ECHLAIRS

Preparation time 20 min
Cooking time  30 min

Serves: 8-10


Ingredients:

For the pastry

1 cup water
100gms butter
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
3 eggs
1 tbsp sugar

For cream filling:

1 cup whipping cream 
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp icing sugar or as per taste
fruits as per choice and availability

For chocolate sauce:
1 cup chocolate

1/2 cup whipping cream 
2 tbsp sugar or to taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees  C. Grease a baking sheet.
2. Heat water,sugar and  butter to boiling point. Add 1 cup flour and stir constantly.
3. Remove from heat and let it cool for 10 minutes. Beat in 3 eggs, one at a time and whisk well so that the eggs incorporate into the dough.  
4. Fill the mixture into a piping bag and cut the tip approx 1 cm. thick and pipe the dough of desired length onto the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for approximately 30 minutes at 180 degree C or until light brown. Set aside to cool.
6. Prepare the filling by beating the whipping cream along with sugar till stiff peaks are formed then add vanilla extract.
7. For the icing, heat the whipping cream in a pan then add chocolate and sugar and remove the pan from the gas and beat till the chocolate and sugar are incorporated well in the cream .
8. To assemble: Slice pastry puffs lengthwise with a serrated knife, but not all the way through. Pipe whipped cream filling into the center. Frost the tops of the eclairs with chocolate icing.
9. You can also place chopped or slice fruit pieces of your choice along with whipping cream filling.