Can eclair shells be baked ahead of time?!
Can eclair shells be baked ahead of time?
I am preparing homemade eclairs for a party on Saturday and would like to prepare the shells on Thursday - can they be stored so they do not get soggy?
Answers:
Hello,
Yes you can, not always recommended, but yes.
Store them in a "air tight" container in a dry, cool place. You do not need to hold them in your refrigerator. Pate a Chou dough is a what you'll be making and it is a delicate process, but it is also one of the most versatile doughs. It can be stuffed with just about anything.
If they are cooked properly and the steam does its work you will have a perfect shell, and it will not collapse if you keep it dry and cool.
If you store them in the freezer and then let them defrost they will become soggy and lose most of their texture.
I would make them the day of if possible, they will taste a lot better. But, making pastries for in restaurants for 9 years they will keep but only for a short time.
Hope this helps.....................
of course, just toss them in the freezer.
I'm sorry to say that it doesn't really work to make them that far in advance. Time just isn't kind to pastry that's heavy on the eggs. If you decide to do it anyway, be sure to let them cool completely and then freeze them in Ziploc bags. But the texture will definitely suffer. If it's an evening party, you could make the shells early that morning. But if you have a lot of other refreshments to make and planning to do, I think you'd save yourself a lot of hassle by making something that does hold up well for a day or two, like a cheesecake or an icebox torte. Best of luck--don't make yourself crazy over a few eclairs! :)
I used to work in a grocery store bakery and we got our e-clairs in frozen. Also, our cream puff shells came frozen. You should be able to make them Thursday and freeze them. I would suggest you let them cool completely before you freeze them. Also, freeze them on a cookie sheet and then put them in a ziploc bag after they are frozen so they won't stick together.