The Daring Bakers Do Eclairs!
Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 12:00AM in Daring Bakers, baking 
I was SO excited when our August recipe was unveiled. I love eclairs. My mom used to work in a bakery and I remember her bringing these home once in a while. We loved them!
Little did I know how tough these were to make. I've seen them made before and they look like they're a snap to make. Riiiiight. Maybe after making them 100 times, I'd be better at it, too. I made them twice. The first time, they deflated and were way too flat. So I went to the DB'ers forum and checked out what others had to say.
I tried doing them a different way the second time, with a bit higher oven temp, and slightly different cooking times. Also adding water in the bottom of the oven to release steam to help them puff up and rise.
They rose higher and got puffier, but as they cooled, the bottoms kind of receded back up inside the tops. Weird, right? I still don't think I could have cut them in half, so filling them with a pastry bag and tip was the way to go. This worked well on most of them--a couple of them were still just to thin. Oh, and poking a knife in to kind of open them up helped, too.
Eclairs, my loves...I'm gonna eat you. I don't care if you're fugly! We had to use the pate a choux part of the recipe, and either the chocolate glaze or the chocolate filling--at least one of the chocolate elements, but the rest was up to us. So I put my thinking cap on and came up with two variations. #1--Peanut Butter Pastry Cream with Chocolate Glaze and Chopped Peanut Garnish #2--Maple Pastry Cream with Chocolate Glaze and Crumbled Bacon Garnish. Yes, that's right! BACON! And it's incredibly delicious with the chocolate glaze and the maple cream. The peanut butter ones are delicious, too, but the maple-bacon is definitely my favorite. The recipe for the Maple Pastry Cream can be found here, and click here for the Peanut Butter Pastry Cream.
And before I forget--this month's recipe was chosen and hosted by MeetaK at What's For Lunch Honey? and Tony Tahhan at TonyTahhan.com. GORGEOUS blogs, so get on over there and check them out! You can also find the eclair recipe at their sites.
Peanut Butter Eclair Time...Peanut Butter Eclair Time...
Is there anything that bacon can't make better? I don't think so. Individually, every single step was a cinch. It was getting the little suckers to puff and stay that way that was tricky. I think I need a French chef for a neighbor. Now that would be helpful! At any rate, I'm so glad to have tried pate a choux! The dough is so simple to make, and I'd like to try making cheese puffs one of these days. Be sure to check out the Daring Bakers Blogroll to see how other DB'ers did the eclairs!
Would I make these again? I'm not sure. They taste amazing, but after two attempts and flat...ish results, I was discouraged. My husband reminded me that some people have to do these many times before they get them perfect, and I know he's right. He also told me these are the best eclairs he's ever had, so I guess that makes the trouble all worthwhile, right?
Elle | Print Article | Share Article | Email Article | 56 Comments tagged Daring Bakers, bacon, cooking, eclairs, maple, new england, peanut butter, recipe
Reader Comments (56)
When I saw the first picture I thought oh crap..is that BACON!?! Then when you said it was I fainted. Landed right on the dog!
Seriously those look amazing and I'm coming over right now.
Should I be upset the peanut butter jelly song is now stuck in my head?
Wow, I never imagined attempting these! How cool! They look amazing and glad it only took a few tries!
mmmmm.....bacon! Excellent topping idea for these eclairs!!
Oh Elle, you just made my day....it could only get better by having one of your eclairs this morning! BACON!
I think your eclairs look awesome. Your variations (even the one with bacon) are very unique and inspired :)
I think the rising and falling is a little bit of luck too... I kinda had the same problem. Eclairs have minds all their own, maybe :)
Oh Elle, these look incredible. What creative fillings you chose!
"Eclairs, my loves...I'm gonna eat you. I don't care if you're fugly!" HAHA!!! Oh Elle, you make me smile :0)
Oooh, that peanut butter version is calling out my name! Yum!
I really like eclairs that are filled without cutting them, youd id a great job with your toppings too!
I peered at that suspicious crumbly topping and thought..."No...it can't be...." But it is! And maple to boot. You are certainly one brave baker lady! Yes, I, too had a bit of trouble, but at least you went looking for advice. Not me. But reading the posts this morning has bolstered my ego and I'll give them another go with alterations. Nice hubster you've got there, too.
I would love to have the one with PB! Lovely eclairs you have there! :)
OMG! Bacon!!!
You, my dear, are a genius. I really wish I could taste one, but I just know they're fabulous!
OH. MY. GOSH. Those fillings/toppings sound incredibly decadent and totally delicious.
I had the puffiness problem too - but they still tasted pretty good!
Peanut butter AND bacon! OMG, do NOT tell my husband. ;)
OMG Bacon! I bet those were just incredibly good! I don't think they are fugly at all. Seems like a lot of people had problems with the baking part & getting them puffy.
i thought i spied bacon on your pastry. what a clever and unique combination of flavors! here's what i would do: one (or two or three) maple-bacon eclair for breakfast, and one (or two or four) chocolate-peanut butter eclair for a midday snack. :)
love your combos here that is just too creative. i dont think they look flat at all, the look delish!
Bacon! Bacon!! BACON!!!
I am excited about your use of bacon.
Bacon is so awesome. I had been fantisizing about bacon, sesame and chocolate truffles but haven't gotten around to doing them. I wished I could have a bite
Bacon and maple sounds SO awesome! Mine fell too but I was to grumpy to give it another shot. Bravo for your second attempt!
You did a great job with éclairs! To me they seem puffy enough. I think after you fill them up with cream, they get the right shape:) Yours look yummy!
I thought I saw a bacon eclair! Great job!
WOW - your flavors sound amazing. Bacon?!?! Genius!!!
"What can't be improved with whipped cream can be improved by adding bacon" is my father-in-law's favorite sayings - and here you've proven it! You are a culinary rock star!!!
Chocolate and Bacon! What an outstanding idea. Great job on those sinful morsels.
i love how you put different stuff on top, elle! i am sure they are yummmmmmy!
Bacon eclair!!! Haha, how wonderful! :)
Love 'em eclairs Elle...fabulous! Love the way they are patiently sitting in neat rows (like my kids never did)!!! Very very pretty!!! Cheers Deeba
Beautiful! I bet they taste great! What interesting flavors!
Cheers,
Rosa
i heart eclairs!! these are such perfect sweets to have around in the fridge when i just need a bit of a sugar pick me up. great pictures!
Sheer genius!
Your eclairs look absolutely fantastic and such amazing flavours.
Eclairs with a peanut butter twist sounds delicious!
Eclairs with bacon? Oh Elle what a combination, I bet it was divine.
Seriously?! Bacon?! It sounds and looks FANTASTIC!
Elle - that was such a great twist to add bacon. How did they taste? No! don't tell me, I might cry. lol
Oh my goodness, L!!! You're killing me!!!
Chocolate, peanut butter, bacon? I think I died and went to food blog heaven!
I love the chopped nuts!! I wanted to do something similar but it completely slipped off my mind hehe
Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments--I've said it before, but you guys are the greatest!
Oh. My. GAWD. Will you marry me, Elle? I will totally be your bitch if you feed me those eclairs.
ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE eclairs! But BACON!!!!! OMG!!!!
Awesome Eclairs, Elle! They really look amazing, you did a great job on this DB challenge! Ooh, and that bacon one is extra special; my husband would love it :D!
We'd like to invite you to participate in our September apple and peach recipe contest. All competitors will be eligible to win one of three prizes :)! Please email me, sophiekiblogger@gmail.com, if you're interested. Feel free to check out our blog for more details: http://blog.keyingredient.com/2008/08/29/september-kick-contest/
Thanks :),
Sophie
KI Chief Blogger
Ooo, your eclairs look amazing! Great filling & topping ideas. I never would have thought of bacon!!
Those look terrific. I was very excited to do the DB challenge and then my oven broke and.. we had a fair to go to... but I think I'll do it this weekend and post late.
I'll take a bacon eclair! I think they look wonderful, even if you did have a hard time getting them to raise.
Yep, I did the same double take when I first saw the pics! You certainly are a Daring Baker! lol! They look delicious Elle, perfect!
What a cool combination! Not sure I would like it, but I guess I should try it first!
I also had troubles with falling eclairs. But, while thin, they were tasty! And I have a very cute photo of a very cute boy eating my thin, tasty eclairs!!
Bacon? NO WAY! Well, I guess if salted caramel works...
I think your eclairs look gorgeous btw, well done on disguising the fug with chocolate!
You daring baker you! Your flavor combinations are fantastic! I wish I was at your house for dessert.
You know what? These look a heck of a lot better than the crap ones you can get at the supermarket bakery section! Besides the fact that I haven't had dinner but can hear my steak sizzling and so am insanely hungry right now, these look SOOO GOOOD! Peanut Butter is one of my all time favorite flavors, ever, and why not bacon on a maple bun? People put sausage and egg on a pancake and drizzle it with syrup! This is like having a gourmet pancake and sticking whipped cream on top too!
They look great, way to be super creative!