These Puff Pastry Slices are a delightful dessert featuring a smooth, rich orange-vanilla pudding encased in a flaky puff pastry shell, topped with a caramelized butter-sugar crust. The bright zest of orange adds a fresh, citrusy twist to the creamy vanilla pudding, creating a flavorful contrast with the crisp pastry. Once baked, the top layer forms a deliciously sweet crust that’s golden and satisfyingly crunchy.
Why You’ll Love This: If you’re a fan of classic pastries with a twist, this dessert offers the perfect combination of texture and flavor. The creamy pudding filling is infused with natural orange zest and vanilla, providing a depth of flavor that complements the light, airy puff pastry. The sugar-butter topping caramelizes in the oven, providing a crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft pudding beneath. It’s an elegant yet comforting treat that’s sure to please both fruit and pastry lovers.
Perfect Occasion: These puff pastry slices are ideal for serving at brunches, tea parties, or as an elegant dessert at dinner parties. They’re also perfect for holiday gatherings where you want a dessert that’s both festive and easy to share. The slices are convenient for guests to enjoy as they mingle, making them a practical choice for buffet-style events.
Decoration Tips: For a beautiful and sophisticated finish, lightly dust the baked pastry slices with powdered sugar. To enhance the orange flavor, garnish each piece with a small twist of orange zest or a thin slice of candied orange peel. For special occasions, serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of orange-flavored liqueur.
Ingredients:
- For the Orange-Vanilla Pudding:
- 500 ml milk
- 4 egg yolks (size M)
- 90 g sugar
- 60 g vanilla pudding powder (1 1/2 packs)
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar
- Zest of one orange
- For the Puff Pastry:
- 1 roll of fresh puff pastry
- 20 g butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- A little powdered sugar for dusting
- Prepare the Pudding:
- In a cooking device, combine milk, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla pudding powder, salt, vanilla sugar, and orange zest. Cook to form a thick pudding. Once done, transfer to a bowl, cover with cling film to prevent a skin from forming, and allow to cool.
- Preparation of the Pastry:
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius with the fan setting.
- Roll out the puff pastry on its paper. Place half inside a heat-resistant dish, letting the other half hang over the edge (this will be folded over later). Prick the bottom half with a fork to prevent puffing.
- Assemble:
- Spread the cooled pudding evenly over the pastry in the dish. Fold the overhanging pastry back over the top of the pudding.
- Brush the top of the pastry with melted butter and evenly sprinkle with brown sugar.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven on the middle shelf for about 30 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.
- Cooling and Serving:
- Let the pastry cool completely in the tin, then remove and dust lightly with powdered sugar.
- Cut into pieces and serve.
Enjoy these exquisite puff pastry slices, where each bite offers a perfect blend of creamy, citrus-infused pudding and crisp, caramelized pastry!
