RecipeShare Test Kitchen

Crisp French éclairs filled with silky pastry cream in chocolate, vanilla and coffee flavors, finished with matching glossy fondant icings.
Dry the choux paste well over the heat until it pulls away from the pan and leaves a thin film—this ensures proper puffing.
Pipe the éclairs in one smooth motion for consistent shape.
Bake fully and avoid opening the oven early to prevent collapse.
Cool éclairs completely before filling.
Warm the flavored fondant icings gently for smooth glazing.
We use affiliate links, which may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a saucepan, combine milk, water, trimoline, salt and butter and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat, add flour all at once and stir until a dough forms.
Return to heat and cook until the dough forms a smooth ball and a thin film appears on the pan.
Transfer to a stand mixer, beat to release steam, then gradually add eggs until the dough is glossy and pipeable.
Rest the choux paste for 1 hour at room temperature.
Pipe 20 cm (8-inch) éclairs using a 10 mm tip and bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely.
Heat milk, cream and vanilla beans until steaming; infuse 10–15 minutes.
Whisk sugar, custard powder, flour and yolks together.
Temper with hot milk, return to saucepan and cook until thickened.
Stir in cocoa butter and gelatin. Cool to 40–45°C, then mix in butter and mascarpone.
Divide into three bowls.
Add cocoa paste to one bowl for chocolate.
Add vanilla paste to the second bowl.
Add coffee paste to the third.
Cover and chill.
Make a light syrup from sugar and water.
Warm the fondant gently.
Divide syrup into three portions and mix each into one-third of the fondant.
Leave one plain, add cocoa to another, coffee powder to the last.
Poke holes under each éclair.
Pipe each flavored cream into the éclairs.
Slightly warm the filled éclairs.
Dip or pipe matching fondant over each éclair and smooth.
Save this recipe to one of your meal plans or browse your existing plans.
Everything you want to know about this recipe.
These éclairs use one choux dough and one pastry cream base that is divided into chocolate, vanilla, and coffee fillings. Matching fondant icings help distinguish the finished eclairs after assembly.
The shells need to bake fully so they dry inside before filling. The pastry cream is cooked once, then split and flavored, which keeps the texture consistent across all three versions.
Bake the shells a day ahead if needed and keep them airtight at room temperature. Prepare the creams in advance, then fill and glaze shortly before serving.
Serving Size: 1 éclair
* Reference intakes are based on an average adult's 8,400 kJ / 2,000 kcal diet. Your needs may be higher or lower.
See how other home cooks made this recipe, then share your own experience.
3 ratings
How would you rate this recipe?
Tried chocolate and vanilla first. I will make the coffee version next time.
No collapsed eclairs this time. The instructions were clear.
The three fillings worked well together and everyone picked a favorite.
Add your personal creations and build your own recipe collection.