Fleur d'Eclair! |
So I did some research online and consulted Jacquy Pfeiffer’s cookbook, The Art of French Pastry. I realized that adding the eggs is a critical last step; you can overdo it and end up with a soupy pastry that isn't easy to fix. The recipe had called for four eggs. Alas, it was too many. Next go round, I added them slowly, one at a time, until the dough reached the right consistency, described as holding a V shape off the paddle, or in another source, as pulling apart between two fingers easily without breaking up yet holding its form. The next batch was usable after coming out of the oven, but still not quite where I want them to be. It’s apparent that mixing, piping, and baking to the correct done-ness will all take some practice to perfect. The good news is they are quick to make and require only simple ingredients, so practicing can be done without too much investment in time or materials.
The pastry cream from Joanne’s cookbook, eponymously titled Flour after her bakery, worked beautifully. She calls it St. Tropez Cream. It was easy to make using her directions, and turned out smooth and dreamy. I tried adding a wee dash of cold brew espresso into part of the batch, which gave it a nice coffee flavor. The chocolate ganache recipe also worked flawlessly and is astonishingly easy. How is it that I've never made ganache before? Sheesh. Chocolate, cream. Heat, melt, mix. Come on!
The pastries don’t keep very well after putting them together, so you
should eat them ASAP. Which is a dangerously easy feat, even alone, because they
absolutely melt in your mouth. They are aptly named. According to Wikipedia: “The word comes from French éclair
'flash of lightning', because it is eaten quickly (in a flash)."
I brought all the components in to work and built them in
the break room one morning. Before I could finish assembling them, I had several
people lingering around waiting for one. Love that feeling when people are so
excited for a sample!
To sprinkle or not to sprinkle, that is the question... |
A thick swatch of a marine layer is all nestled in on Elliott Bay, hiding the Seattle skyline. |