Makes: 9 eclairs

Description: I made these for the first time this Christmas and they were a hit!! Everyone raved about how good they were and asked for the recipe.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup  butter
1 cup  water
1 cup  all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp  salt
4  eggs
2 1/2 cups  cold milk
1 pkg (5.1 oz)  instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup  heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup  confectioner's sugar
1 tsp  pure vanilla extract
2 oz  semisweet chocolate
2 Tbsp  butter
1 cup  confectioner's sugar
2 to 3 Tbsp  hot water

Instructions: In a large saucepan, combine butter and water. Bring to a rapid boil, stirring until the butter melts. Reduce heat to low; add flour and salt. Stir vigorously until mixture leaves the sides of the pan and forms a stiff ball.
Remove from the heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.With a tablespoon or a pastry tube fitting with a no. 10 or larger tip, spoon or pipe dough into 4-in.-long x 1-1/2-in.-wide strips on a greased baking sheet.
Bake at 450° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325° bake 20 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack.
For filling, in a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. In another large bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Beat in sugar and vanilla; fold into pudding.
Fill cooled shells. (Chill remaining pudding mixture for another use.)
For icing, melt chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in sugar. Add hot water until icing is smooth and reaches desired consistency. Cool slightly. Spread over eclairs. Chill until
serving.

via Taste of Home / image credit: flickr/squarefaceduchamp