What begins as éclair paste?

Éclair paste, also known as choux pastry, is a versatile dough that is used to make various pastries, including éclairs and cream puffs. The process of making éclair paste involves cooking flour, water, butter, and eggs to create a dough that can be piped into shapes and will rise in the oven, allowing it to develop a hollow center suitable for filling.

When you choose to pipe the dough onto parchment lined baking sheets, you are utilizing the characteristic feature of choux pastry, which is its ability to hold its shape while expanding and rising during baking. This step is crucial for creating the light, airy texture that makes éclairs and similar pastries appealing.

This option highlights the practical application of making éclair paste, showing how it transforms into a finished product through the process of piping. The other choices do not accurately represent the process or product associated with éclair paste.