A little reason to celebrate
National Chocolate Eclair Day
Food ยท June 22
A day for the chocolate eclair, the long choux pastry filled with cream or custard and topped with a glossy layer of chocolate.
National Chocolate Eclair Day falls on Tuesday, June 22, 2027. That is 238 days away.
A chocolate eclair is a finger of choux pastry, baked until hollow, filled with pastry cream or whipped cream, and glazed on top with chocolate. It looks simple in a bakery case. It is not simple to make, which is part of its charm.
Choux pastry is cooked twice. The dough of butter, water, flour and eggs is stirred in a pot on the stove, then piped and baked. Steam inside puffs it up and leaves a hollow center, which is exactly where the filling goes.
The first bite tells you how it was built. The shell gives a little, the cream rushes toward the far end, and the chocolate sticks to your fingers no matter how carefully you hold it. Some people eat one in three neat bites. Others accept the mess and keep a napkin nearby.
Most people mark the day by picking up an eclair from a local bakery or grocery counter, often a couple to share. Home bakers sometimes take on the challenge themselves, since piping and filling the shells is satisfying once you get the hang of it. A pastry bag helps, though a zip bag with one corner snipped off works too.
Bakeries vary the details. Some use vanilla custard, some use chocolate cream, and the glaze can be thin and shiny or thick like fudge. Comparing two side by side is a quick way to learn which one you prefer.
Ways to celebrate
- Try a chocolate eclair from a local bakery you have not visited before.
- Bake a small batch of choux pastry at home and fill it.
- Compare a custard filled eclair with a whipped cream version.
- Share a box of eclairs with coworkers or neighbors.
- Look up how choux pastry puffs and watch it rise in your oven.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, June 22 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, June 22 |
| 2028 | Thursday, June 22 |
| 2029 | Friday, June 22 |
| 2030 | Saturday, June 22 |
Also on June 22
Categories: Food days