Chocolate Eclair Cake – Chocolate Karpatka

A dessert that has truly captured my heart is the Polish Karpatka Cake, a delicious Vanilla Eclair Cake. This delectable pastry is made by combining choux pastry with a creamy vanilla filling, creating a texture and flavor that is simply irresistible. As soon as I tasted this dessert, I knew I had to create a chocolate version, and that’s how my amazing Homemade Chocolate Eclair Cake was born.

This cake features two layers of fluffy chocolate choux pastry, sandwiched together with a generous silky smooth chocolate custard cream filling. This dessert is a chocoholic’s dream. The recipe is surprisingly easy and relaxing to prepare, even for those who have never made choux pastry before. This was my first time making chocolate choux pastry, and I found it to be incredibly delicious. I’m already looking forward to making it again.

What is Polish Karpatka Cake?

But what exactly is a Karpatka cake, you may ask? Well, the name comes from the Carpathian Mountains, which span across several countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The choux pastry used in this dessert puffs up and takes on irregular shapes as it bakes, which, when dusted with powdered sugar, resemble the snow-capped peaks of the mountains. It’s a beautiful and fitting name for a cake that’s as stunning as it is delicious.

How to make Chocolate Eclair Cake?

To make a delicious chocolate eclair cake, you will need to follow a few simple steps. First, you need to prepare the chocolate pastry cream by heating the milk and whisking the eggs with sugar, salt, cocoa powder and cornstarch. Combine the hot milk with the egg mixture and cook until it thickens. Then, you need to add the chocolate and let it cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, prepare the chocolate choux pastry layers by boiling milk, water, sugar, salt, and butter in a saucepan. Add flour and cocoa powder, and mix energetically until it pulls away from the sides of the pan. Add the eggs one at a time and mix to incorporate. Divide the batter evenly in two 8-inch (20cm) pans and bake the pastry for 25-30 minutes until puffed.

Next, you need to prepare the chocolate custard cream filling by mixing butter and pastry cream until creamy. 

How to assemble the cake

To assemble the cake place the first layer of choux pastry on a serving platter. Add a cake ring around the cake and line with acetate sheet. Add the chocolate cream on top of the pastry layer. You then need to fill the gaps from the second layer of pastry and place it on top of the chocolate cream. Cover the cake and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight. Finally, dust with powdered sugar and serve with a berry coulis or chocolate sauce.

So why wait? Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this Chocolate Eclair Cake is a must-try recipe that’s guaranteed to impress. From its decadent chocolate layers to its creamy filling, every bite is an experience to savor and enjoy. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram if you try it out and happy baking everyone!

Other chocolate custard desserts you may like to try

This Chocolate Magic Custard Cake is a delightful chocolatey dessert with a unique texture. While baking it forms three distinct layers: a cake-like layer on top, a custard-like layer in the middle, and a dense, fudgy layer on the bottom. This Chocolate Norwegian Cake is a delicious dessert that combines two layers of chocolate sponge cake that are filled with a generous amount of creamy and silky chocolate cream. Another custard dessert we love is this Chocolate Cheesecake Flan, a delicious dessert that combines the creamy texture of cheesecake with the smooth, chocolate and caramel-like consistency of flan. Check our full collection of Custard Desserts for more inspiration.

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Ding Dong Cake
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Cheese Puffs – Gougeres
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Chocolate Cream Puffs
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Chocolate Eclair Cake - Chocolate Karpatka

5 from 1 vote

This Chocolate Eclair Cake features two layers of fluffy chocolate choux pastry, sandwiched together with a generous silky smooth chocolate cream filling. This dessert is a chocoholic's dream.

Servings 12 servings

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

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Ingredients

  

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Chocolate Choux Pastry Layers

• 1/2 cup (65g) flour
• 1/4 cup (30g) cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup (80ml) milk
• 1/3 cup (80ml) water
• 2 tsp (10g) sugar
• 1/2 tsp (2g) salt
• 2 oz (60g) unsalted butter
• 3 eggs

Chocolate Filling

• 2 cups (500ml) milk
• 2/3 cup (135g) sugar
• 1/4 cup (30g) cornstarch
• 1 tbsp (10g) cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 4 oz (120g) semisweet chocolate
• 1 tsp (5g) vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp (2g) salt
• 3/4 cup (170g) butter , room temperature

Instructions

 

First prepare the chocolate pastry cream.

• It needs time time to cool. Place milk in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile whisk the eggs with sugar and salt until well combined. Add cocoa powder and cornstarch and mix to combine.
• Gradually add milk into the egg mixture and return to heat. Cook stirring constantly until it boils and thickens.
• Remove from heat and add chocolate and stir until completely melted.
• Pour the cream into a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the pastry cream to prevent forming a skin on the surface. Let cool to room temperature.

Prepare chocolate choux pastry layers.

• In a saucepan bring the milk, water, sugar, salt and butter to a boil.
• Remove from heat and add flour and cocoa powder all at once and incorporate mixing energetically with a wooden spoon until homogenous.
• Return the saucepan over low heat and while stirring cook for 1 minute or two to pull out the moisture from the batter and until it pulls away from the sides of the pan. You will see some of the dough sticks to the bottom of the pan.
• Transfer batter to a large bowl and allow to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375 F (190C). Grease two 8 inch (20cm) pans and line with parchment paper.
• Add the eggs one at a time, carefully incorporating each into the batter, using a wooden spoon or even a stand mixer. It will result in a smooth, homogeneous batter which still holds its shape.
• Divide choux pastry evenly and spread on the bottom of the pans.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until nicely puffed.
• Let cool.

Prepare the chocolate filling.

• Place butter into a large bowl and mix until creamy. Gradually add spoons of pastry cream and mix to incorporate. Add another spoon only when the other spon is fully incorporated. Repeat until all the pastry cream is fully incorporated. In the end add vanilla extract and mix to combine.

Assemble the cake.

• Add a bit of chocolate cream on a serving platter. Add the first layer of choux pastry. Place a ring and line with an acetate sheet for easier removal. Add chocolate cream on top of the pastry layer. Fill the gaps from the second layer of pastry and place on top of the chocolate cream. Cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or better overnight.
• Before serving, dust with powdered sugar. Serve as is or with a berry coulis or chocolate sauce. Enjoy!

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving out of 12Calories: 384kcalCarbohydrates: 35.1gProtein: 6.8gFat: 26.3gSaturated Fat: 15.7gCholesterol: 136mgSugar: 24.1g

Calories: 384kcal

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Polish

Keyword: chocolate eclair cake, chocolate karpatka, Chocolate Polish Cake, eclair cake, karpatka