Raspberry-Peach Mousse Eclairs
YIELD: 8 eclairs
DIFFICULTY: **
PREPARATION: 2 hours plus cooking, baking, cooling and chilling
times.
Eclair dough:
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup water
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/5 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Raspberry-peach mousse filling:
1/4 cup cold water
1 envelope unflavored powdered gelatin
1 cup heavy cream, divided
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 ounces Swiss white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup frozen raspberries, thawed
2 tablespoons Chambord liqueur
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh or canned peaches
Raspberry sauce:
One 12 oz. bag frozen raspberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons Chambord liqueur
Confectioners' sugar for garnish
Make the eclairs:
1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to
425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment.
2. In a glass measuring cup, stir the eggs with a fork until blended.
Pour approximately 2 tablespoons of the egg mixture into a small
cup, leaving 1/2 cup of the egg mixture in the measuring cup.
3. In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the water, butter and salt.
Over medium heat, stirring occasionally, heat the water mixture
until the butter has melted. Increase the heat to medium-high
and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat.
4. Using a wire whisk, stir in the flour. Whisk vigorously for
20 to 30 seconds, until the mixture is smooth and pulls away from
the side of the pan. Return the pan to the heat and stirring constantly
with a wooden spoon, cook for 30 to 60 seconds, until the paste
forms a very smooth ball. Stir in the lemon zest. Transfer the
paste to a large bowl.
5. Pour the reserved 1/2 cup of beaten eggs over the paste and
beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for 45 to 60 seconds, until
the mixture forms a smooth, soft dough. The dough should hold
its shape when scooped up with a spoon but be soft enough to slowly
slide off the spoon when tilted. If the dough does not slide off
the spoon, add 1/2 tablespoon of the reserved egg mixture, beat
until smooth and retest the dough with a spoon. The remaining
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of egg will be used to glaze the tops of
the eclairs before they are baked.
6. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 5/16-inch plain tip (such as
Ateco #3) with the eclair dough. Pipe 4 1/2-inch strips approximately
1/2-inch wide on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 1/2
inches between eclairs. Dip your finger in some of the remaining
beaten egg and gently smooth down any "tails" left from
piping. Lightly brush the tops of the eclairs with more of the
egg.
7. Bake the eclairs, one baking sheet at a time, for 10 minutes,
propping the oven door open about 2 inches with the handle of
a wooden spoon. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and
close the oven door. Continue baking the eclairs for 20 to 25
minutes, until they are a deep golden brown. Transfer the eclairs
to a wire rack and cool completely. The eclairs may be prepared
up to this point and stored in an airtight container at room temperature
for one day or in the freezer for up to one month.
Make the raspberry-peach mousse filling:
1. Place the cold water in a small cup. Sprinkle the gelatin
over the water and let it stand for 5 minutes to soften the gelatin.
2. In a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup of the cream and the sugar
and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture
comes to a gentle boil. Add the softened gelatin to the hot cream
and whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
3. In a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade, process
the white chocolate for 10 to 15 seconds, until finely chopped.
Add the hot cream mixture through the feed tube and process the
white chocolate mixture until completely smooth. Add the thawed
raspberries and Chambord and process until smooth. Transfer the
mixture to a medium bowl and stir in the chopped peaches.
4. In a chilled medium bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer
set at medium speed, beat the remaining 1/2 cup of cream until
soft peaks begin to form. Using a rubber spatula gently fold the
whipped cream into the white-chocolate raspberry mixture. Cover
the surface of the mousse with plastic wrap and refrigerate for
15 minutes, or until it has thickened to the stage where it forms
soft mounds. Do not let the mousse set completely.
Make the sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine the frozen raspberries and sugar. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved and the berries are soft. Do not let the mixture boil. Strain the raspberry mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Stir in the Chambord; cover and refrigerate until serving.
Assemble the eclairs:
Slice eclairs in half; remove any moist dough. Fill each eclair
with about three tablespoons filling. Replace top of the eclair.
Dust the eclairs with confectioners' sugar, if desired. To serve,
drizzle some of the raspberry sauce on each dessert plate. Top
with eclair. Garnish with peach slices and mint if desired.
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