Delicious Almond Braids
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling
YIELD: 2 braids (6 servings each).
Similar to an almond crescent, this coffee cake is light and flaky with a rich almond center. It’s versatile, so you can serve it for dessert, breakfast or brunch. It tastes as if it came from a high-end bakery, but packaged puff pastry dough makes it easy. —Gina Idone, Staten Island, New York
Ingredients
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1 package (7 ounces) almond paste
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1/2 cup butter
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1/2 cup sugar
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1 large egg, room temperature
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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
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GLAZE:
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3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
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2 tablespoons 2% milk
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1/2 teaspoon almond extract
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1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
Directions
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1.
Preheat oven to 375°. Place the almond paste, butter and sugar in a food processor; cover and pulse until chopped. Add egg and flour; process until smooth.
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2.
Place puff pastry sheets onto a greased baking sheet. Spread half the filling mixture down the center third of 1 pastry sheet. On each side, cut 8 strips about 3-1/2 in. into the center. Starting at 1 end, fold alternating strips at an angle across filling. Pinch ends to seal. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling.
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3.
Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
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4.
For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, milk and almond extract. Drizzle over braids; sprinkle with almonds. Cut into slices to serve.
Nutrition Facts
1 piece: 430 calories, 25g fat (8g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 197mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 4g fiber), 6g protein.
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