Apples + Almond Creme = YUM!

I’m not sure of the formal name for this dessert. I supposed its called an apple galette, but its not round… Anyway, its one of those desserts that look/taste completely fancy pants, but in all reality is quite easy to prepare. The most difficult part is the slicing of the apples. We made this dessert often at a Four Seasons Hotel I worked in, and after 100 or so apples, I got quite good at slicing them quickly and evenly.

Everyone assumes I use a mandolin to slice these, but no… it must be done by hand. If you use a mandolin, it would take you all day to piece the apples back together. LOL! I prefer Granny Smith apples for their tart flavor and firm texture, but any firm apple will do.
apple_cake_01.jpg

Apple Strip Recipe

1 box of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry (thawed)
4 apples, cored, peeled, and cut in half
1 recipe of frangipan (see below)
1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water
cinnamon sugar
2 tbsp apricot preserves
Powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place oven rack in the middle of the oven. Line the apples halves on your cutting board and slice thinly. Take your time and try to make sure the apple slices are uniform and stay together. I use a small serrated paring knife, this works better than a larger knife.

2. Unfold the puff pastry on a lightly floured countertop. Roll out just slightly, to even out the pastry. With a knife or a pastry cutter, cut the base of the strip, 5 inches wide. Cut two more strips that are both 1 inch wide.

3. Place the larger piece of puff pastry on a parchment lined sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush egg wash over one inch of the sides of the dough. Lay the two 1 inch strips over the egg wash, and line up the edges. Dock the dough well with a fork, over the entire pastry dough. Do not dock the edges.

4. Spoon about 3 tbsp of frangipan on the dough and smooth out with an offset spatula. Leave an inch or so at the ends, so the frangipan doesn’t spill over.

5. Take one sliced apple half in your hand, and push down gently with your other hand to shingle the slices. Place the entire shingled apple on the pastry, and repeat with three more halves. Try to line up the next apple half with the first one. Repeat with the other piece of puff pastry.

6. Brush egg wash on the edges of the pastry. Sprinkle the apples liberally with cinnamon sugar and bake for about 20-30 minutes, until the edges are puffed and golden brown. Allow to cool for 20 minutes.

7. Heat the apricot preserves with 2 tbsp of water in microwave until warm and well combined, about 20 seconds. Brush the hot apricot glaze over the apples only, not the pastry edges. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the entire pastry. Cut slices with a serrated knife.apple_cake_03.jpgapple_cake_04.jpgapple_cake_05.jpg

Frangipan Recipe

3.5 oz almond paste
3 oz sugar
3 oz butter, softened
4 oz egg
2 oz cake flour

1. Combine almond paste and sugar in bowl of mixer with paddle attachment and mix until the almond paste breaks into small pieces.

2. Add butter and mix until well incorporated. Add the flour and egg in increments, mixing well after each addition.

The Frangipan recipe is obviously more than you need. Spoon the extra frangipan in a small cake pan and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown… it makes a delicious cake on its own.
apple_cake_02.jpg

September 5, 2007 | Filed Under Sweet Tooth

 

Critiques & Opinions

7 Critiques to “Apples + Almond Creme = YUM!”

  1. Raluca on September 5th, 2007 2:20 pm

    Congratulations to your blog!I remember this pastry very well. It disappeared within a few minutes as far as I can remember…and I`m still fighting with the extra pounds I gained. But it was worth every bite…

  2. Stephan on September 5th, 2007 2:32 pm

    I know this is not part of the recipe and maybe a little over board, but if you want to take this up a notch, you place it in the the microwave for 30 seconds and than you put a ball of vanilla ice cream on top. Can you taste it? BAM

  3. Candace on September 5th, 2007 3:18 pm

    OK, Emeril wannabe! I admit, it is better with ice cream on top!

    Raluca, I remember I made this for our Thanksgiving (in January) last year. It *almost* seems healthy with the large amount of apple!

  4. Carolina on September 5th, 2007 4:58 pm

    Wow! I just checked out the site and it looks awesome. The food looks so good that I’m getting hungry just looking at the pics!

  5. Ashley on September 6th, 2007 3:56 am

    this looks truly amazing and i’m sure when I attempt it, it won’t look quite as amazing, but i simply can’t wait. it looks incredible. your blog is off to a wonderful start!

  6. Monday Meal Planning: Sept 10-16 « Delish. A Food Blog. on September 10th, 2007 9:54 pm

    [...] has entered the food blogging world with a bang. Her Apple Strip looks simply amazing along with everything else on her blog, including the dinner for her beloved [...]

  7. Merav on October 3rd, 2007 9:35 am

    These are beautiful and look delicious! Congratulations on your blog and gorgeous photography!

Leave a critique for the chef!




*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Click to hear an audio file of the anti-spam word