Apple Almond Snail Pastries
There are few things that I can say that I hate passionately. One of these is wasting food. It causes me deep dispair when I spend hours in the kitchen nurturing a pot of gold and it turns out to be a dud. My partner and I try our best to eat it or I try and salvage it somehow.
One of these unforgettable times was when I attempted to make puff pastry. It was one of the most excruciating experiences. Somehow, somewhere in amongst the rolling, folding and refrigerating, I mucked up the recipe and it turned out a mess. The entire dough saw the bottom of the bin. I had lost an entire day of the weekend.
Since this fiasco I haven’t gone anywhere near a puff pastry recipe. That is until I was watching an episode of Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals. He was putting together a dessert and rolled out store-bought puff pastry. “Quite frankly I couldn’t be bothered making my own puff pastry. If you’ve got time to make puff pastry, you need to get yourself a job.” I love this man for his passion and honesty. He had relieved me of the shame. I went out to the grocery store and bought some all-butter puff pastry sheets and made this delicious Apple Almond Snail Pastry that I had my eye on for a while. It turned out very well. Although I think I was a bit heavy handed in my rolling. The snail aspect of the pastry didn’t really turn out. The kitchen smelled of sweet apples and pastry. It was a happy day.
Apple Almond Snail Pastries
Recipe adapted from Baking: Essential Companion
Makes 12 small pastries
Puff Pastry
2 sheets of good quality, all butter, puff pastry
50g unsalted butter, melted
50g icing sugar
Almond Cream
75g unsalted butter
90g caster sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon custard powder
100g almond meal
Apple Filling
100g unsalted butter, diced
4 green apples, peeled, cored and diced
100g caster sugar
1 egg whisked with 1 tablespoon milk
1/ Layout the pastry sheets on a floured work surface. Brush the entire surface with melted butter and dust evenly with the icing sugar. Roll up the pastry firmly into a log. Wrap in cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2/ In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on high speed for 5 minutes until pale and creamy. Add the egg and beat well. Add the custard powder and almond meal and mix on low speed until combined.
3/ Heat a large frying pan, add the diced butter and apple, and cook over a high heat until the apple starts to colour. Add the caster sugar and continue to cook until caramelised. Transfer apples to a heatproof dish and set aside to cool.
4/ Preheat oven to 180°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Using a knife, cut the pastry log into half-inch slices. Place each spiral cut side up a lightly floured work surface and roll out to an oval shape. Place 1 teaspoon of almond cream in the centre and 2 teaspoons of apple mixture on top. Brush the edges of the pastry with egg wash and fold one side over to form a semicircle, then press edges together firmly to seal. Brush with egg wash and place on prepared baking trays.
5/ Bake the pastries for 20 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then dust with icing sugar to serve.
These are best eaten on the day they are made. They become very soft after 24 hours.
26 Comments
Sukaina
April 14th at 9:02 pmOOOOhh that almond cream sounds quite yummy. I wish I could see a shot of the inside of that delectable pastry. And Jamei would never say bothered. He’s say ‘boverred.’
Cherine
April 14th at 9:04 pmThis is a fabulous treat!
Sanjeeta kk
April 14th at 10:39 pmThanks for reaching out on Twitter, got to find this yumilicious space! The snail pastry look crisp and delicious.
Angie@Angiesrecipes
April 14th at 10:44 pmTea time here and those would be just perfect for me.
Soma
April 14th at 10:54 pmLove the sound of the almond cream. The puff pastries are a gift for not so good bakers like me, and as much as I hate wasting food, I hate disasters too:) but one learns from each one of them. Saying that these are the cutest and delicious little snails. I really like the way we can get a peek inside too!
yummychunklet
April 15th at 2:20 amHa! I agree! The frozen puff pastry sheets from the store work wonders! I’d rather spend more time on the filling itself and eating the end product! These pastries look great!
Peggy
April 15th at 8:25 amDefinitely no shame in using frozen puff pastry sheets!
These pastries sound absolutely delicious!
Lisa
April 15th at 9:01 amThese are so delicate and delightful!!!!
cityhippyfarmgirl
April 15th at 1:29 pmsigh… there is nothing worse than spending hours and hours on something for it not to turn out how you had planned. I quite often have high hopes that are dashed by being distracted at the crucial moment.
These how ever look decidedly perfect. Beautiful….(and if you don’t mind can I steal your retro green cup and saucer, I’m starting a collection and it would go just nicely.)
Mika
April 16th at 4:20 amI tried to make puff pastry million of times…I lost so many days! I can make it but just with special puff pastry butter or margarine…when I use the “normal” butter I make just disasters…grrr… ^_^
Ok, they don’t seems snails, but I’m sure they are delicious…I love cooked apples…
^_^
Mike
April 16th at 5:40 amThese look delicious! As does your entire blog – great photos, clean design. Awesome!
Vivienne
April 16th at 9:46 pmhahhaa i LOVE that quote from Jamie O! 🙂 Funny thing is I have contemplated about making my own puff before as well but never quite had the time. All butter puff from the supermarket is good enough for sure 🙂
enjoying reading thru your space here! what a lovely blog!
Gale Reeves
April 17th at 1:33 pmBeautiful blog. I look forward to following you in my google reader.
Heidi – Apples Under My Bed
April 17th at 3:21 pmWow, the almond cream sounds yummy! I too love Jamie for his honesty and passion 🙂 huge fan!
Heidi xo
Kulsum at JourneyKitchen
April 17th at 4:05 pmSee as much I like DIY thing but I must say I’m a big fan of frozen puff pastry (and peas). It a staple in my house. I love the combination of apple with any kind of nuts and almond cream? I’m game!!
Nami @ Just One Cookbook
April 17th at 4:40 pmOh.my. goodness! Thank you so much for finding me first. I am so happy to find your website. Beautiful pictures, great writing, and it’s so relaxing to come to your site. I just want to have a cup of tea and virtually eat your sweets… Wait, is that why your site is called Tea Room? What a perfect name. I’m already in love with your site! I only wish I know how to bake…but I’m crazy about all kinds of sweets!
tigerfish
April 18th at 5:48 amI am only sure when I see these snail pastries, I would not be crawling like a snail to reach out to them 🙂
Fabulous!
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets
April 18th at 7:58 amI’m repeating myself from Twitter but gorgeous shot! It looks so light and airy, I just want to pop one in my mouth right now =)
chocolatesuze
April 18th at 9:38 pmyes definitely no shame in using store puff pastry! these look delicious amy and im super in love with your blog!
Trisha
April 18th at 10:47 pmI shamelessly use puff pastry and store bought meringue and store bought cannoli because sometimes, I really couldn’t be bothered making my own. BUT, your photos look stunning and an apple-smelling kitchen is always ALWAYS a good sign!
Kankana
April 19th at 10:45 amI love puffs and pastries but I could never successfully make the dough.. always a failure 🙁 Then i found these packages dough and then life became so easy 😀
Juliana
April 19th at 12:57 pmSo cute your pastries…love the almond and apple all together, would be great with a cup of tea…looks beautiful. Have a great week 🙂
sweetlife
April 20th at 4:18 amI love Jamie, very true..I cannot imagine making homemade puff pastry..lovely treats I would love to make almomd cream!!
thanks for stopping by…here a couple of suggestions
Rick Bayless ~ Authentic Mexican
Diana Kennedy ~ The Essential Cusines of Mexico
Enjoy!!
TasteHongKong
April 20th at 3:24 pmLovely shot, and you did give a good shape to the snails.
Christie @ Fig & Cherry
April 20th at 6:39 pmJust lovely, and your photos are so luscious!
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