Puff Pastry Stacks Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry to a 10-in. square; cut into 12 rectangles (approx. 3x2-1/2 in.). Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely., In a large bowl, toss strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. In another bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add vanilla and remaining sugar; beat until stiff peaks form., To serve, split pastries horizontally in half. Top each bottom half with 2 tablespoons whipped cream and 1 tablespoon strawberries; replace top half. Top with remaining whipped cream and strawberries.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut 4 "walls" of puff pastry by cutting approximately 1-inch wide strips along each side of a sheet of puff pastry. Set "walls" aside. Poke the remaining "floor" of puff pastry with a fork to provide an escape for steam.
• Lightly apply the egg wash just inside the cut edges of the "floor". Stack "wall" pieces on top of "floor" piece placing the cut edge of the "walls" on the outside edge. Dab ends of "walls" with egg wash and fold long pieces over to form a square.
• Cut a 7 by 7-inch square out of the second sheet of puff pastry. Fold it in half and cut vents for steam along the fold.
• Shake bread or cake crumbs on drained cherries and let sit for 10 minutes. Spoon cherry mixture onto pastry "floor", using more than you may think necessary to compensate for the pastry puffing. Apply egg wash on "walls" avoiding the very edge.
• Lay vented "top" piece on top. Brush with egg wash.
• Bake in oven for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for another 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Thaw pastry sheets at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400º F.
• Unfold 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface.
• Cut 4 stars (or any shape appropriate for the occasion)of each size.
• Use 3 star cookie cutters in graduated sizes (2-inch, 2½-inch, and 3-inch cookie cutters or Cardboard patterns).
• Repeat with remaining pastry sheet.
• Place stars on baking sheets.
• Bake 10 minutes or until golden.
• Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire rack.
• To assemble trees:.
• Top large star pastry with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd.
• Top with medium star pastry, turning star so points do not line up.
• Top with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd and place small star pastry on top, turning so points do not line up.
• Repeat with remaining star pastries, making 8 trees.
• Drizzle trees with honey.
• Sprinkle with green sugar (or color of your choice) and top each with a raspberry or cherry half.
• NOTE: Obviously there are many variations of this, fitting many occasions. Change the jelly; pudding for lemon curd; etc.

Steps:

• Unfold thawed frozen puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into pieces just large enough to wrap around your food (see below) with a 1/2-inch overlap. Wrap, moisten the edge with water and pinch to seal.
• Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam-side down. Whisk 1 egg with 2 tablespoons water; brush on the pastry and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Ideas:
• Bacon: Cook until crisp and drain; stack 3 slices.
• Chocolate bars
• Dill pickles
• Dried figs
• Goat Cheese: Use a thick slice; freeze 2 hours before wrapping.
• Jalapenos: Seed if desired.
• Mango chutney
• Marinated artichoke hearts: Drain and pat dry.
• Pears: Stack 3 slices.
• Portobello mushrooms: Remove the stems; scrape out the gills.
• Prosciutto: Stack 3 slices.
• Pitted Olives

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk the yolks and sugar until pale in color.
• Add cornstarch and whisk well. Add the vanilla extract and milk. Whisk until well combined.
• Loosely cover the bowl with plastic wrap and microwave for 4 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove plastic and stir.
• Cover with a plastic wrap and chill at least 30 minutes.
• Cut the thawed puff pastry into three equal-sized rectangles.
• Pierce each piece of puff pastry with a fork.
• Heat a nonstick pan over low heat. Place the puff pastry in the pan and cook for 10 minutes.
• Flip the puff pastry sheets, and place a lid on the top of the pan. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove the lid and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar on sheet of puff pastry. Flip the pastry over so that the sugared side is on the bottom.
• Bring the heat up to high. Place a piece of parchment paper over the puff pastry and weigh it down with another pan. Once the surface is caramelized, about 1-2 minutes, remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature on a cooling rack.
• Place the custard in a piping bag fitting with an large round tip.
• Pipe the custard on one sheet of puff pastry. Top with a layer of sliced strawberries, then pipe another row of custard. Top with another sheet of puff pastry, custard, sliced strawberries, custard, and the remaining puff pastry sheet.
• Dust the top with powdered sugar.
• Enjoy!