Easy Puff Pastry Snowflake Recipes

Steps:

• Put a large piece of parchment paper on a work surface and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the vanilla sugar. Lay the puff pastry on top, sprinkle with 2 more tablespoons vanilla sugar and roll out into a 12-inch square. Trim the edges to make an even square, then cut the pastry into four 3-inch-wide strips.
• Lightly beat the egg and water in a small bowl. Brush the egg wash lengthwise down the center of 3 of the pastry strips. Stack the 3 strips neatly on top of each other; top with the remaining pastry strip. Place the rolling pin lengthwise down the center of the pastry stack and press gently to adhere the layers in the center; the edges should remain separated. Cut the stack crosswise into 1/2-by-3-inch strips. (If the pastry is too soft to cut, transfer to a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.)
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Pinch the center of each strip, then twist the pastry twice at the pinch point. Arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Fan out the edges of the pastry. Lightly brush with the egg wash, then sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Position racks in the middle and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375 degrees F. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Immediately transfer the cookies to racks to cool completely.

Steps:

• Defrost the puff pastry dough according the instructions on the box.
• Remove one sheet of the puff pastry from the package. On a floured work surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the puff pastry gently into a 10" square. Using a sharp knife cut a 10" circle. Place the circle on a piece of parchment paper, brush a thin coat of beaten egg on the surface, then evenly spread the raspberry filling, leaving ¼" of bare puff pastry around the perimeter.
• Remove the second sheet of puff pastry from the refrigerator and the package and repeat the same rolling and cutting into the same size circle. Place it on top of the first filling-covered circle.
• Place a 2" to 2½" round cookie cutter in the center of the dough circle as a guide (you can also use a small drinking glass for this). With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the circle first into four equal wedges, then each wedge into four more wedges so you end up with 16 wedges total, making sure to leave the pastry under the cookie cutter uncut.
• Using your two hands, lift two adjacent wedges and twist them away from each other twice, then pinch the ends together to reconnect them. Repeat with the remaining wedges so that you end up with eight pairs of twisted wedges. Your puff pastry should look like a snowflake shape with eight points. Remove the cutter and transfer the pastry with the parchment on a baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F and position an oven rack in the center of the oven. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator while the oven is preheating.
• Brush the pastry with a thin coat of the beaten egg. Sprinkle with some pearl sugar. Pinch again the points to reshape, if necessary. Bake it for 15-20 minutes, or until it is puffed and nicely golden brown.
• Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly for about 10 minutes before you dust with a little confectioners' sugar (optional).
• Stir together the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons milk in a small bowl, adding up to 1 tablespoon more milk or confectioners' sugar if needed so that the glaze is the correct consistency to slowly drizzle off the end of the spoon. Drizzle the glaze all over the snowflake bread and let it harden, about 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Lay a sheet of puff pastry on a clean, flat surface. Place a 9-inch round cake pan on top of the pastry and use a paring knife or pastry wheel to cut out a 9-inch circle of pastry. Discard the pastry scraps. Set aside and repeat with the remaining pastry sheets.
• Place a pastry circle on the prepared baking sheet. Brush evenly with half of the melted butter, then sprinkle half of the brown sugar and half of the spice mix over the sugar. Repeat with another pastry circle and the remaining butter, brown sugar, and spice mix, then place the remaining pastry circle on top and gently pat down to press the layers together.
• Place a 1-inch round cutter in the center of the dough. Do not press down or cut through the dough.
• Use a pastry wheel or bench to cut the dough into 4 triangles, fanning out from the center circle. Then, cut each triangle into quarters, creating 16 wedges. Remove the cutter from the center.
• Lift 2 adjacent wedges and twist away from each other, then pinch the edges together to seal. Repeat with the remaining wedges.
• Brush the snowflake with the beaten egg, covering completely.
• Bake the snowflake until the edges are golden brown and crispy and the center is cooked through, 40-45 minutes. If the edges are getting too dark before the snowflake is finished baking, cover lightly with aluminum foil. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the snowflake to a serving platter and dust with the powdered sugar. Serve with chocolate sauce for dipping.
• Enjoy!