Hazelnut Mocha Eclairs

Once you try these, especially the filling, you’ll be in heaven.  They make a special ending to a meal or treat to afternoon coffee clutch.

Hazelnut Mocha Eclairs

         Carol Witczak                                                                   Tinley Park, Illinois

 Hazelnut Mocha Eclairs Recipe

Hazelnut Mocha Eclairs

½ cup water

½ cup 2% milk

½ cup butter, cubed

1 Tbsp. sugar

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup flour

4 Eggland’s Best Eggs

Filling:   1 Tbsp. instant coffee granules

1 Tbsp. boiling water

2 cups heavy whipping cream

¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

½ cup chopped hazelnut, divided

Topping:    ½ cup milk chocolate, melted

In a large saucepan, bring the water, milk, butter, sugar and salt to a boil.  Add flour all at once and stir until smooth balls forms.  Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.

Transfer to a heavy duty resealable plastic bag; cut a 1 inch hole in one corner of bag.  Pipe 3 inch strips about 3 inches apart on greased baking sheet.    Bake at 400 F. for 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 F.; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until golden brown.

For filling, dissolve coffee granules in boiling water; cool.  In a small bowl, beat cream and confectioners’ sugar until stiff peaks forms.  Fold in coffee mixture and ¼ cup hazlenuts.  Refrigerate.

Fill the eclairs just before serving; replace tops.  Spread with melted chocolate.  Sprinkle with remaining hazlenuts.  Refrigerate leftovers.              14 servings

(Recipe for Hazelnut Mocha Eclairs came from Taste of Home (tasteofhome.com)