Indulge in the delectable delight of jam-filled croustades, a classic French pastry that combines flaky, golden crusts with a variety of sweet and tangy fillings. These individual pastries are perfect for any occasion, whether it's a casual brunch, an elegant tea party, or a festive holiday gathering. This recipe collection offers a range of mouthwatering variations, from the classic strawberry jam croustades to unique and creative flavor combinations like blueberry lemon, peach ginger, and spiced apple. With detailed instructions and helpful tips, you'll be able to impress your guests with these homemade pastries that are sure to become a favorite.
Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!
FIG AND RASPBERRY CROUSTADES
Sweet croustades make delicious, elegant desserts; see how easy it is to make your own with this recipe from "Bake! Essential Techniques for Perfect Baking," by Nick Malgieri. Photo credit: Quentin Bacon
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Pie & Tarts Recipes
Yield Makes nine 5-inch croustades
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Make the Croustades: Place dough on a lightly floured work surface; lightly flour dough. Using a rolling pin, press the dough firmly in parallel strokes close to one another. Continue pressing with rolling pin, adding a pinch of flour to dough between strokes, until dough becomes more malleable.
- Continue rolling dough back and forth without rolling over the ends (which may make ends thinner and stick to surface). Turn dough 90 degrees, and continue rolling in the other direction; roll dough, changing directions as necessary, into a 15 1/2-inch square. Carefully transfer dough to a large baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap; transfer to refrigerator and chill until firm, about 15 minutes.
- Using a sharp pizza wheel, trim edges of dough and cut into nine 5-inch squares. Fold each square of dough, corner to corner, to form a triangle. Using the pizza wheel, make a cut over the fold on both sides about 1/2 inch from the edge of the triangle.
- Unfold triangles back into squares. Pierce the inner squares at 1/2-inch intervals using the tines of a fork. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and salt; brush inner squares lightly with egg mixture.
- Fold the outer corners of each square over to the opposite inside corners, one at a time.
- Using a floured fingertip, press the borders down and indent the sides of each croustade at 1/4-inch intervals with the dull side of a paring knife. Place croustades on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet; chill until firm, or cover and chill overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees with a rack set in the center of the oven. Bake croustades until well risen and deep golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove croustades from baking sheet and remove some of the puff pastry layers from the center by loosening the sides of the inner squares with a fork and lifting out, also removing any unbaked dough in the process. If you would like to use the removed layers as covers for the filling, return them to baking sheets along with the croustades; return to oven until centers have cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Make the Creme Anglaise: In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, cream, sugar, vanilla bean, lemon zest, and cinnamon stick; bring to a boil over low heat. Meanwhile, set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl; set medium bowl in a larger bowl prepared with an ice-water bath. Whisk yolks in another medium bowl.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove vanilla bean, lemon zest, and cinnamon stick from boiling milk mixture; discard. Whisk 1/3 of the milk mixture into the bowl with egg yolks. Return remaining milk mixture to a boil and, while whisking, gradually add egg yolk mixture to saucepan. Continue whisking until mixture thickens slightly, about 15 seconds.
- Remove from heat and pour through strainer set over prepared bowl. Continue whisking mixture until it cools slightly, about 30 seconds. Let stand until completely cooled. Transfer creme anglaise to an airtight container and keep refrigerated until ready to use. This can be done up to 1 day in advance.
- Make the Fig and Raspberry Filling: Stem, peel, and chop figs, reserving 5 whole figs to finish croustades, and place them in a large bowl. Add raspberries, reserving 18 to finish croustades. Cover and set aside at room temperature. This can be done up to 1 day in advance.
- Heat jam in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it comes to a boil. Let jam reduce slightly, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool for at least 15 minutes.
- Fold the cooled jam into the fig and raspberry mixture. Place croustades on individual plates. Spoon the mixture into the center of each croustade. Halve remaining figs; top each croustade with a fig half, cut side up, and reserved raspberries. Spoon some of the creme anglaise onto the plate and serve immediately.
APRICOT CROSTATA
Categories Dessert Bake Apricot Jam or Jelly Pastry Gourmet Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour, salt, and lemon zest until mixture just forms a dough.
- Shape dough into 2 balls, 1 slightly larger than the other. Flatten each ball into a 5-inch disk, then wrap each in wax paper and chill 30 minutes.
- Stir together preserves, lemon juice, and extract in a small bowl.
- Roll out thicker piece of dough (keep remaining piece chilled) between 2 sheets of wax paper into an 11-inch round. Remove top sheet of paper and invert dough into a 9- by 1-inch fluted round tart pan with a removable bottom. Peel off paper and fit dough into pan, trimming side to 1/4 inch below top of rim. Chill shell.
- Roll out remaining dough in same manner and remove top sheet of paper, then cut dough into 10 (1-inch-wide) strips. Slide strips on wax paper onto a baking sheet and chill until firm, about 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Spread apricot filling in tart shell and arrange 5 strips across filling (about 1 inch apart), trimming excess dough at ends of strips. Arrange remaining 5 strips on top (about 1 inch apart) to form a lattice (do not weave), trimming ends. Press ends onto edge of tart shell and bake crostata in middle of oven until golden, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a rack.
Tips:
- Use a variety of jams and fillings to create unique and delicious croustades.
- Be sure to chill the puff pastry before baking to prevent it from becoming too puffy.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the puff pastry into even squares.
- Fill the croustades with jam or other fillings just before baking to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Bake the croustades until they are golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Serve the croustades warm or at room temperature.
Conclusion:
Jam-filled croustades are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are perfect for a quick and easy snack, or for a special occasion dessert. With a variety of jams and fillings to choose from, there is sure to be a croustade that everyone will love. Enjoy!!
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