STRAWBERRY VANILLA ÉCLAIRS

Delight in these homemade strawberry vanilla éclairs featuring light, airy choux pastry filled with creamy vanilla custard and topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream — a perfect elegant dessert for any occasion.

🥣 Ingredients

Choux Pastry:

120 ml milk
100 ml water
A pinch of salt
125 g unsalted butter
1 tbsp sugar
150 g all-purpose flour
4 eggs (small; may need 3 depending on size)

Filling & Decoration:

1 packet vanilla Creme Ole instant custard
350–400 ml milk (400 ml for softer cream)
200 g fresh strawberries
Whipped cream for decorating
Powdered vanilla sugar for dusting

Instructions

Prepare the Choux Pastry

In a saucepan over low heat, combine milk, water, butter, salt, and sugar. Heat until just boiling.
Remove from heat and add all flour at once. Stir quickly until dough pulls away cleanly from the pan.
Let dough cool completely.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Adjust number of eggs if dough consistency appears too stiff or loose (see photo reference).

Shape and Bake

Line a round baking tray with parchment paper. If your tray isn’t round, draw a circle using a pot as a guide.
Using a piping bag, pipe éclair shapes evenly on the parchment within the circle.
Bake at 220°C for 10 minutes without opening the oven.
Reduce temperature to 200°C and bake 10 more minutes.
Lower heat to 180°C and bake an additional 20 minutes until shells are dry and sound hollow when tapped.

Prepare Filling and Assemble

Mix Creme Ole custard with milk according to package instructions.
Slice off the tops (“caps”) of the éclairs.
Fill each éclair generously with vanilla custard.
Add small pieces of fresh strawberries over the custard.
Replace the caps on the éclairs.
Dust with powdered vanilla sugar.
Decorate with whipped cream and quartered strawberries.

💡 Tips

Ensure dough cools fully before adding eggs to prevent cooking them.
Baking with no oven door opening maintains puffiness.
Hollow sound on tapping indicates properly baked shells.
Adjust milk for custard thickness based on your preference.
Use fresh, ripe strawberries for best flavor and presentation.

📝 Final Thoughts

These strawberry vanilla éclairs combine the crisp lightness of choux pastry with rich, smooth custard and fresh fruit bursts. Elegant and delightful, they make a perfect homemade treat for celebrations or afternoon tea.