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CREME PATISSERIE: (Make 2-24 hours in advance of eclairs.) In a medium saucepan, combine milk, 1/4 cup of the sugar, vanilla and salt. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a simmer. Set aside.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, cornstarch, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar.
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Whisking constantly, slowly pour about a 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Continue adding milk mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, until its fully incorporated.
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Pour everything back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, 2-4 minutes or until it thickens.
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Transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter, and beat on medium speed until the butter melts and the mixture cools, about 5 minutes.
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Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
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Eclairs:
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In a large non-stick pot, combine water and butter. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat.
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Sift together the Pastry Flour, xanthan gum, salt and sugar.
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Stir into boiling mixture until the dough comes together in a large mass and then transfer the dough to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
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Transfer dough to a large pastry bag and pipe into 3 inch x 1 inch rectangles.
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Bake for 20-25 minutes or until centers are dry.
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Let cool, then split in half, length-wise.
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Beat the refrigerated custard on low speed until smooth (you can also whisk by hand), fill a large piping bag or Ziplock baggie with custard.
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FOR CHOCOLATE GANACHE: Combine the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the milk to a boil. Remove from the heat and immediately pour over the chocolate and butter. Stir with a wire whisk until the chocolate and butter melt and are smooth. Place the ganache in a pie tin or other bowl long enough to dip the eclairs inches.
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TO ASSEMBLE: Slice the eclairs in half, horizontally. Dip each top half upside down into the ganache, coating the tops with chocolate. Turn the dipped half right side up and place on a wire rack to set.
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Snip one corner of the Ziplock or piping bag, about 3/4 to 1-inch wide and pipe the custard into the bottom of each eclair, making sure you fill the bottoms with enough custard to mound above the pastry, top with chocolate iced top halves.
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Store airtight and serve that day. If there are leftovers they can be frozen, but in the name of freshness, I prefer to slice and freeze just the empty eclair pastry and then thaw and fill when I need to serve it.
