled with strawberry cream and topped with a pink glaze, perfect for special occasions.

# Components:

→ Choux Pastry

01 - 1/2 cup water
02 - 1/2 cup whole milk
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
04 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 4 large eggs

→ Strawberry Cream Filling

08 - 1 cup heavy cream, cold
09 - 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, cold
10 - 1/3 cup powdered sugar
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and finely diced

→ Strawberry Glaze

13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 2 to 3 tablespoons strawberry purée
15 - 1 to 2 drops pink or red food coloring, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
03 - Add flour all at once and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Remove from heat and allow to cool for 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, until the dough is glossy and pipeable.
05 - Transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe 10 strips, each approximately 4 inches long, onto the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Bake for 10 minutes at 400°F, then reduce oven temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 20 minutes, until golden and puffed. Cool completely.
07 - In a large bowl, whip heavy cream, mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to stiff peaks. Gently fold in diced strawberries.
08 - Slice each éclair in half lengthwise. Pipe or spoon strawberry cream onto the bottom halves. Replace the tops.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar with strawberry purée and food coloring, if using, until smooth and spreadable.
10 - Spread glaze on top of each éclair. Allow to set for 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look impossibly fancy but the choux pastry is actually forgiving once you understand the technique.
  • Fresh strawberries folded into mascarpone cream tastes like spring decided to show up in your mouth.
  • You can make them ahead and refrigerate, which means less stress on the day you're trying to impress someone.
02 -
  • If your choux pastry dough looks too stiff after adding eggs, you can add one more egg beaten and mixed in—the dough should look slightly glossy and flow slowly from the spoon.
  • Éclairs are best the same day but honestly they stay lovely refrigerated for 24 hours; the cream stays cold and the pastry stays crisp.
03 -
  • Don't open the oven door during baking because the temperature drop can deflate your pastry right when it's puffing.
  • If you want a stronger strawberry flavor, add a drop of strawberry extract to the cream filling—it changes everything.
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