Stacked Puff Pastry With Cherries Recipes

STACKED PUFF PASTRY WITH CHERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut 4 "walls" of puff pastry by cutting approximately 1-inch wide strips along each side of a sheet of puff pastry. Set "walls" aside. Poke the remaining "floor" of puff pastry with a fork to provide an escape for steam.
• Lightly apply the egg wash just inside the cut edges of the "floor". Stack "wall" pieces on top of "floor" piece placing the cut edge of the "walls" on the outside edge. Dab ends of "walls" with egg wash and fold long pieces over to form a square.
• Cut a 7 by 7-inch square out of the second sheet of puff pastry. Fold it in half and cut vents for steam along the fold.
• Shake bread or cake crumbs on drained cherries and let sit for 10 minutes. Spoon cherry mixture onto pastry "floor", using more than you may think necessary to compensate for the pastry puffing. Apply egg wash on "walls" avoiding the very edge.
• Lay vented "top" piece on top. Brush with egg wash.
• Bake in oven for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for another 30 minutes.

PUFF PASTRY STACKS

Steps:

• Thaw pastry sheets at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400º F.
• Unfold 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface.
• Cut 4 stars (or any shape appropriate for the occasion)of each size.
• Use 3 star cookie cutters in graduated sizes (2-inch, 2½-inch, and 3-inch cookie cutters or Cardboard patterns).
• Repeat with remaining pastry sheet.
• Place stars on baking sheets.
• Bake 10 minutes or until golden.
• Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire rack.
• To assemble trees:.
• Top large star pastry with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd.
• Top with medium star pastry, turning star so points do not line up.
• Top with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd and place small star pastry on top, turning so points do not line up.
• Repeat with remaining star pastries, making 8 trees.
• Drizzle trees with honey.
• Sprinkle with green sugar (or color of your choice) and top each with a raspberry or cherry half.
• NOTE: Obviously there are many variations of this, fitting many occasions. Change the jelly; pudding for lemon curd; etc.