The perfect chocolate eclairs

While they might not be the simplest recipe out there, they are up there with one of the most delicious. After making these treats in your own kitchen you will never want to buy from the store again. The soft pastry filled with creamy pudding and topped with an addictive chocolate icing makes for such a tasty dessert treat or afternoon tea snack. Everyone will love these treats (even fussy grandkids) so bake them in bulk and enjoy with your cup of tea or coffee!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 (140g) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 cup whipping cream
  Icing
• 1/4 cup icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 (30g) squares chocolate
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons hot water

Method

1. Preheat oven to 230C. Grease a baking tray. Heat 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to boil, stirring constantly until butter melts completely. Reduce heat to low. Add flour and salt. Stir until mixture begins to form a stiff ball. Remove from heat. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Spoon dough onto baking tray in to 10cm long and 3cm thick strips.
2. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 165C and bake for another 20 minutes. Tap on bottom to make sure hollow before removing. Cool completely on wire rack.
3. For filling combine pudding mix and milk in a bowl. In another bowl beat cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add in 1/4 cup of icing sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat. Fold in whipped cream into pudding. Gently cut tops off cooled shells.  Spoon pudding into shells and add tops back on.
4. For icing, in a medium saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in 1 cup of icing sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Add hot water, one tablespoon at a time until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Leave to cool slightly. Drizzle generously over eclairs. Refrigerate until serving.