A few years back Shaunie tried out a dessert recipe (or, if you are one of my kids, bdessert) that she found in a cooking magazine. It's called Éclair Torte and, as you can see in this photo, it is incredible.
Every time we're invited to a dessert party we bring this and the reaction is always very positive. It's become my favorite dessert and I request it every year for birthday rather than have a cake or a pie (yes, birthday pie, it's an incredible thing!).
Mmmmmmmm, don't you want to eat your computer screen right now? In case you want to try it sometime, here's the recipe:
Éclair Torte Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup water, ½ cup butter (or margarine), ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 cup flour, 4 eggs, 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, 2 3.4oz pkgs vanilla pudding, 3 cups milk, chocolate syrup, 1 container cool whip.
Bring 1 cup water, ½ cup butter, and ¼ tsp. salt to a boil in a saucepan (you can substitute margarine if desired). Add 1 cup flour, stir until smooth. Add 4 eggs, on at a time, beat well after each addition. Spread into greased 13x9 pan bake @ 400º for 30-35 min. until puffed & golden brown. Cool puff completely. In a mixing bowl mix 2 pkgs (3.4 oz. each) of vanilla pudding and 3 cups cold milk until smooth. In a separate bowl, beat 1 8oz. pkg. of cream cheese until very smooth. Slowly add the pudding to the cream cheese while stirring. Spread over puff. Refrigerate for 20 min. Spread cool whip on top. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.