Blueberry Pastry Recipes

BLUEBERRY STRUDELS

Steps:

• In a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, bring the blueberries, 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch and a pinch of salt to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a sheet pan.
• Cover the phyllo sheets with a piece of plastic wrap and a damp paper towel.
• Arrange 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface with the short side nearest you (keep the remaining sheets covered) and brush with some butter. Top with 2 more phyllo sheets, brushing each sheet with butter. Place a heaping 1/4 cup blueberry mixture over the lower third of the buttered phyllo, leaving a 2-inch border along the bottom and sides. Fold the bottom edge of the phyllo up over the blueberry mixture and fold in the sides to enclose the filling completely. Roll up the phyllo to form a strudel, about 4 by 2 inches. Transfer, seam-side down, to the prepared sheet pan. Brush the top with some butter and sprinkle with sugar. Using a paring knife, cut 2 vents across the top of the strudel. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Bake until golden brown and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

BLUEBERRY PUFF PASTRY PIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425F. In a small bowl, stir together the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. On a lightly floured surface, roll the puff pastry (it should still be cold) into a 10-inch square. Cut into four quarters and place each piece on a parchment-lined sheet.
• Divide the blueberry mixture between the pastry, dot each with a bit of butter, and fold the edges of the pastry about 1/2-inch over on all sides to contain the berries. Brush the pastry with some beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. Serve warm, with whipped cream sweetened with maple syrup.

BLUEBERRY HAND PIES

Steps:

• For the filling: Combine the blueberries and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook, stirring, until the sugar is melted and the berries have started to burst, a few minutes. Stir together the cornstarch and lemon juice in a small bowl until combined, then add to the blueberry mixture. Add the lemon zest and vanilla and continue to cook until glossy and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the pastry: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• To make the pies, unfold the thawed pastry and roll out to 10-inch squares if necessary. Cut each square in quarters, making four 5-inch squares from each. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons of cooled filling onto one corner of each square. Brush around the squares with the egg wash. Fold the pasty over the filling on each to make a triangle, pressing lightly to remove any air pockets. Crimp the edges shut with a fork. Put the pies on the prepared baking sheets. Brush the tops of the pies with the egg wash. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.
• For the glaze: Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and 1/3 cup cold water in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the pies and let set until dry.

QUICK AND EASY BLUEBERRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare a sheet pan with a Silpat or parchment paper.
• Lay out the puff pastry on the Silpat and even out any creases that may be left from it being folded in the freezer.
• Using a fork, poke lots of holes in the center of the puff pastry. Leave the outer 1 inch all the way around alone and don't poke it!!! This will allow the air to release when you pull it out of oven. It will still puff up but once you press on it gently, the air will come out of the holes and settle back down.
• Using a knife, score about one inch all the way around the puff pastry. Don't go all the way through the puff pastry to the sheet pan. You are looking for it to score so there is a separation from the center and the edge. It will create a higher edge (remember you didn't poke holes with the fork there!!)
• Whisk together the egg and milk and brush on the 1 inch outer border.
• Place puff pastry in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Turn the sheet pan at the 10 minute mark to make sure all sides are cooking evenly. I took mine out at 15 minutes total.
• Allow to cool. While cooling, stir the cream cheese, vanilla and sugar together.
• Spoon the cream cheese mixture into the center of the puff pastry (where you had the fork marks) and spread it out.
• Sprinkle blueberries over the cream cheese mixture. Using a sifter, place the powdered sugar inside and sprinkle on top blueberries.
• Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2-3 hours at most or the puff pastry gets soft.

BLUEBERRY TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine 1/2 cup blueberries, sugar, cornstarch and lemon zest. Mash well with a fork. Bring to a boil over low heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in butter and remaining blueberries., Unfold puff pastry. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each pastry sheet into a 12-in. square. Cut each into four squares. Spoon 3 tablespoons of filling into the center of each square; fold diagonally in half and press edges to seal. , Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Beat egg and water; brush over pastry. , Bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Combine confectioners' sugar and milk; drizzle over turnovers. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BLUEBERRY CHEESE DANISH PASTRIES

Steps:

• Make the Danish pastry:
• In a large bowl proof the yeast with 1/4 cup warm water for 5 minutes, or until it is foamy, and stir in the sugar, the salt, the yolks, the vanilla, and the milk. Add 3 1/4 cups of the flour, stirring until the dough is combined well (it will be soft and slightly sticky), and chill the dough, covered, for 1 hour. On a cool surface (preferably marble) beat the butter with a rolling pin until it is smooth but still cold, add the remaining 1/2 cup flour, and blend the mixture quickly until it is smooth. Working quickly, form the butter mixture into a 6-inch square and chill it, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 15 to 30 minutes, or until it is firmer but still malleable. On a well-floured surface roll the dough into a 12-inch square, lay the butter diagonally in the center of the square, and fold the corners of the dough tightly over the butter like an envelope, enclosing the butter completely. Brush off any excess flour and pinch the edges of the dough together to seal them. With the rolling pin flatten the dough gently with uniform impressions and roll it from the center away from you to within 1/2 inch of the end. Turn the strip 180° and roll the dough again from the center away from you to within 1/2 inch of the end. Continue to roll the dough in this manner until it forms an 18-by 8-inch rectangle. (It is important not to roll over the ends in this first rolling to help the later formation of even layers of butter and dough.) Brush off any excess flour from the dough, fold the top quarter of the rectangle down to the center of the strip, and fold the bottom quarter of the rectangle up to the center, leaving about 1/2 inch between the 2 ends. Fold the top half of the dough over the bottom to close the dough like a book. Turn the dough 90° so a short side faces you, roll it again into an 18- by 8-inch rectangle, and fold it in the same manner. This completes 2 "turns." Chill the dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 1 hour. Make 2 more turns in the same manner, always beginning with a short side facing you and chilling the dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 1 hour between each turn. Chill the dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Make the filling:
• In a bowl beat together the cream cheese, the sugar, the yolk, the vanilla, the salt, the zests, and the flour until the mixture is smooth and chill the filling, covered, for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
• Roll half the dough into a 16- by 8-inch rectangle, trim the edges evenly, and cut the rectangle into eight 4-inch squares. Stretch 2 opposite corners of each square slightly to lengthen the dough and form flaps that will enclose the filling. Roll out, cut, and stretch the remaining dough in the same manner. Spoon 1 tablespoon of filling onto the center of each square of dough, sprinkle about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the blueberries over it, and brush the flaps with some of the egg wash. Fold 1 of the flaps across the berries, fold the other flap across the berries in the opposite direction, overlapping the first flap, and tuck the second flap under the Danish. Brush the Danish pastries with the egg wash, arrange them about 3 inches apart on lightly buttered baking sheets, and let them stand for 1 hour. Bake the Danish pastries in the middle of a preheated 350°F.
• oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden.
• Make the glaze while the Danish pastries are baking:
• In a bowl whisk together the confectioners' sugar, sifted, and enough of the lemon juice to make a thick but pourable glaze.
• Transfer the Danish pastries to a rack and drizzle some of the glaze over each pastry. The Danish pastries may be cooled to room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap and foil, and frozen for 1 month. Transfer the Danish pastries to a baking sheet and bake them in the middle of a preheated 400°F. oven for 5 minutes, or until they are heated through.

GERMAN BLUEBERRY CAKE - BLUEBERRY KUCHEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Wash the blueberries in a colander under running water. Place them in a saucepan and add sugar and lemon juice and zest. Bring the blueberries to a boil slowly while stirring continuously with a spoon. Stir from the sides towards the center to avoid burning. Let the berries boil for about 3 minutes, but not longer. We want them whole. Dissolve pudding powder or cornstarch and vanilla with 5 tablespoons of cold water and add to the berries. Stir with your spoon until the color becomes red. Let bubble up once. Pour the berry mixture in a bowl and wait a bit until it has cooled down. Then pour it into your baking pan on top of the pastry. Make sure you pour the filling evenly so that the mixture fills all the way to the edges of the pastry.
• Use a flour sifter and sift the flour with the baking powder together into a bowl. Add the sugar, vanilla sugar, and salt. Mix everything well. Make a hole in the center of the flour and add the egg. Cut the butter into cubes and spread on top. With your hands or using a hand mixer with the kneading hooks, knead all the ingredients together until you have a smooth dough. The dough is ready when it is no longer sticky.
• Line the springform with parchment paper. Use a bit more than the half of the Pastry dough to spread it on the bottom of the springform by hand, press some up the sides. Divide the rest of the dough in two. This is for the outer crust. Form two rolls and place them around the inside of the springform pan. Using your fingers, press the rolls against the sides of the springform (about 2 inches high) and connect it to the bottom part of the dough. Make sure all the dough is sealed at the edges. Use a fork to make a few small holes in the dough. Pour filling on top.
• Add flour, sugar, vanilla sugar and butter in a bowl and knead with the dough hooks of your handheld mixer. When combined, rub the dough between your hands. The crumbles should fall back into the bowl. Make sure that all the butter is worked well into the crumbs. If your crumbles are too dry, add a little more butter. If the crumbles are too moist, add some flour. Spread the crumbles evenly on top of your cake.
• Preheat your oven to 182°C (360°F) and place the cake on the middle rack. Bake for about 40-45 minutes. I always move any cake with a crumble topping one rack up for the last five minutes to give the crumbles a deeper golden color. Let the cake cool down in the spring-form pan, before you take it out. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top. Carefully move the cake with the help of a cake lifter onto the serving plate. Serve with whipped cream.