Almond Pastry with Flaky Crust

If you like pastries that flake apart in your hands and make you feel like a pastry god for approximately three bites before the sugar coma hits, this Almond Pastry with Flaky Crust is your new BFF. It’s a simple, slightly elegant treat that looks like you know what you’re doing in the kitchen—even if your oven timer is really just an optimistic suggestion. Why is it special? Because the crust actually gets flaky (miracle), the almond filling is cozy and nutty, and it somehow makes weekday dessert look fancy enough for guests who will ask if you took a baking class. You didn’t. You watched three videos and ignored step two.

Full disclosure: I once tried to multitask and burned the edge of a perfectly good crust while simultaneously convincing my kid that broccoli is “green candy.” The pastry survived, the broccoli did not.

My husband is the kind of guy who insists on “helping” by sweeping up crumbs and then promptly dropping an entire bowl of sliced almonds onto the floor. The dog thought this was clearly an offering and the kids staged a coup. I calmly rescued the pastry while plotting revenge—i.e., making them all stand guard as I rolled out a second batch. Spoiler: I still washed more dishes than all of them combined. Of course I won’t say I like the applause as I take it out of the oven, but yes, I did wink at the smoke alarm.

Time-Saving Hacks

– Use store-bought puff pastry if you’re allergic to patience. (I won’t judge—much.)
– Toast pre-sliced almonds in a microwave bag for 30–45 seconds instead of babysitting a pan. Yes, it’s slightly wrong, but speed wins.
– Pro tip: Knead and roll on parchment—fewer dishes, fewer swear words.
– Freeze trimmed pastry scraps and bake them as “oops crisps” while you’re waiting. They’re delicious and distract the family.

Serving Ideas

– Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Melted ice cream is basically a dessert bath.
– Drizzle with honey and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt if you want people to assume you put effort into plating.
– Serve with coffee for breakfast, with wine for company, or alone while hiding in the pantry because that’s your mood.
– If the kids drove you nuts that day: serve with a big glass of something adult and call it restorative.

What to Serve It With

– Simple is best: coffee, black tea, or an espresso that makes you feel sophisticated.
– If you want to go full brunch, add fresh fruit and a cheese plate and pretend you planned it.
– For maximum comfort, put it on a plate and sit down for five minutes of silence.

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Don’t overwork the dough: warmth = tough crust. Chill when in doubt.
– Watch the edges: they brown faster. Tent with foil if the center needs more time.
– Yes, your pan might be too small. No, I won’t wash fewer dishes to accommodate that.
– If your almond filling seems runny, you can dot with a little more almond meal to thicken it—don’t panic, just tweak.

✔Storage Tips

Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh.

✔Variations and Substitutions

Swap whatever you want—sugar ↔ honey, soy sauce ↔ tamari, or skip steps and call it “deconstructed.” It still counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Almond Pastry with Flaky Crust

A delicious almond pastry with a buttery, flaky crust.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 1.25 cups all-purpose flour Sifted for a lighter crust
• ▢ 0.5 cups unsalted butter Chilled and diced
• ▢ 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 large egg yolk For binding
• ▢ 0.75 cups ground almonds For filling
• ▢ 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• ▢ 0.5 cups heavy cream For richness

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• In a large bowl, mix flour and sugar. Add chilled butter and blend until crumbly.
• Incorporate the egg yolk and mix until the dough forms. Chill for 30 minutes.
• For the filling, combine ground almonds, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until smooth.
• Roll out the chilled dough and fit it into a tart pan. Fill with almond mixture.
• Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
• Let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your delicious dessert!

Notes

Serve with fresh fruit or a dollop of whipped cream for added flavor.