These flaky almond puff pastry muffins, also known as cruffins, combine the best of both worlds: the rich, buttery layers of a croissant with the ease of a muffin. Filled with a sweet almond cream and made with store-bought puff pastry, these pastries are quick, simple, and ready in less than 30 minutes. The golden, crispy layers paired with the nutty almond filling make for a delicious breakfast treat, snack, or dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. With minimal effort, you’ll enjoy a pastry that tastes like it came straight from a bakery!
Why You’ll Love This:
These puff pastry muffins are perfect for those days when you want something indulgent but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. The combination of puff pastry and an easy-to-make almond filling creates a light, flaky, and sweet treat that’s impossible to resist. The subtle almond flavor, paired with the buttery layers of pastry, creates a satisfying bite without being overly sweet. Whether you’re serving these for breakfast, alongside coffee, or as a dessert, they’re sure to impress with both their taste and appearance.
Perfect Occasion:
These flaky almond muffins are ideal for a wide range of occasions. Serve them at a weekend brunch, as a special morning treat, or as an afternoon snack with tea or coffee. They’re perfect for entertaining guests, especially when you want to whip up something impressive without spending too much time in the kitchen. These pastries are also great for holiday gatherings or simply when you’re craving something light, flaky, and sweet.
Decoration Tips:
To elevate the presentation, lightly dust the tops with powdered sugar as soon as they come out of the oven. For a more luxurious look, drizzle with melted white or dark chocolate. You can also sprinkle toasted almond slices on top for added texture and flavor. Serve them on a pretty platter to make these easy pastries look even more inviting. If you’re feeling extra creative, top with a small dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of honey before serving.
Ingredients (Makes 12 Cruffins):
- 2 sheets puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
Almond Filling:
- 80g almond flour
- 1 egg
- 40g softened butter
- 45g sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
Instructions:
- Prepare the Almond Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, egg, softened butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Stir until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Prepare the Puff Pastry:
- Unroll both sheets of puff pastry on a clean surface.
- Spread the almond filling evenly across both sheets of puff pastry, covering the entire surface.
- Shape the Muffins:
- Cut each puff pastry sheet into 6 equal strips using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
- Roll each strip tightly, similar to how you’d roll a cinnamon roll, creating a neat spiral.
- Bake the Cruffins:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place each rolled pastry into a greased muffin tin, with the cut side facing up.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the cruffins are golden and puffed.
- Cool and Serve:
- Let the cruffins cool slightly in the muffin tin before transferring to a wire rack.
- Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with chocolate if desired.
Enjoy these delightful almond puff pastry muffins – a perfect combination of flaky layers and creamy almond filling!