These Apricot Vanilla Puff Pastry Slices blend the delicate flavors of apricots with a rich vanilla pudding and a buttery streusel topping, all encased in a flaky puff pastry. The creamy vanilla pudding serves as a perfect base, complemented by tart apricots that have been sweetened and softened. The butter streusel adds a delightful crunch, creating a dessert that is as pleasing to the palate as it is to the eye.
Why You'll Love This: The combination of soft, creamy pudding with the tangy sweetness of apricots and the crisp, flaky pastry offers a satisfying array of textures. The vanilla enhances the fruit's natural flavors, while the streusel provides a comforting, buttery finish. This dish is a wonderful merger of tart and sweet, creamy and crispy, making it an irresistible treat for any dessert lover.
Perfect Occasion: This dessert is ideal for summer gatherings, afternoon tea, or as a special treat at brunch. It's also a fantastic choice for holiday celebrations or family desserts, where you want to impress guests with something that looks as spectacular as it tastes. These slices are easy to serve and can be enjoyed both warm and cold.
Decoration Tips: Dust the cooled pastry slices with powdered sugar to add a touch of elegance. For a more colorful presentation, you can garnish with fresh apricot slices or a few sprigs of mint before serving. If desired, a light drizzle of apricot glaze or melted white chocolate can enhance the visual appeal and add another layer of flavor.
Ingredients:
- For the Vanilla Pudding:
- 400 ml milk
- 100 ml liquid cream
- 50 g sugar
- 2 packets of vanilla pudding powder
- 1 tsp vanilla paste
- For the Apricot Topping:
- 300 g fresh apricots, halved, cored, and quartered
- 20 g powdered sugar
- For the Butter Streusel:
- 80 g cold butter
- 125 g flour
- 50 g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar
- Additional:
- 1 roll of fresh puff pastry
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Prepare the Pudding:
- Combine milk, cream, sugar, pudding powder, and vanilla paste in a cooking device. Cook to a thick consistency, then pour into a bowl, cover with cling film, and let cool to lukewarm.
- Prepare the Apricots:
- Toss the apricot quarters with powdered sugar and let them steep for about 15 minutes to enhance their flavor and sweetness.
- Make the Butter Streusel:
- Knead together cold butter, flour, sugar, and vanilla sugar to form a crumbly streusel.
- Assemble the Pastry:
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Roll out the puff pastry on the tray. Score a 2 cm wide edge all around and prick the center with a fork.
- Stir the lukewarm pudding until creamy and spread over the puff pastry within the scored edges.
- Arrange the sweetened apricot quarters on the pudding and evenly distribute the streusel on top.
- Bake:
- Bake on the second lowest rack for about 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the streusel is crisp.
- Cool and Serve:
- Let the pastry cool completely on the tray. Cut into slices and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Enjoy these luxurious Apricot Vanilla Puff Pastry Slices, a delightful treat that perfectly combines fruity freshness with creamy indulgence and a touch of pastry crunch!