Flaky Apricot Pastries Recipes

FRENCH APRICOT PASTRY RECIPE

Steps:

• The day before, make the pastry cream.
• In a medium sauce pan add the milk, sugar, and vanilla bean paste and pod. Bring to a simmer and the vanilla seeds rise to the top. Fish out the vanilla bean pod with tongs, and allow the milk mixture to cool slightly.
• In a large mixing bowl add egg yolks and cornstarch. Whisk together until a pale-yellow paste forms. Slowly add the milk mixture to the paste mixture, whisking until combined.
• Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a cleaned-out sauce pot. Heat mixture on medium high heat, whisking all the while until thickened. Soon after a pastry cream will begin to form. Whisk until it reaches pudding-like consistency. Whisk in butter.
• Transfer pastry cream to a shallow bowl and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or until completely cooled.
• Drain apricots of their syrup and place on a plate. Place 1 puff pastry square on a floured surface, rotating it to a diamond shape facing you. Spread 2 tablespoons of pastry cream in the center of the diamond. Spread out to about 3 inches long. Place apricots, cut side down at the edge of the pastry cream.
• Brush the perimeter of the pastry with egg wash. Then take the two-outer points of the diamond, at the sides and bring them towards the center, folding one over the other and brushing seal with the egg wash to affix it together. Brush the outer pastry area with egg wash as well.
• At this point, pastry cream should not be visible when you fold this up, only apricots should be visible.
• Gently place a floured metal spatula under the pastry and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Continue the process until 6 pastries are formed. Place the tray in the fridge, tented lightly with foil until ready to bake.
• To bake place pastries into a pre-heated 400F (200C) oven for 20-25 mins or until golden brown and puffed up. Allow to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile place the apricot jam in a sauce pan to melt the jam and liquefy. Brush the jam on the pastries and apricots to create a shiny surface. Transfer to a platter and serve immediately.

APRICOT PASTRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• For Apricots: Cook apricots in water till tender, then cool. Set aside. *Note: Apricots will soak up all of the 2 cups of water, there should be no water left. If apricots are still not tender when the water has been absorbed, add more water by the tablespoon full. Do not over water. *Note Apricots from a box may be tart, add small amount of sugar to sweeten. For best results use dried apricots found in the produce section usually in celophane bags.
• For Pastry Crust: Sift together flour, sugar and salt.
• Cut in shortening with pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Scald milk and let it cool till it is just warm.
• Add yeast to milk and let soften.
• Add egg and vanilla to milk mixture.
• Add milk mixture to the flour mixture.
• Mix well.
• Divide dough into four parts.
• Form each part of dough into a square.
• On a surface well dusted with the powdered sugar/flour mixture, roll one part of the dough at a time to make 4 ten inch squares.
• Cut each square into sixteen 2½-inch squares.
• Forming the Pastries: Place heaping teaspoons of apricots in center of each individual square.
• Pinch two opposite corners together.
• Place two inches apart on greased cookie sheet.
• Let stand ten minutes. *Note: Most yeast recipes require the dough to be left to rise. This 10 minutes to stand after forming the pastry is the only rising this recipe requires.
• Bake at 350° for ten to twelve minutes.
• Remove at once from pan to cool on rack.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

FLAKY PASTRY APRICOT TART

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200°C / 400°F / Gas 6. On a piece of baking paper lightly dusted with flour, roll out the puff pastry to a rectangle approximately 25 x 30cm, then lift the paper and pastry together onto a large baking tray.
• Using a sharp knife, cut horizontal strips 8cm long at 1.5cm intervals along two opposite sides of the dough (see photo).
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of sugar until smooth. Pour over the centre of the dough, being sure to stay within the strips.
• Halve, de-stone and finely slice the apricots, then toss together with 1 tablespoon of sugar (or vanilla sugar, if you have it). Allow to rest for a couple of minutes, then divide evenly over the cream cheese mixture.
• Fold the strips diagonally over the tart filling, starting with the left side, then the right and continuing to the end to create a braid. Tuck or trim any loose ends under the tart at the end. Fold the pastry up a little bit at each end to enclose the filling.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white with 1 tablespoon of sugar, then brush evenly over the tart. Sprinkle over the remaining tablespoon of sugar, then bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until puffed and golden brown. Allow to cool on the tray for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

EASY BAKED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place almonds on a baking sheet and bake in the preheating oven until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Place apricot wedges in an overlapping pattern in individual gratin dishes or a baking dish. Mix almonds and brown sugar and scatter over apricots.
• Bake in the preheated oven until apricots are bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

EASY APRICOT PASTRIES

Steps:

• Pat rolls out flat in a greased 9 x 13-inch dish.
• Spread with jam.
• Bake at 425ºF.
• for 15 minutes.
• While baking, mix sour cream, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
• Remove rolls and jam from oven.
• Reduce heat to 325ºF.
• Spread sour cream/egg mixture over jam.
• Bake 5 to 6 minutes longer.

FLAKY TART DOUGH FOR APRICOT TART

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse to combine. Add the butter and shortening, and pulse until the mixture forms little balls, and no chunks of butter or shortening remain, 5 to 10 times. Do not over process.
• Transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the ice water. Repeat 3 times more. Using your hands or a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until it just begins to come together as a dough. If necessary, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Divide the dough into 2 disks. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.