NATIONAL CHOCOLATE ECLAIR DAY
National Chocolate Eclair Day falls on June 22 each year and recognizes a delicious cream-filled pastry covered in smooth chocolate. Pastry. Check. Cream filling. Check. Chocolate. Check. What more could you want in a food holiday? Maybe a cup of coffee to go with it, but other than that, you won't need anything else.
#NationalChocolateEclairDay
We all know the French make many delicacies from dough and the eclair is no different. Eclairs are a particular pastry made from a dough called pate a choux that is piped it into an oblong shape using a pastry bag. Once baked, the eclair is light and crispy on the outside and hollow on the inside making it the perfect avenue for transporting creamy vanilla or chocolate creme.
The word eclair comes from the French word, meaning “flash of lightning.” The connection between the word and this French pastry remains unclear. Some people suggest that the éclair is so named because it is eaten so quickly. For instance you might say, “You ate that in a flash!” Another interpretation, however, says that the name came from the glistening of the frosting, which resembles lightning.
Originating during the nineteenth century in France, the eclair was first called pain à la Duchesse or “petite Duchesse.” Food historians believe that French chef Antonin Careme (1784-1833) first developed the eclair.
The 1884 Boston Cooking School Cook Book, by Mrs. D.A. Lincoln, has the first known English-language recipe for eclairs.
In some regions of the United States, Long Johns are marketed under the name eclairs. However, the two are not quite identical. Long Johns are made with donut pastry and typically filled with vanilla pudding or custard. The eclair, on the other hand, requires a little more effort and expense to make.
8 Best Places for Eclairs in the U.S.
The chocolate éclair has become so popular that it ranks as one of the 7 most famous pastries in the world, including the United States. If you’re looking for one of the best chocolate eclairs ever, you may want to hit up one of these bakeries that are known to make some of the best:
Ooh La La Dessert Boutique in Houston, TX
Atelier Sucre in New York City, NY
Un Je Ne Sais Quoi in Washington, D.C.
O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, WI
Collet French Pastry in Alpharetta, GA
Tartine in San Francisco, CA
Patisserie 45 in Minneapolis, MN
Sucre in New Orleans, LA
If you don’t live near one of the bakeries, however, don’t despair as you are bound to find chocolate eclairs at your local bakery. They can even be found in the frozen desserts section at the grocery store.
Tips for Making a Great Eclair
We are no expert on making eclairs. In fact, we are sure we would buy them before attempting to make at home. However, our demise should not be your encouragement to follow suit. We've found a few tips to make sure your homemade eclairs turn out perfectly. Oh, and before we forget, we would love to be your taste-tester before you present them to anyone.
They say one of the most important things about making eclairs is having the right amount of moisture in the dough. Not enough moisture will cause the eclairs to crack while baking. Too much moisture will cause them to become soggy or prevent them from being puffy.
Moisture issues can be prevented during the first step in making chocolate eclairs. Make sure you have enough liquid (but not too much) in the dough. To do this, simply chop the butter into evenly sized pieces so it melts quickly in the boiling water, without too much of the water evaporating.
Another tip is to add the eggs to the dough one by one. Make sure each egg is thoroughly mixed in before adding the next. This prevents the mixture from getting too runny.
Finally, after you’ve baked the eclairs, you are ready to add the filling. To prevent them from getting soggy, pierce the éclair with a pastry knife and then bake them in the oven for up to 10 minutes.
Following these simple tips will help you make perfect chocolate eclairs every time.
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE ECLAIR DAY CELEBRATIONS
Visit your favorite bakery or coffee shop for an eclair. Or, you can try making them yourself. No matter how you celebrate, be sure to share by using #NationalChocolateEclairDay on social media.
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE ECLAIR DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar is researching the origins of this sweet holiday. While we do, don't hesitate to check out these bake shop celebrations:
