Custard Almond Pastries are a delightful treat that blends the crispiness of puff pastry with the richness of vanilla custard and the crunch of slivered almonds. These elegant pastries are perfect for a refined breakfast, brunch, or a special dessert. Their golden, flaky texture and creamy, almond-flavored filling make them irresistible!
Full Recipe:
Ingredients
For the Pastry:
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1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
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1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
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¼ cup sliced almonds
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2 tablespoons coarse sugar
For the Vanilla Custard Filling:
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2 cups whole milk
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½ cup granulated sugar
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¼ cup cornstarch
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4 large egg yolks
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1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Directions
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Make the custard: In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens (about 7–8 minutes). Remove from heat, then stir in butter and vanilla extract. Transfer the custard to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface, and refrigerate until fully cooled.
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Prepare the pastry: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the puff pastry slightly and cut it into 6 equal rectangles. Place a spoonful of chilled custard on one half of each rectangle, leaving the edges clean. Fold the pastry over to form a pocket and seal the edges with a fork.
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Brush and top: Brush the tops of the pastries with the beaten egg wash. Sprinkle with sliced almonds and coarse sugar.
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Bake: Arrange the pastries on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 18–22 minutes or until golden and puffed.
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Serve: Let the pastries cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the flaky, creamy goodness!
Nutrients
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Calories: 320 kcal per pastry
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Sugar: 18g
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Sodium: 95mg
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Fat: 19g
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Saturated Fat: 9g
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Unsaturated Fat: 8g
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Carbohydrates: 32g
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Fiber: 1g
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Protein: 5g
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Cholesterol: 115mg
Why Custard Almond Pastries Are So Irresistible
The charm of Custard Almond Pastries lies in the interplay of textures and flavors. The puff pastry is light, crisp, and flaky, offering a satisfying crunch with each bite. The vanilla custard filling is rich and creamy, offering a smooth and velvety contrast to the crisp pastry. The addition of sliced almonds on top adds a delightful crunch, while the coarse sugar provides a subtle sweetness that balances the richness of the custard. This combination of flaky, creamy, and crunchy textures makes these pastries utterly irresistible.
What makes this recipe even more appealing is the fact that it’s relatively simple to prepare. With store-bought puff pastry and a straightforward custard filling, you can create a gourmet pastry that tastes like it’s from a high-end bakery. These pastries are perfect for impressing guests, yet they’re easy enough to make for a cozy breakfast or treat at home.
The Puff Pastry: Light and Flaky
The puff pastry is a key element of this treat. Its layers puff up beautifully as it bakes, creating a light, airy texture that contrasts perfectly with the creamy custard inside. Puff pastry is known for its ability to become golden brown and crispy, and when combined with the custard filling, it forms a delicious outer shell that provides both a satisfying crunch and a delicate melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Using store-bought puff pastry saves time while still achieving that perfect flaky texture. It’s important to let the pastry thaw before working with it so that it becomes pliable. Rolling it slightly helps ensure that it’s the right thickness for folding and that each pastry has an even, consistent texture when baked.
The Vanilla Custard: Rich and Creamy
The custard filling in these pastries is made from a simple combination of whole milk, sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla extract. The milk creates a smooth base, while the sugar sweetens the custard, and the egg yolks provide a rich, creamy texture. The cornstarch helps thicken the mixture, giving the custard its characteristic silky consistency.
The key to perfect custard is constant stirring during the cooking process. As the mixture thickens over medium heat, it should remain smooth and free of lumps. The result is a thick, smooth, and rich custard that pairs wonderfully with the crispy pastry. The butter adds a luxurious richness, and the vanilla extract imparts a warm, aromatic flavor that makes the custard even more indulgent.
Once the custard is cooked, it should be transferred to a bowl, covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerated to cool. This helps it firm up slightly, making it easier to spoon into the pastry pockets.
Assembling the Pastries: Simple and Elegant
Assembling these pastries is simple and requires only a few steps. After rolling out the puff pastry and cutting it into rectangles, a spoonful of chilled custard is placed on one half of each rectangle. The pastry is then folded over the custard to form a pocket, which is sealed with the tines of a fork. This method ensures that the custard stays neatly inside while the pastry bakes.
Brushing the tops of the pastries with a beaten egg wash gives them a golden, shiny finish when they bake. The slivered almonds are sprinkled on top for added texture and a nutty flavor, while the coarse sugar provides a delicate sweetness and a crunchy texture that enhances the overall experience.
Baking: Golden and Flaky Perfection
Baking the Custard Almond Pastries at 400°F (200°C) ensures that the puff pastry puffs up and becomes golden brown and crispy. The heat also helps the custard inside the pastry to set, creating a rich, creamy filling that pairs perfectly with the flaky outer crust. The pastries should bake for 18-22 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden.
For an extra touch of color and texture, you can broil the pastries for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking to achieve a slightly browned, crisp finish on top. However, this is optional and should be done carefully to avoid burning the pastry.
Glaze: The Sweet Finish
While the pastries are cooling, a simple glaze is prepared by mixing powdered sugar, almond emulsion (or almond extract), and a small amount of water or milk. The glaze should be smooth and drizzly, making it easy to drizzle over the top of the pastries. Once the pastries have cooled slightly, drizzle the glaze over them for a sweet finish. The glaze adds a glossy sheen and a touch of sweetness that complements the rich almond flavor of the pastries.
Serving and Enjoying
Once the pastries are glazed and cooled slightly, they’re ready to be served. They make a wonderful breakfast or brunch option, especially when paired with a hot cup of coffee or tea. The combination of flaky pastry, creamy custard, and crunchy almonds is a treat that everyone will enjoy.
Custard Almond Pastries also make a great dessert for special occasions, such as holiday gatherings or dinner parties. They’re elegant, flavorful, and sure to impress guests with their delicate texture and sweet, creamy filling.
Nutritional Breakdown
Each Custard Almond Pastry contains approximately 320 calories, which makes it a moderately rich treat that’s perfect for special occasions. The pastries have 19g of fat, with 9g coming from saturated fat, which is primarily from the butter and the egg yolk in the custard. The sugar content is 18g, which provides the sweet flavor that balances the richness of the custard and the puff pastry. The pastries also offer 32g of carbohydrates, with 1g of fiber, and 5g of protein.
While the calorie and fat content might seem a bit high, it’s important to remember that these pastries are meant as an indulgent treat rather than a regular snack. The rich almond flavor, the buttery pastry, and the creamy custard make them a perfect dessert to enjoy in moderation.
Conclusion: A Deliciously Elegant Treat
In conclusion, Custard Almond Pastries are the perfect combination of flaky, buttery pastry and rich, creamy custard, enhanced by the crunch of slivered almonds. These pastries are not only delicious but also relatively simple to make, thanks to the use of store-bought puff pastry and a straightforward custard filling. Whether you’re looking for a special breakfast, brunch, or dessert, these pastries are sure to satisfy. Their golden, flaky texture and sweet almond flavor make them an irresistible treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
