Mini Tiramisu Éclairs Recipes

MINI TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Combine the cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the mascarpone.
• Combine the espresso and rum in a shallow bowl.
• Break the ladyfingers into thirds to make 18 pieces. To build the first tiramisu, quickly dip 2 pieces in the coffee mixture, then place in the bottom of a small glass.
• Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the mascarpone mixture on top. With a rasp or the smallest holes on a box grater, grate a fine layer of the chocolate over the mascarpone mixture. Repeat 2 more times to fill the glass, then repeat the whole process for the second tiramisu.
• Using a fine sieve, dust the tops with cocoa powder. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

MINI ECLAIRS

Steps:

• To make the buns, heat the milk, butter and 150ml water very gently in a medium-sized saucepan until all the butter has melted. Get the flour and some salt ready, then increase the heat and bring the liquid to the boil. As soon as it is boiling, remove from the heat and beat in the flour and a pinch of salt with a wooden spoon. Keep beating until the mixture is smooth and comes away from the sides of the pan. Cool for 5 mins.
• Gradually add the eggs, mixing well between each addition until the mixture reluctantly drops off the spoon. Don't add all the egg unless you need to. Spoon into a piping bag with a 1.5-2cm star or round nozzle and set aside until ready to bake.
• To make the filling, bring the milk just to the boil in a saucepan with the vanilla paste or split pod. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and flours in a mixing bowl. Pour on the hot milk while continuously whisking the egg mixture. Discard the pod (if using) and return the mix to a wiped-out saucepan. Cook over a gentle heat, stirring, until the mix is thicker than a custard - it will get lumpy, but just carry on stirring and beat out the lumps. Transfer to another mixing bowl and lay cling film directly on the surface. Leave to cool, then chill.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Line a couple of baking sheets with baking parchment. Pipe on 8-10cm long lengths of the dough, about 2cm wide - leaving space to expand between each one. Put in the oven for 5 mins, then reduce heat to 200C/200C fan/gas 6 and bake for 10 mins more until golden, puffed and crisp. Using a skewer, poke 3 small holes along the base of each bun. Put back on the baking sheets, base up, and return to the oven for a further 8-10 mins until slightly crisper. Cool. Can be frozen for up to a month, or stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days - just crisp up in a hot oven again when ready to fill.
• Add the cream to the thick custard filling and beat with an electric whisk until it holds its own shape again. Put into a piping bag with a tiny nozzle, then pipe some filling into the bottom of the buns using the skewer holes you made before (see Secrets of success, below). When it squirts back out, that bit is probably full.
• Stir the liqueur, if using, into the icing sugar, plus just enough water to make a pretty thick icing. Divide among as many bowls as you want colours, and colour each batch as you like. (Depending on your colouring, you may need to add a drop more water to icings so that they are thick but runny.)
• Dip the top of each eclair in icing to cover, or use a teaspoon to spread a little on - use less at first and wait for it to spread and settle. Add sprinkles and decorations, then gently sit on wire racks to set. Eclairs are best eaten on the day they are filled and decorated, before they go soggy.

EMILY'S FAMOUS TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whip egg yolks and 1/4 cup of sugar with an electric mixer until thick and pale. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites (with clean beaters) to soft peaks. Gradually sprinkle in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar while whipping to medium stiff peaks. Fold the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites. Gently fold in the flour and 1 teaspoon vanilla. The batter should be thick and pale yellow.
• Trace two 9 inch circles onto the parchment paper using a cake pan as a guide. Spread or pipe batter to completely fill inside the lines of the circles. Batter should be about 1/2 inch tall.
• Load the remaining batter into a pastry bag fitted with a half inch tip or hole. Draw parallel lines onto another piece of parchment that are 3 inches apart. Pipe the batter back and forth just between the lines in a compressed S motion, until you run out of batter. This is the part that wraps around the outside of the cake. (It helps to have it in one piece, but you can pipe individual fingers using the guidelines drawn on the paper, if you prefer.) There may be extra.
• Bake in preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes, until firm but not browned. Remove from the oven and dust generously with confectioners' sugar. Set aside to cool.
• To make the syrup, stir together 1 cup sugar, boiling water, coffee and 1/4 cup rum until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
• To make the filling, combine mascarpone, 2 cups confectioners' sugar, dark rum and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk together until completely smooth, scraping the bottom of the bowl to remove any lumps. Gradually whisk in the heavy cream. Whip with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Stop whipping when the mixture shows the first sign of graininess.
• To assemble, line the sides of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment or waxed paper. Place one of the ladyfinger rounds in the bottom of the pan. Brush generously, but do not soak completely, with syrup. Place the 3-inch high ladyfinger strips around the inside edge of the pan, so that the sides are completely covered. Brush generously with syrup.
• Spread half of the filling mixture over the first ladyfinger round in the pan. Place the remaining ladyfinger round on top of the filling. Soak the second ladyfinger round with syrup until it cannot take any more. Spread the remaining filling over that and smooth the top. Sprinkle with grated chocolate. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• To serve, remove the sides of the pan and carefully remove the parchment or waxed paper from the outside of the cake. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

MINI TIRAMISU ECLAIRS

Steps:

• Stir together first 3 ingredients until sugar is dissolved; set aside 2 tablespoons mixture.
• Brush cut sides of ladyfingers evenly with remaining coffee mixture.
• Stir together mascarpone cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and chocolate syrup until blended.
• Spoon or pipe mascarpone cheese mixture evenly onto 24 cut sides of ladyfinger halves; top with remaining ladyfinger halves, cut sides down.
• Microwave chocolate morsels, butter and cream at HIGH 30 seconds or until melted, stirring twice.
• Place chocolate mixture in a small heavy-duty zip-top bag.
• Snip a tiny hole in 1 corner of bag, and drizzle over eclairs.
• Let stand until firm.
• Stir together reserved coffee mixture and remaining 1 cup powdered sugar, stirring until blended.
• Place coffee-powdered sugar mixture in small heavy duty zip-top bag; seal bag.
• Snip a tiny hole in 1 corner of bag.
• Drizzle eclairs evenly with coffee-powdered sugar mixture.
• Place on a serving platter, cake stand, or in candy boxes, if desired.

MEGAN'S TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Start syrup: Combine white sugar and boiling water in a medium bowl; stir until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
• Prepare filling: Combine powdered sugar, mascarpone cheese, 1/4 cup tuaca, and vanilla extract in a bowl; whip with the whisk attachment of an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add whipping cream and whip until soft peaks form.
• Continue syrup: Mix coffee and tuaca into the sugar-water mixture.
• Assemble tiramisu: Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with ladyfingers. Pour 1/2 of the syrup over top, then layer with 1/2 of the filling. Add another layer of ladyfingers and cover with remaining syrup and filling. Smooth with the back of a spoon and sprinkle with grated chocolate. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.