Description
Passion blooms in these delicate vegan love letter pastries, a heartfelt tribute to French culinary artistry. Flaky layers of plant-based goodness promise an intimate culinary journey you’ll savor with each tender, love-infused bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry Ingredients:
- 240 grams (8.5 ounces) plain flour
- 220 grams (7.8 ounces) dairy-free block butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- 2 tablespoons caster sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons ice water
Filling Ingredient:
- 1 jar vegan-friendly strawberry jam
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons dairy-free milk (optional)
- 2 tablespoons caster sugar (for sprinkling)
- 2 tablespoons icing sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Combine flour and sugar in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Incorporate chilled, diced dairy-free butter into the flour mixture using fingertips or a specialized pastry tool, working until the texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Introduce glacial water incrementally, gently folding until a cohesive dough emerges. Avoid excessive manipulation to maintain delicate pastry structure.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly dusted work surface, tenderly kneading until achieving a smooth consistency. Encase in protective film and refrigerate for a minimum of half an hour to stabilize.
- After chilling, roll the dough to approximately 5mm thickness on a flour-sprinkled surface.
- Slice the pastry into precise 8cm squares using a sharp knife or pastry wheel.
- Centralize a modest dollop of strawberry jam within each geometric pastry segment.
- Artfully fold the square’s corners toward the center, crafting an elegant “love letter” silhouette. Firmly seal the edges to prevent filling leakage.
- Arrange the delicate parcels on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Optional: delicately brush with dairy-free milk for enhanced golden luminescence.
- Slide into a preheated 200C (400F) oven, baking for 15-20 minutes until achieving a radiant, puffy appearance.
- Extract from the oven and allow brief cooling. Embellish with a gentle snowfall of icing sugar and optional caster sugar sprinkle.
- Serve while warmly inviting or at ambient temperature for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure a flaky, tender pastry that melts in your mouth, preventing the butter from melting too quickly during preparation.
- Experiment with different fruit preserves like raspberry, apricot, or even a savory filling to create unique flavor variations that suit your taste preferences.
- Handle the dough gently and minimally to maintain its delicate texture, avoiding overworking which can result in tough, dense pastries.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the plain flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum for better binding and texture.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg