Caramel Éclairs

Choux Pastry

• 5 oz water
• 2 ½ oz unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 tsp sugar
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 4 oz all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs

Caramel Sauce

• 9 oz sugar
• 7 oz heavy whipping cream, divided
• 36 oz water, divided
• 1 oz unsalted butter, cold, in 1 cube (approx. 1 in. x 1 in.)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• ½ oz unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 tbsp vinegar

Pastry Cream

• 1 vanilla bean pod
  ή 1 ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
• 17 ½ oz whole milk
• 3 large eggs
• 3 ½ oz sugar
• 1 ½ oz corn starch