CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS

Chocolate Eclairs
(recipe adapted from here)

Makes twelve
300ml/1-1/4 cups double (heavy cream)
10ml/2 tsp icing sugar, sifted
1/4 tsp vanilla essence
115gm/4oz plain semi-sweet chocolate
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp butter

For the pastry
65gm/9 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour
pinch of salt
50gm/1/4 cup butter, diced
150ml/2/3 cup water
2 eggs, lightly beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 (I preheat at 180C). Grease a large baking sheet and line with baking parchment. To make the pastry, sift the flour and salt on to a small sheet of baking parchment. Heat the butter and water in a pan very gently until the butter melts.
2. Increase the heat and bring to a rolling boil. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately tip in all the flour. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the flour is mixed into the liquid.
3. Return the pan to a low heat, then beat the mixture until it leaves the sides of the pan and forms a ball. Set the pan aside and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition, until you have a smooth, shiny paste, which is thick enough to hold its shape.
5. Spoon the choux pastry into a piping (pastry) bag fitted with a 2.5cm/1in plain nozzle. Pipe 10cm/4in lengths on to the prepared baking sheet. Use a wet knife to cut off the pastry at the nozzle.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastries are well risen and golden brown. Remove from the oven and make a neat slit along the side of each to release the steam. Lower the oven temperature to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and bake for a further 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
7. To make the filling, whip the cream with the icing sugar and vanilla essence until it just holds its shape. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm/1/2in plain nozzle and use to fill the eclairs.
8. Place the chocolate and water in a small bowl set over a pan of hot water. Melt, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the butter.
9. Carefully dip the top of each eclair in the melted chocolate, then place on a wire rack. Leave in a cool place until the chocolate is set. The eclairs are best served within 2 hours of being made, but they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.