Almondpuffs Recipes

ALMOND PASTRY PUFFS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour and salt; cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 2 tablespoons cold water; stir with a fork until blended. Shape dough into a ball; divide in half. Place dough 3 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet; pat each into a 12x3-in. rectangle., In a large saucepan, bring remaining butter and water to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in extract and remaining flour until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. , Spread over rectangles. Bake at 400° until topping is lightly browned, 18-20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to wire racks., For frosting, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, water and extract; beat until smooth. Spread over pastries; sprinkle with almonds.

ALMOND PUFF LOAF

Steps:

• FIRST LAYER: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the butter, flour, and salt (if you're using it), working the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or fork, your fingers, or a mixer.
• Mix until everything is crumbly, then stir in the water. The dough will become cohesive, though not smooth.
• Divide the dough in half; if you're using a scale, each half will weigh about 4 5/8 ounces.
• Wet your hands, and shape each piece of this wet dough into a rough log.
• Grease a baking sheet or sheets that'll allow you to stretch and pat the logs into 11 x 3-inch rectangles on the sheet, leaving at least 4 inches (but preferably 6 inches) between them, and 2 inches on each side. These puff up in the oven (hence the name), and you need to leave them room for expansion.
• SECOND LAYER: In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the water and butter to a boil.
• Stir until the butter melts, then add the flour (and salt, if you're using it) all at once.
• Stir the mixture with a spoon till it thickens, begins to steam, and leaves the sides of the pan; this will happen very quickly.
• Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl, or the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat it at medium speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute, just to cool it down a bit.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat until the dough loses its "slimy" look, and each egg is totally absorbed.
• Mix in the almond extract.
• Divide the batter in half.
• Spread half the batter over one of the dough strips on the pan, covering it completely.
• Repeat with the remaining batter and dough.
• With a spatula (or your wet fingers) spread the batter until it completely covers the entire bottom layer of dough. Smooth it out as best you can.
• Bake the pastry in a preheated 350°F oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until it's a deep golden brown.
• Remove it from the oven, and transfer each pastry to a wire rack (a giant spatula works well here).
• TOPPING: Spread each warm pastry with about 1/3 cup of jam or preserves. (Any flavor is fine, but our favorites are raspberry and apricot.)
• Sprinkle the toasted almonds atop the jam. By this time, your beautifully puffed pastries are probably starting to sink; don't worry, this is all part of the plan.
• ICING: Stir together the sugar, vanilla, and enough milk or water to form a thick but "drizzlable" icing. Drizzle the icing atop the pastries.
• Cut into squares or strips to serve.

ALMOND DANISH PUFF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Cut 1/2 cup softened butter into 1 cup flour, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until particles are size of coarse crumbs.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons water over mixture; mix with fork.
• Gather pastry into ball; divide in half.
• Pat each half into rectangle, 12x3 inches, about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Heat remaining 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to rolling boil in 2-quart saucepan; remove from heat.
• Quickly stir in almond extract and 1 cup flour.
• Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat.
• Add eggs; beat until smooth. Spread half of the topping over each rectangle.
• Bake about 1 hour or until topping is crisp and brown; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.
• Spread with Creamy Almond Glaze; sprinkle with almonds.
• Creamy Almond Glaze:
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2-3 tbsp butter, softened; 1/2 to 1 tsp almond extract; 1-2 tbsp warm water or milk.
• Mix all ingredients until smooth and spreadable and glaze the Danish puff.

DANISH PUFF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place 1 cup flour in medium bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup softened butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons water over mixture; toss with fork.
• Gather pastry into a ball; divide in half. Pat each half into 12x3-inch rectangle, about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to rolling boil; remove from heat. Quickly stir in almond extract and 1 cup flour. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Spread half of the topping over each rectangle.
• Bake about 1 hour or until topping is crisp and brown; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely.
• In medium bowl, mix all glaze ingredients except nuts until smooth and spreadable. Spread over top of pastry; sprinkle with nuts.

SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND PUFF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Place 1 cup flour in large bowl; cut in 1/2 cup butter with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 2 tablespoons water with fork until flour mixture is just moistened. Shape dough into a ball. Pat dough into 10-inch circle on ungreased baking sheet. Set aside.
• Combine 1 cup water and 1/2 cup butter in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil and butter is melted (6 to 8 minutes). Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup flour and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture forms a ball (about 1 minute). Remove from heat.
• Add 1 egg at a time, beating with wire whisk or wooden spoon after each addition until smooth and glossy.
• Spread egg mixture over pastry circle. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until surface is crisp and golden. Cool completely. (Topping rises during baking and shrinks during cooling, forming custard-like layer.).
• Combine powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon butter and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract in small bowl until well mixed. Add enough milk for desired glazing consistency.
• Drizzle glaze over puff; sprinkle with almonds.
• Recipe Tip
• Wrap coffee cake puff in plastic food wrap or aluminum foil; refrigerate up to 2 days.
• VARIATIONS:
• Lemon Pecan Puff: Omit almond extract in topping. Substitute 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon peel. Omit almond extract and milk in glaze. Substitute 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Omit sliced almonds. Sprinkle puff with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
• Maple Pecan Puff: Omit almond extract in topping. Substitute 1 teaspoon maple extract. Omit almond extract in glaze. Substitute 1 teaspoon maple extract. Omit sliced almonds. Sprinkle puff with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.