French Apricot Pastry 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.

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.

APRICOT PASTRY

Steps:

• For the dough:.
• Sift flour, baking powder and sugar into bowl.
• Add lemon rind and butter.
• Work butter into flour mixture as for pie crust.
• Add egg yolks and enough sour cream so that when it's mixed it resembles soft pie dough.
• Gather into ball and divide into 4 parts.
• Put one part to the side.
• Pat remaining dough into an ungreased 11 x 17 x 1 inch jelly roll pan.
• Bake in 350 degree F. oven for 12 minutes to set the dough.
• Remove from oven and spread with Apricot Filling.
• For the filling:.
• Place apricots in saucepan and pour enough water to cover apricots by an inch.
• Cook over medium heat until apricots are soft and liquid has been reduced, stirring occasionally so they don't stick to pan.
• Mash apricots with a fork or an immersion blender to a somewhat smooth puree.
• Add sugar to desired sweetness.
• Filling must be thick and not runny.
• Finish assembling:.
• Roll remainder of dough to 1/8" thickness and cut into 1/2" strips with pie jagger or knife.
• Arrange diagonally in lattice fashion over apricots, or you can roll pieces of dough into 1/4" diameter and arrange as above.
• Bake in 350 degree F. oven for approximately 30 minutes or until lightly browned around edges.
• Before serving sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar and cut into small squares or diamond shaped pieces.
• NOTE: I like to trim the edges of the pastry before cutting into serving pieces. It looks better, and the trimmings are delicious with coffee as the baker's reward for the work!

APRICOT TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat, and set aside on a floured surface. Roll dough out to a 14-inch circle, and place on paper.
• In a medium bowl, toss apricots together with sugar, cornstarch, salt, lemon juice, and zest. Place apricot mixture on the center of the dough. Spread out, leaving a 2-inch border of dough; turn ends of apricots upward. Fold the dough up and over the apricots, making a crease or fold every 4 to 5 inches to enclose fruit and prevent juices from seeping out.
• Brush dough thoroughly with heavy cream; sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 minutes, and lower oven temperature to 375 degrees, rotating baking sheet 45 degrees. Continue to bake until tart is evenly browned and apricots are bubbling, about 25 minutes more.
• Transfer tart from baking sheet to a cooling rack, and cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

VERLET'S APRICOT TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23cm) fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Set aside.
• Make the pastry:
• In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and the sugar, and using a wooden spoon, stir to blend. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to form a soft, cookie-like dough. Transfer the dough to the center of the buttered pan. Using the tips of your fingers, evenly press the pastry along the bottom and up the sides of the pan. The pastry will be quite thin.
• Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake unitl the dough is slightly puffy and set, 12 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle the ground almonds over the bottom of the crust. (This will prevent the crust from becoming soggy.)
• Meanwhile make the filling:
• In a medium-size bowl, combine the crème fraîche, egg, extracts and honey and whisk to blend. Whisk in the flour.
• Pour the filling evenly over the pastry. Starting just inside the edge of the pan, neatly overlap the halved apricots, cut side up, at an angle. Arrange in two or three concentric circles, working toward the center. Fill in the center with the remaining apricots.
• Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake until the filling is firm and the pastry is a deep golden brown, 55 to 60 minutes. The apricots will shrivel slightly. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Place the tart on a rack to cool. Sprinkle again with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

FRENCH LEMON-APRICOT TART

Steps:

• Place the flour, confectioners' sugar, butter and salt in a food processor. Cover and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk, processing just until mixture forms a soft dough. Shape into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. , Press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Bake at 400° until golden brown, 10-12 min. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325°., In a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, whisk the eggs, lemon juice, sugar and lemon zest until blended. Add butter; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Pour into crust. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack. , Spread preserves over tart. Garnish with mint if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.