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Apple Almond Snail Pastries

almond meal flour plain egg white yolk icing sugar confectioner dessert apple applesauce snack pastry puff flaky

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.

All images © tinytearoom.com

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26 Comments

  1. Sukaina

    OOOOhh 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.’

  2. Cherine

    This is a fabulous treat!

  3. Sanjeeta kk

    Thanks for reaching out on Twitter, got to find this yumilicious space! The snail pastry look crisp and delicious.

  4. Angie@Angiesrecipes

    Tea time here and those would be just perfect for me.

  5. Soma

    Love 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!

  6. yummychunklet

    Ha! 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!

  7. Peggy

    Definitely no shame in using frozen puff pastry sheets!

    These pastries sound absolutely delicious!

  8. Lisa

    These are so delicate and delightful!!!!

  9. cityhippyfarmgirl

    sigh… 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.)

  10. Mika

    I 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…
    ^_^

  11. Mike

    These look delicious! As does your entire blog – great photos, clean design. Awesome!

  12. Vivienne

    hahhaa 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!

  13. Gale Reeves

    Beautiful blog. I look forward to following you in my google reader.

  14. Heidi – Apples Under My Bed

    Wow, the almond cream sounds yummy! I too love Jamie for his honesty and passion 🙂 huge fan!
    Heidi xo

  15. Kulsum at JourneyKitchen

    See 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!!

  16. Nami @ Just One Cookbook

    Oh.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!

  17. tigerfish

    I am only sure when I see these snail pastries, I would not be crawling like a snail to reach out to them 🙂

    Fabulous!

  18. Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets

    I’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 =)

  19. chocolatesuze

    yes definitely no shame in using store puff pastry! these look delicious amy and im super in love with your blog!

  20. Trisha

    I 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!

  21. Kankana

    I 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 😀

  22. Juliana

    So cute your pastries…love the almond and apple all together, would be great with a cup of tea…looks beautiful. Have a great week 🙂

  23. sweetlife

    I 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!!

  24. TasteHongKong

    Lovely shot, and you did give a good shape to the snails.

  25. Christie @ Fig & Cherry

    Just lovely, and your photos are so luscious!

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