Banana Cream Eclairs Food

ROASTED BANANA CREAM ECLAIRS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the choux paste: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring the water, milk, butter, sugar and salt to a simmer over medium heat in a medium saucepan, stirring with a wooden spoon. As soon as it comes to a boil, add the flour, stirring constantly, until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let the dough cool for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed to allow the dough to cool, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, with the mixer on medium speed. When all the eggs have been incorporated, scrape the dough into a pastry bag fitted with your desired tip.
• Pipe the dough into 4 1/2-by-3/4-inch lengths on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 3 inches apart. You should end up with about 15 eclairs. With a damp fingertip, flatten any points. Bake until eclairs are deep golden brown and puffed, rotating the sheets halfway through, 22 to 25 minutes. They should be very light and crisp. Turn the oven off.
• Poke each eclair on either end with a toothpick to allow some steam to release. Return the eclairs to the oven, prop the door open a crack and allow them to dry out, about 15 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and allow the eclairs to cool completely.
• For the chocolate glaze: Meanwhile, bring the cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Remove from the heat and mix in the chocolate, cocoa powder and honey. Whisk until the chocolate has completely melted. Transfer to a medium bowl and allow the glaze to cool and thicken.
• For the pastry cream: Add the milk, vanilla bean and salt to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch until thick, pale and smooth. Remove the vanilla bean pod from the hot milk and scrape the seeds into the milk, discarding the pod. Temper the hot milk into the egg mixture by slowly pouring it in while whisking constantly. When combined, pour back into the pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Stir continuously until thickened, then remove from the heat and mix in the butter and vanilla extract. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, then set a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• For the caramelized bananas: When the pastry cream is almost ready, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat. Stir together the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl, then pour into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Place the bananas cut-side down on the cinnamon sugar, coating them as much as you can. Using a paring knife or fork, poke the skin of the bananas a few times to allow steam to release. Bake until completely caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before gently flipping them over.
• Remove the bananas from their skins and discard the skins. Place the roasted bananas in a food processor and puree until smooth. Add the pastry cream and puree until smooth. Pour into a pastry bag fitted with a small metal tip.
• For the garnish: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy. Add the peanuts and salt and toast together, about 1 minute. Transfer to a paper towel-lined sheet tray to drain any excess fat. When cooled slightly, roughly chop the mixture.
• To serve, poke a small hole in both ends of each eclair using a paring knife. Fill the eclairs from both ends with the banana pastry cream. Dip the tops in the chocolate glaze, allowing any excess to drip off. Lightly sprinkle with the bacon and peanut garnish.

ECLAIRS II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.
• In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring until butter melts completely. Reduce heat to low, and add flour and salt. Stir vigorously until mixture leaves the sides of the pan and begins to form a stiff ball. Remove from heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to incorporate completely after each addition. With a spoon or a pastry bag fitted with a No. 10, or larger, tip, spoon or pipe dough onto cookie sheet in 1 1/2 x 4 inch strips.
• Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and bake 20 minutes more, until hollow sounding when lightly tapped on the bottom. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the filling, combine pudding mix and milk in medium bowl according to package directions. In a separate bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Fold whipped cream into pudding. Cut tops off of cooled pastry shells with a sharp knife. Fill shells with pudding mixture and replace tops.
• For the icing, melt the chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until icing is smooth and has reached desired consistency. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and drizzle over filled eclairs. Refrigerate until serving.

BANANA CUSTARD ECLAIRS

Steps:

• Put the butter in a saucepan with 225ml water. Weigh the flour in a large bowl and set aside. Bring the butter and water to a fast boil with a pinch of salt, simmer until the butter has melted, then tip in the flour and beat like mad with a wooden spoon until the mixture is pulling away from the sides of the pan and is lump-free. Tip into the bowl and spread the thick paste up the sides a little to help it cool quickly, then leave for 10 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and cut 2 pieces of baking parchment to fit 2 baking sheets. Using a ruler and a pen, mark 12 lines about 9cm long over each piece, leaving plenty of space between the lines. Flip the parchment over. Fit a piping bag with a large round piping nozzle, about 1.5cm wide. When the flour paste has cooled but is not cold, start adding the egg, bit by bit, beating well between each addition until you have a smooth batter, which will reluctantly drop off the end of your spoon. You may not need to use all the egg, so add it slowly. Transfer to your piping bag and use a little of the mixture to stick the parchment to your trays.
• Pipe the choux onto the baking sheet, using the lines as a guide. Place the trays in the oven and bake for 30 mins until the choux is puffed and golden. Swap the trays around for the final 5 mins. The choux should be crisp and hollow-sounding when tapped. You may wish to sacrifice 1 eclair to make sure that the inside is completely dried out; if it is still moist, the eclairs will sink when cooling. Once baked, leave to cool completely. Can be made 1 day ahead - store in a sealed container, and reheat in the oven for 5-10 mins to crisp up before filling.
• Now make the banana custard. Put the bananas, sugar and lemon juice in a food processor and whizz to a purée. Pour into a saucepan and bubble for a few mins until thickened. Mix the custard powder with 2-3 tbsp of the milk to make a smooth paste, then add the remaining milk, cream and vanilla, and stir well. Pour the custard mixture into the banana purée and continue cooking, whisking, until very thick and smooth. Pour into a bowl, cover with cling film and chill for 2 hrs, or until cold.
• Pick out 24 nice banana chips and place on a tray lined with parchment. Spray with edible gold spray or cover with a little gold leaf, if you like. When you're ready to assemble the eclairs, split each one along one side. Transfer the banana custard to a disposable piping bag and snip off the corner. Fill the eclairs generously with the custard, lining up on a tray as you go. Melt the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave, stirring every 20 secs or so to prevent it from burning. When the eclairs are filled, carefully dip the top of each one into the chocolate, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Place a gold banana chip on each eclair and set back on the tray for 30 mins or so to set. Serve within 3 hrs.

BANANA CREAM ECLAIRS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water, butter, sugar and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms.
• Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until dough is smooth and shiny.
• Insert a 3/4-inch round tip into a pastry bag; add dough. Pipe 3-inch strips about 3 inches apart on a greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks.
• Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside. Discard soft dough from inside. Cool puffs.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form.
• In another bowl, mash bananas; gently fold in whipped cream. Spoon into eclairs and replace tops.
• In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, butter and vanilla. Add enough water to make a thin glaze and spread over eclairs.
• Sprinkle with pecans and serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers.

BANANA CREAM ECLAIRS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water, butter, sugar and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until dough is smooth and shiny.
• Insert a 3/4" round tip into a pastry bag; add dough. Pipe 3" strips about 3 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove to wire racks. Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside. Discard soft dough from inside Cool puffs.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, mash bananas and fold into the whipped cream. Spoon into eclairs and replace tops.
• In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, butter and vanilla. Add enough water to make into a thin glaze. Spread glaze over eclairs and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Serve immediately.

ECLAIRS

Steps:

• First, make the choux pastry. Put the butter in a saucepan with 450ml water. Sieve the flour into a large bowl and set aside. Bring the butter and water to a fast boil, simmer until the butter has melted, then tip in the flour and beat like mad with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and is lump-free. Tip into the bowl and spread the thick paste up the sides a little to help it cool quickly, then leave for 10 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6 and cut two pieces of baking parchment to fit two baking sheets. Using a ruler and pen, mark 10 lines about 12cm long over each piece, leaving plenty of space between the lines, then flip the parchment over. Fit a piping bag with a large round piping nozzle, about 1.5cm wide.
• When the flour paste has cooled but is not cold, start adding the egg, bit by bit, beating well between each addition until you have a smooth batter which will reluctantly drop off the end of your spoon (you can do this in a freestanding mixer if you have one). You may not need to use all the egg, so add it slowly. Transfer to your piping bag and use a little of the mixture to stick the parchment to your trays.
• Pipe the choux onto the baking sheet, using the lines as a guide. Pipe slowly so the eclairs aren't too skinny - each one should be about 2.5cm wide x 12cm long. Bake for 35-40 mins, swapping the trays around for the final 10 mins. The choux should be puffed, golden and sound hollow when tapped. You may wish to sacrifice one eclair to make sure the inside is completely dried out - if it's still moist, the eclair will sink when cooling. Once baked, leave to cool completely. (Can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container, reheat in the oven for 5-10 mins to crisp up before filling.) Split each eclair through the middle with a serrated knife.
• Now, make the crème pâtissière. Pour the milk and cream into a saucepan. Heat until just simmering, then remove from the heat. Meanwhile, tip the egg yolks into a bowl and add the sugar and cornflour, whisking together until smooth. Pour over the milk mixture, mix, then pour back into the saucepan. Cook over a medium heat for 5-8 mins until the crème pâtissière thickens to a thick custard consistency. Sieve into a jug, cover the surface with cling film and chill for at least 3 hrs, or up to 3 days.
• To fill and glaze your eclairs, choose one of our flavours - raspberry & cardamom, lemon & passion fruit, salted caramel & popcorn or elderflower & meringue.For more help, see our how to make choux pastry and eclairs video.