Flaky pastry, crunchy almonds, sweet marzipan, tart apples and a melting chocolate surprise inside. There’s everything to love about this recipe for apple and almond pastries. It’s easy to make and the almond paste caramelises in places giving a wonderful chewy crunch.
Dive Right In
- Why Make Apple And Almond Pastries?
- Chocolate And Apple?
- Apple And Almond Pastries
- Ingredients
- How To Make Apple And Almond Pastries
- Apple And Almond Tart
- Other Apple Recipes You Might Like
- Keep In Touch
- The Recipe
Why Make Apple And Almond Pastries?
Baking apple and almond puff pastries with chocolate and marzipan is a fun culinary adventure. The pastries offer a wonderful combination of flavours, textures and visual appeal. What’s more, they’re very easy to prepare which makes them even harder to resist.
They’re a treat worth savouring and sharing with friends and family. If you need more convincing, read on.
- Baking Fun – The process of making these pastries is a particularly rewarding and satisfying one. The secret chocolate element makes it a creative and enjoyable experience.
- Easy To Make – Despite their attractive appearance, it’s surprisingly easy to make these apple and almond pastries. Thanks to the puff pastry sheets and ready-made marzipan, you can achieve a professional look with minimal effort.
- Impressive Dessert – They make for an impressive and visually appealing dessert. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, an afternoon tea or you just want to treat yourself, these pastries are sure to impress.
- Irresistible Flavour Combination – These Danish-style pastries combine the rich sweetness of marzipan, the indulgent goodness of chocolate, the natural tartness of apples and the nuttiness of almonds. This combined with their soft, chewy and crunchy textures makes them irresistible.
- Kid-Friendly – As this recipe is mostly an assembly job and there are various elements involved, it’s a good one for children and adults to enjoy making together. It’s also a fun way to get the kids involved in kitchen activities.
- Perfect for Pastry Lovers – If you love pastries as much as I do, this recipe offers a unique twist that’s bound to surprise and satisfy.
- Versatile Recipe – This recipe is such a good one to adapt. Add different spices such as cloves or nutmeg to the apples, experiment with different types of chocolate or even use different fruits in place of the apples. I’ve made them with both pears and apricots and they’re both delicious.
Chocolate And Apple
Chocolate and apple is not the most obvious of flavour pairings. However, it works. Give it a try.
When Chele announced that apples were the special ingredient for a We Should Cocoa challenge, back in the day, my heart sank a little. I’d already made several chocolate cakes and puddings with apple that autumn and was hoping for something a little different. But, hey, it was a challenge, so I had a little think and realised I didn’t need to bake another apple cake or pudding after all.
Apple And Almond Pastries
No indeed, I made my very own apple and chocolate Danish-style pastries instead. And wow, they are unbelievably good.
I say they’re unbelievably good, because they don’t look particularly exceptional. But oh my, when you bite into one, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
The sweetness of the marzipan is offset by the slightly tart apples and the bitter dark melting chocolate. And then you get that lovely flaky pastry which just melts in the mouth. The tarts are a classy treat that wouldn’t seem out of place in a Viennese coffee house. Who am I kidding?
I was ecstatically pleased with these pastries. If you really want to wow your guests, for a mid-morning snack, afternoon tea or even as dessert at a dinner party, these are the ones to do it. So simple, but so delicious.
Ingredients
You don’t need much more here than puff pastry, apples, flaked almonds, sugar, a cinnamon stick and a lemon.
There are, however, two secrets as to why these apple and almond pastries are unbelievably good. The first is marzipan. This gives the sweet almond flavour. It caramelises in the places which aren’t covered by apple and this gives a wonderful chewy crunch. The remaining almond paste goes soft and gooey, mingling delightfully with the softened apple and melted chocolate.
Melted chocolate? Yes, that’s the second secret ingredient. There’s a hidden layer of dark chocolate underneath the marzipan and if you eat the pastries warm, you get melted chocolate. Just think pain au chocolat.
I know I could have made my own pastry and made my own marzipan, but time was short so I cheated a little. It’s very easy to buy good puff pastry these days, though good marzipan is harder to come by. I made do with the low-almond, high-sugar supermarket version.
If you prefer to make your own marzipan, I have a recipe for it in this simnel cake post.
How To Make Apple And Almond Pastries
These apple and almond pastries are one of the easiest recipes on Tin and Thyme. Apart from slicing and pre-cooking the apples, all you really need to do is assemble.
You’ll find ingredients and full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step 1. Prepare Apples And Syrup
In a small pan, dissolve the sugar in the water over a medium to low heat. Give it a stir or two to help it on its way.
Add the cinnamon stick and lemon juice.
Meanwhile, scrub the apples, then quarter them and remove the cores. There’s no need to peel them. Cut the apple quarters into four or five slices, then drop them into the liquid so that they don’t get a chance to oxidise and brown.
Bring the liquid to a simmer and poach the apple slices for two minutes. You want them so they just start to soften, but still hold their shape.
Remove the apple slices with a slotted spoon and leave to drain and cool in a colander or sieve.
Simmer the liquid for a further two to three minutes to thicken it and turn it into syrup. Leave to cool.
Step 2. Assemble Pastries
Cut your puff pastry sheet into eight evenly sized rectangles. I do this by folding the pastry in half, then cutting down the seam. I then fold the two pieces in half again and cut into four. Likewise I fold and cut one more time and voilà, I have eight even sized pastries.
Keep them on the paper that wraps the puff pastry sheet, but separate them out a bit. Place the sheet on a suitably sized baking tray.
Place a square of chocolate in the middle of each pastry rectangle.
Divide the marzipan into eight pieces and roll each one into a rectangle slightly smaller than the pastry one. Don’t worry if they’re not particularly neat, you won’t be able to notice once the pastries are baked.
Cover each chocolate square with the marzipan and press it lightly, but firmly into the pastry. It’s important there is a seal around the chocolate or it will leak out as it bakes.
Lay four to five drained apple slices over the marzipan so that they overlap slightly. Finally, sprinkle with a few almond flakes.
Step 3. Bake Pastries
Bake the pastries until they’re well risen and golden. Remove from the oven and brush them with the apple syrup whilst they’re still hot.
Use a flat spatula to transfer the pastries to a cooling rack.
They’re best eaten warm on the day they’re made, but still worth eating on day two. The pastries are almost as good though if you wait for them to cool properly and the chocolate to set.
Apple And Almond Tart
If you prefer to bake one big apple and almond tart or galette, go ahead. The process is much the same, but you will need to bake the pastry an additional five to ten minutes.
You’ll probably need another couple of apples as there’s a lot more filling to pastry in a large tart. Likewise you’ll need to double the syrup ingredients to cook the extra apples in.
Space the chocolate out evenly over the tart, then cover with the marzipan rectangles as in the recipe card below. Then cover with the pre-cooked apple slices, making sure you leave a one centimetre border around the edge.
Other Apple Recipes You Might Like
- Apple brown betty
- Apple & thyme cake
- Brownies with apple cheesecake
- Choc chip apple muffins
- Choc chip apple pudding
- Triple apple cake with orange
Keep in Touch
Thank you for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these apple and almond pastries, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Do you have any recommendations or advice for making pastries?
Please rate the recipe. If you post pictures of your creations on social media, use the hashtag #tinandthyme so I can see them.
For more delicious and nutritious recipes follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. Or why not join the conversation in our Healthy Vegetarian Whole Food Recipes Facebook Group?
If you’d like more pastry recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious and nutritious, of course.
Choclette x
Apple And Almond Pastries. PIN IT.
Apple And Almond Pastries: Unbelievably Good
Ingredients
Apple Syrup
- 100 ml water
- 5 cm cinnamon stick (2 inch)
- 1 tbsp golden caster sugar (I used vanilla sugar)
- 1 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tart apples (I used large windfalls)
Pastries
- 320 g puff pastry sheet or roll your own from a block to form a large rectangle
- 80 g dark chocolate preferably from a bar that comes in flat squares (I used salted chocolate)
- 200 g marzipan
- 20 g flaked almonds
Instructions
Apple Syrup
- Pour the water into a small pan and add the cinnamon stick, sugar and lemon juice. Over a moderate heat, bring to a gentle simmer. Give an occasional stir until the sugar has fully dissolved.100 ml water, 5 cm cinnamon stick, 1 tbsp golden caster sugar, 1 tsp lemon juice
- Wash the apples, then quarter them. Core and slice into four or five pieces.2 tart apples
- Add the apple slices to the pan and simmer for about 2 minutes. You want them just starting to soften, but not so much that they turn to mush.
- Remove the slices with a slotted spoon and leave to drain in a colander or sieve.
- Simmer the syrup for a further 3 minutes to thicken it.
Pastries
- Preheat the oven to 200℃ (180℃ fan, 400℉, Gas 6).
- Cut the pastry into eight rectangles and space them slightly apart on the paper sheet it’s wrapped in. Place the paper on a baking tray.320 g puff pastry sheet
- Place a chocolate square in the middle of each rectangle.80 g dark chocolate
- Cut the marzipan into 8 pieces and roll into rectangles slightly smaller than the pastry ones. Don’t worry about them being too neat as you won’t notice any irregularities once the pastries are baked.200 g marzipan
- Place them over the chocolate and press down into the pastry to seal the chocolate so it won’t leak out.
- Lay four or five of the drained apple slices along the top of the marzipan, so they overlap very slightly.
- Scatter the flaked almonds over the tops.20 g flaked almonds
- Bake near the top of the oven for 15 mins until they’re well risen and nicely browned.
- Remove from the oven and immediately brush the tops and sides with the syrup to glaze the pastries.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Alison Ezra says
Really good recipe! Simple to follow instructions – will definitely make these again. They look amazing
Choclette says
The pastries are so good, glad you like them too. And thanks for letting me know the instructions work.
AnnaZed says
Those are so pretty. I have some pastry dough in the freezer just begging for this treatment.
Johanna GGG says
these look amazing – I was pleased at the theme because it wasn’t too challenging and I just don’t have the energy for too much challenge right now – and I am now even more pleased with the them after seeing your brilliant idea!
Anne says
Ooh how delicious, love the idea of all those flavours together in pastry, mmm!
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
You have been so creative with these gorgeous looking pastries and you have managed to include most of my fave ingredients, I love marzipan and puff pastry. Good work!
I have just come up with my idea for the apple & choc event……but won’t get Round to doing it for a week or so. See you Friday though!!
sophiesfoodiefiles says
These filled pastries with apples, marzipan & chocolate look really divine & apart too!
You are a very clver person! This is a win win situation!
Yum! Perfect!
Hotly Spiced says
That looks delicious. I love the way the chocolate is just oozing out the sides.
Gloria says
This loook and sounds divine!! I love the mix of apples and chocolate! lovely! gloria
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
aren’t they just divine!!!… I love the pastry and chocolate and apple combo, would never have thought of this… so sophisticated… so chic!
thelittleloaf says
Pastry, chocolate and fruit is such a winning combination…these look gorgeous, especially that last photo. I’m never quite sure about marzipan but with this recipe I think I could be tempted!
Choclette says
Karen – thank you. You’ll come up with something we’ll all wish we’d thought of I’m sure. I had a back-up to this, just in case they didn’t work out – not telling yet though 😉
C – thank you. They are the sort of thing it’s really not good for me to have around – too tempting by far! Look forward to your entry.
Janice – glad to know a fellow marzipan lover 😉
Phil – have you tried homemade marzipan?
BVG – you obviously have some serious educating of your son to do – wish I’d been there to help you out.
Hazel – thank you. Your project sounds interesting – apple turnovers seem to be the only apple pastry one comes across, so it would be to hear what you come up with.
Baking Addict – homemade marzipan is so much nicer than bought, but I have to confess I’ve only made puff pastry once and that was at school.
Baking Addict says
Wow what a great idea. and you were going to make your own pastry and marzipan? double wow. I’ve never made either myself. Will definitely be borrowing this recipe with some tweaking in the future 🙂
Hazel at Chicken in a Cherry Sauce says
These look wonderful!! Well done on a great recipe. I’m currently working on apples and pastry for a group project at university. I love the combo and apples and almonds, and even better with your layer of dark chocolate underneath. Yum!
Brownieville Girl says
They look delicious, although I think I’d leave the marzipan out!
My son just brought me home delicious looking chocolates from a Viennese coffee house – and there was a layer of marzipan in each one – I’ve been pushing them on everyone who comes in the door!!!!
Phil in the Kitchen says
Nice invention. It looks great but I have to confess that I’m still struggling to find a way to love marzipan.
Janice says
ooh yum, love marzipan and with apples AND chocolate – ideal.
C says
They sound lovely – really interesting combination of flavours and textures. I’ve still to think of my apple chocolate recipe!
Karen S Booth says
GREAT idea for this month! I LOVE Danish Pastries and these look fabulous……very inventive too!
Karen
PS: Still racking my brains what to make……
Choclette says
Simply Food – thank you. I would send this to your event if it wasn’t already a We Should Cocoa post.
Lou – he he. I don’t help myself either! These would work really well with pears – apricots too. Thank you for your kind words.
Suelle – I know you are not convinced by the apple chocolate combination, but these worked perfectly – honest 🙂
Chele – tough is what it should all be about. It’s a challenge after all and I’m really pleased it gave me an excuse to come up with these wonders.
Kath – Kettle on 🙂
Kath says
Oh my goodness Choc, I am on my way round immediately in case you have one (or two, or three) left. Put the kettle on. I should be there in about four hours – give or take. xxx
Chele says
Sorry! If it makes you feel any better its also been a tough challenge for me too ;0)
Great looking pastries though so I’m glad you re thought your apple combo.
Suelle says
With the winning combination of marzipan and chocolate these look great to me – the apple is a bonus!
Lou says
I trust a recipe which uses the word “squidged”. These look wonderful. Could do them with pear too. I think they would be the star bake in a Viennese coffee shop! Going to bookmark these but not make them for a while. I am making efforts to stop piling on the weight. You’re not helping. 😉
Lou.
simply.food says
These look delectable. Please do send them to C.E.D.D Apples event @ simply.food.