Description
Delicious apricot cream cheese pastries that are perfect for brunch or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets (24 cm square) butter puff pastry, chilled
- 120 g (4.2 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 11/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons icing/powdered sugar
- 4 large apricots, cut in half
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons demerara sugar
- 2 tablespoons apricot jam
- 1 tablespoon sugar, for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Prepare: Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F. This should happen while you are getting everything else ready. You will know it is hot enough when you can feel a gentle warmth radiating from the oven.
- Roll Out Pastry Sheets: Grab your chilled butter puff pastry and lay it out on a lightly floured surface. Lightly rolling it will make it easier to work with. Be cautious not to overwork it, or it will lose its flakiness.
- Spread the Cream Cheese: Add a layer of cream cheese to the center of each pastry square. Ensure it is smooth and even with just enough to give a creamy bite.
- Add Apricot Filling: Spoon the apricot jam over the cream cheese layer. Ensure it feels sticky and slightly thick but avoid adding too much to prevent spillage during baking.
- Fold & Seal Edges: Gently fold each pastry over to create a pocket. Press the edges to seal them securely, ensuring that they look neat and tidy.
- Bake Until Golden Brown: Slide the pastries into your preheated oven and let them bake until they are a beautiful golden brown. You will notice a delightful buttery aroma wafting through the kitchen.
- Cool & Serve: Once they are out of the oven, let the pastries cool on a wire rack. This allows steam to escape and keeps the bottoms from getting soggy.
Notes
- Storage Tips: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Expert Tips: If the dough feels too soft while shaping, a quick chill in the fridge for about 10 minutes can help firm it up.
- When filling your pastries, make sure to press the edges firmly; this will help prevent any filling from spilling during baking.
- For optimal rising, verify that your oven has reached the right temperature before placing the pastries inside; cold dough aids in puffing.
- For a golden crust, a light brush of the beaten egg mixed with a little water on top can enhance the color as it bakes.
- For a sweeter touch, consider adding a sprinkle of sugar on top before baking; about 1 tablespoon should do the trick nicely.
- Reheating Instructions: Reheat in a 350 degrees F oven for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
- Serving Suggestions: Pair with afternoon tea or coffee. Serve warm, topped with ice cream for dessert. Ideal for brunch parties or potlucks.
- Recipe Variations: Add a sprinkle of nuts on top for crunch. Incorporate spices like cinnamon for warmth. Use a different fruit filling such as blueberries or peaches.
- Ingredient Notes: For the best results, keep the puff pastry cold. Consider substituting fresh apricots with sliced fresh peach or nectarine, and apricot jam with plum jam or another jam of your choice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 447
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 36mg