Chocolate Almond Puff Pastry Bundles

Have you ever used frozen Puff Pastry?!  It's great!  It tastes just like homemade Puff Pastry, but without all the work!  Puff Pastry is basically lots and lots of little layers of dough and butter.  It is similar to croissant dough, but does not have any yeast.  Steam is what makes it puff up so beautifully to become light and flaky.  

These little bundles are delicious and so easy to make!  Once the Puff Pastry is defrosted, it only takes a few minutes to prepare it before it goes into the oven.  

Chocolate Almond Puff Pastry Bundles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup powdered almonds
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1 egg, beaten; 2 tbsp for the almond paste and save the remaining egg for egg wash
• Chocolate chips
• 1 sheet of Puff Pastry, defrosted

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. In small bowl, mix powdered almonds, sugar and 2 tbsp. of eggs.
3. Unroll or unfold the puff pastry, and cut it into 9 pieces, 3 x 3. 
4. Place a small spoonful of almond paste in the middle of the puff pastry square.
5. Put a tbsp or so of chocolate chips on top of the almond paste.
6. Egg wash the edges of the puff pastry, and fold all the corners up and press together.
7. Place on a baking sheet and egg wash.  Repeat until all 9 are done.
8. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until they are golden brown.
9. Enjoy!

Mmm... these little treats are SO easy to make!  And so delicious!  They taste like little chocolate croissants without all the work!  

Puff Pastry is so easy to use and the filling possibilities are endless!!  They can be savory or sweet!  I can't wait to try some new flavor combinations!  

I hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day weekend!!   

Edible Christmas Gifts #6 Coconut Almond Macaroons

It is getting SO close to Christmas!  A week from tomorrow!!!  I cannot believe it.  I feel so far behind this year.  I have only sent out half my Christmas cards.  Need to do those before Monday!  But today is solely dedicated to holiday baking!  I want to share with you these yummy macaroons.

Coconut Almond Macaroons

Ingredients:

• 3 cups coconut
• 1 cup almonds, chopped into small pieces
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tbsp sugar
• pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine coconut, almonds, coconut milk and almond extract in a bowl.
3. In mixer or using an electric mixer, beat egg whites, sugar and salt to soft peaks.  (See pictures below)
4. Gently fold egg white mixer into coconut mixture.  
5. On a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet, spoon out 1 1/2 inch balls of the mixture.
6. Bake the cookies until brown around the edges, about 15 minutes.
7. Let cool COMPLETELY on pan (if you pull them off too quickly, half of the cookie may stay on the pan).

 ENJOY!

I hope everyone is enjoying the last week before Christmas!