Ingredients:
- 1 sheet of buttery puff pastry
- 2 large, juicy apples
- 2 tablespoons of finely crushed walnuts
- 2 tablespoons of rich brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of aromatic cinnamon powder
- 1 egg, whisked with a splash of milk for a glossy glaze
- A sprinkle of almond slivers for a toasty finish
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to a warm 180°C (356°F) to prepare for baking.
- Unroll the puff pastry sheet onto a clean surface, beckoning you to add the filling.
- Core and dice the apples into small pieces, layering them lovingly on the top half of the pastry sheet.
- Mix the crushed walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl, then shower this mixture over the apples, creating a sweetly spiced blanket.
- Make vertical cuts about 1 cm apart in the bottom half of the pastry, creating ribbons waiting to be braided.
- Starting from the apple-topped end, carefully roll the pastry toward the cut strips, creating a log filled with the spiced apple mixture.
- Bring the ends of the log together to form a circle, sealing them with a fork's gentle press, crafting your pastry crown.
- Place the crown on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, and lovingly brush it with the egg-milk glaze for a royal sheen.
- Generously adorn the crown with almond slivers, adding a noble crunch.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the crown is a regal golden brown, and the scent of cinnamon and apple fills the air.
- Once baked to perfection, allow the crown to rest briefly, and then serve. This Apple Cinnamon Pastry Crown is a quick, easy, and utterly delicious tribute to the season's favorite fruit.
