Apple Empanadas With Almond Pastry Cream

Serves: 3

Imelda VonRueden

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

53

Spice

49

Sweetness

44

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.8

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 large

Egg (beaten)

3 tbsps

Unsalted Butter

3 tbsps

Brown Sugar

1 pinch

Salt

1.5 cups

Whole Milk

1 cup

Sugar

2 tbsps

Almond Paste

4 large

Egg Yolk

2 tbsps

Cornstarch

Directions:

1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F

2

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

3

In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat

4

Add the apples and saute until slightly softened, about 5 minutes

5

Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and toss

6

Continue cooking the apples, stirring occasionally, until the apples break down easily when pressed with a fork, an additional 10 minutes

7

Remove from the heat and mash them with a fork while they are still warm, it should look like a chunky applesauce

8

Allow the apples to cool to room temperature

9

Once cooled, fold 1/4 cup of the Almond Pastry Cream into the cooled apples and set aside

10

On a floured work surface, lay out the puff pastry sheets

11

Using a large (4 1/2-inch) circular biscuit cutter (or cookie cutter) cut 4 large circles per sheet, 8 all together

12

On the bottom half of each of the rounds, spoon 2 heaping tablespoons of the apple mixture

13

Brush the edges of each circle with some egg wash

14

Fold the pastry dough over the filling, seal the edges with your fingers and then crimp them with the tines of a fork

15

Repeat with remaining pastry dough and filling

16

When all the pies are assembled, vent each one with 2 small slits, using a paring knife, on the top of each pie

17

Brush each one with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar

18

Transfer the empanadas to the prepared baking sheet

19

Bake the pies until they have puffed and are golden brown, about 20 minutes

20

When the pies come out of the oven, spoon more of the Almond Pastry Cream over them and serve

21

In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the whole milk, sugar, almond paste and salt

22

Whisk over medium heat and bring to a simmer

23

In a small mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks and cornstarch

24

Whisk until combined and the mixture is creamy and thick

25

Remove the milk mixture from the heat and slowly add 1/4 cup of the milk liquid to the eggs, whisking constantly

26

Add the now-tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and return the milk to a simmer for 3 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened

27

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until it is fully incorporated

28

If desired, strain the pastry cream through a sieve

29

Pour the mixture into a bowl to cool

30

Place plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming

31

Allow the cream to cool completely in the refrigerator until cold and set, at least 2 hours