Éclairs May Soon Grab Bakery Shelf Space From Cupcakes

The classic French pastry known as the éclair is suddenly in the limelight, possibly making a bid to replace cupcakes as the decadent snack treat of choice. Chefs all over the world are offering modern variations on the traditional custard-filled design. In homeland France, éclairs are filled with hazelnut praline, chocolate cherry and caramel apple. An American restaurateur, who will soon open a shop devoted to éclairs, will be featuring uzu raspberry and matcha white chocolate versions. South Korea and Japan are also hotbeds of éclair innovation. A pastry chef in Seoul recently unveiled a hybrid between the éclair and the macaron: two elongated macaron shells filled with whipped cream, fresh fruit or chocolate.