Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium saucepan, bring the water and unsalted butter to a boil over medium heat.
Once boiling, add the all-purpose flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until the dough is smooth and glossy.
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
Pipe the dough onto the prepared baking sheet into 3-4 inch lengths, leaving space between each éclair for expansion.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the éclairs are puffed up, golden brown, and crisp. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
While the éclairs are cooling, prepare the filling. In a saucepan, heat the whole milk over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks until smooth and pale.
Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Transfer the filling to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap (pressing it directly onto the surface of the filling), and refrigerate until chilled.
Once the éclairs and filling are cooled, use a sharp knife to make a small slit along the side of each éclair, cutting almost but not completely through.
Spoon or pipe the chilled filling into the éclairs through the slit.
To make the chocolate glaze, heat the heavy cream in a saucepan until it just begins to simmer. Remove from heat and pour over the chocolate chips and butter in a heatproof bowl. Let it sit for a minute, then stir until smooth.
Dip the tops of each filled éclair into the chocolate glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.
Place the glazed éclairs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to set the chocolate glaze.
Once the glaze is set, serve the Classic Chocolate Éclairs and enjoy!
These decadent and classic French pastries are sure to impress your friends and family. Share your delightful creations with us using
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