Square Pastry Food

QUICK AND EASY PERFECT PUFF PASTRY SQUARES WITH DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll puff pastry over a floured surface; cut into 1.5-inch squares. Place on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer baked squares to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 5 minutes. Slice each square in half.
• Spread 2 tablespoons dulce de leche on half of the puff pastry squares; top with the other half of puff pastry square. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

APPLE SLICE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk 2 cups flour and salt together in a bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture using a pastry blender or a fork until crumbly.
• Whisk water, eggs, and lemon juice together in a separate bowl; stir into flour mixture until dough forms a ball. Split dough into halves; roll each half into about a 9x13-inch rectangle. Press 1 rectangle into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Place apple slices in a large bowl; add sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon. Toss apples to coat; spread over crust. Cover apple filling with remaining crust, piecing together any scraps to cover any holes. Cut several slits into top crust for ventilation while cooking.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are browned and crisp, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cool to room temperature before cutting into squares, about 30 minutes.

SCRUMPTIOUS FIG SQUARES

Steps:

• For filling: Finely chop figs in processor (do not puree).
• Combine with juice, sugar and peel in small saucepan.
• Simmer until thickened to consistency of jam, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and mix in vanilla and cinnamon.
• Cool completely.
• For pastry: Preheat oven to 350F (160C).
• Line 9 x 13 inch pyrex baking dish with foil.
• Cream butter with mixer until light; add sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Combine flour, cornstarch and salt in small bowl to blend.
• Add to butter until mixture just starts to come together.
• Separate in half.
• Press one half into pan, just coming up sides slightly.
• Brush pastry edges with egg white.
• Spread filling over pastry, leaving a ¼ inch border.
• Crumble remaining pastry evenly over pan, and lightly pat down with hands, bringing to edge of pan.
• Combine 2 tblsps sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Brush pastry crust with remaining egg white and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar.
• Bake until crust around edge is firm to the touch and pastry just begins to colour, about 1 hour, 20 minutes.
• Cool on rack.
• Remove pastry from pan, using foil as aid.
• Cut into 1 ½ inch squares.

CURRANT SQUARES

Steps:

• To make pastry:.
• Freeze butter or margarine for half an hour before grating.
• Sift flour and salt, then add butter or margarine.
• Mix into flour with palette knife.
• Add iced water until a dough is formed. Wrap and chill in fridge for 30 minutes.
• Put all filling ingredients into a saucepan and bring to boiling point.
• Set aside to cool.
• Preheat oven to 200°C/ 400°F Roll out half the pastry very thinly and line a Swiss roll tin.
• Pour on currant filling, spreading evenly, then cover with the rest of the pastry.
• Glaze with egg or milk and bake for 30 minutes or until light gold in colour.
• Dust with caster sugar and cut into squares when cool.
• Makes 20 squares.