The Best Apricot Almond Pastries Recipe for Sweet Tooths

Sweet memories of grandma’s kitchen dance around these delightful apricot almond pastries that blend rustic charm with elegant simplicity.

Crisp buttery layers fold delicately around ripe fruit and nutty crunch.

Mediterranean orchards seem to whisper through each golden-edged bite.

Delicate almonds provide a subtle, nutty undertone that complements the apricot’s bright sweetness.

Pastry lovers appreciate how minimal ingredients create maximum flavor in these elegant treats.

A light dusting of powdered sugar adds the perfect finishing touch.

You’ll find these pastries irresistible and surprisingly easy to create.

Why Apricot Almond Pastries Are A Must-Bake

• Create Gourmet Pastries at Home: Craft restaurant-quality apricot almond pastries in your own kitchen with simple steps and professional-level results.
• Customize Your Dessert: Adapt the recipe by experimenting with different fruits, adding personal twists like extra spices or changing nut varieties to make it uniquely yours.
• Perfect for Special Gatherings: Impress guests with these elegant, rustic pastries that look professionally made but are surprisingly simple to prepare, ideal for brunches, afternoon teas, or casual dessert settings.
• Enjoy Fresh, Seasonal Ingredients: Leverage fresh apricots and almonds to create a dessert that celebrates natural flavors, highlighting the beauty of seasonal produce in a delightful pastry form.

The Basics Behind Apricot Almond Pastries

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the pastry that provides structure and texture.
• Butter: Cold butter creates flaky, tender layers in the pastry.
• Ice Water: Helps bind the dough together without developing too much gluten.

• Fresh Apricots: Provide a sweet and tangy flavor profile for the pastry.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps draw out the apricots' natural juices.
• Almond Extract: Enhances the fruity flavor with a subtle nutty undertone.

• Egg, Sliced Almonds, Powdered Sugar: Add golden shine, crunch, and decorative sweetness to the pastries.

Simple Steps For Apricot Almond Pastries

Step 1: Prepare Butter Base

Chill butter in the freezer for 10 minutes and slice into tiny cubes. Cold butter is the secret to creating flaky, tender pastry that melts in your mouth.

Step 2: Mix Dough Foundation

Use a food processor to combine flour and chilled butter. Pulse until the mixture looks like rough breadcrumbs with a sandy texture that hints at the deliciousness to come.

Step 3: Form Pastry Dough

Slowly add ice water to the flour mixture, processing until the dough just starts to come together. Shape the dough into a flat disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for one hour to let the gluten relax and flavors develop.

Step 4: Create Apricot Filling

• Dicing fresh apricots into small, even pieces
• Mixing with granulated sugar
• Adding almond extract

Let the mixture sit and develop its sweet, fragrant flavors.

Step 5: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.

Step 6: Roll and Shape Pastry

Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s approximately 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch squares with clean, precise edges.

Step 7: Assemble Pastry Pockets

Place a spoonful of apricot mixture in the center of each dough square. Leave a small border around the edges to create a beautiful rustic look.

Step 8: Add Almond Crunch

Sprinkle sliced almonds generously over the fruit filling, ensuring even distribution for maximum flavor and texture.

Step 9: Create Rustic Pastry Shape

Gently fold the corners of the dough towards the center, forming a free-form pastry that looks beautifully homemade.

Step 10: Prepare for Baking

Brush the exposed dough edges with beaten egg to create a stunning golden, glossy finish that will make your pastries look professionally baked.

Step 11: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry turns a deep golden brown and the apricots bubble with sweet, tangy goodness.

Step 12: Cool and Garnish

Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and sprinkle additional sliced almonds for a final touch of elegance.

Step 13: Serve and Enjoy

Plate your beautiful apricot almond pastries and watch as everyone falls in love with your baking skills.

Top Tricks For Apricot Almond Pastries

• Freeze Butter for Flakiness: Chilling butter in the freezer creates ultra-crisp, delicate pastry layers that melt in your mouth.
• Macerate Apricots Perfectly: Let fruit sit with sugar and almond extract to intensify flavors and release natural juices before baking.
• Master Dough Handling: Work quickly with cold dough and minimal handling to maintain a tender, light pastry texture.
• Achieve Golden Shine: Brush pastry edges with beaten egg for a professional, glossy golden-brown finish that looks stunning.
• Balance Almond Crunch: Sprinkle sliced almonds evenly to provide delightful texture contrast between soft fruit and crisp pastry.

Switch Things Up With Apricot Almond Pastries

• Summer Berry Blend: Replace apricots with a mixed berry combination of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for a vibrant, colorful pastry.
• Tropical Paradise: Swap apricots for diced mango and pineapple, adding a splash of coconut extract to enhance the tropical flavor profile.
• Spiced Autumn Harvest: Substitute apricots with diced pears, incorporating cinnamon and nutmeg for a warm, cozy seasonal variation.
• Lavender Peach Elegance: Use fresh peaches instead of apricots, sprinkle dried lavender buds for a sophisticated, fragrant pastry experience.

Apricot Almond Pastries Pair Well With These

• Pair Bright Citrus Tea: Crisp lemon or orange herbal tea complements the sweet and tangy apricot pastry, cutting through the richness with refreshing zest.
• Serve Creamy Vanilla Gelato: Smooth, cold vanilla gelato provides a luxurious contrast to the warm, flaky pastry, enhancing the almond and fruit flavors.
• Match Sweet Moscato Wine: Light, slightly sparkling Moscato d'Asti balances the pastry's sweetness with its delicate fruity notes and low alcohol content.
• Enjoy Lavender Honey Latte: Delicate lavender and smooth honey in a warm latte create a sophisticated flavor harmony with the nutty, fruity pastry.

Smart Ways To Store Apricot Almond Pastries

• Store pastries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep them separated with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate texture.
• Wrap individual pastries tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore crispness.
• Leave pastries at room temperature for 1-2 days if enjoying soon. Place in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight to prevent soggy bottoms and maintain their crisp edges.
• Warm pastries in a preheated oven at 325°F for 5-10 minutes.

Apricot Almond Pastries FAQ Rundown

• Can I use frozen apricots instead of fresh ones?

Yes, thaw frozen apricots completely and pat them dry to prevent excess moisture that could make the pastry soggy.

• How do I know if my pastry dough is properly mixed?

The dough should look like coarse breadcrumbs and hold together when pinched, without being too wet or dry.

• What if my butter isn't cold enough?

Always use very cold butter and briefly freeze cubed butter to ensure flaky, tender pastry texture and prevent greasy results.

• Can I make the pastry dough ahead of time?

You can prepare the dough up to 2 days in advance and store it wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Apricot Almond Pastries Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Delightful Apricot Almond Pastries blend French elegance with sweet, buttery charm. Crisp golden layers and fragrant almonds promise a heavenly dessert that will transport taste buds to charming Parisian patisseries.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pastry Dough:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cold butter
• 1/4 cup ice water
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Filling:

• 1 cup fresh apricots
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp almond extract

Topping:

• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp sliced almonds
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Chill the butter and slice into small cubes, then place in the freezer for 10 minutes to ensure maximum coldness.
2. Combine flour and chilled butter in a food processor, pulsing until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
3. Gradually drizzle ice water into the flour mixture, processing until the dough just begins to form a cohesive ball.
4. Shape the dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow gluten to relax.
5. Dice fresh apricots into small, uniform pieces and mix with granulated sugar and almond extract, letting the fruit macerate.
6. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to approximately 1/8-inch thickness.
8. Cut the dough into 4-inch squares, creating a clean, even shape for the pastries.
9. Spoon the apricot mixture into the center of each dough square, leaving a border around the edges.
10. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the fruit filling, ensuring even distribution.
11. Fold the corners of the dough towards the center, creating a rustic, free-form pastry shape.
12. Brush the exposed dough edges with beaten egg to create a golden, glossy finish.
13. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry turns a deep golden brown and the apricots are bubbling.
14. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
15. Dust with powdered sugar and additional sliced almonds before serving.

Notes

• Keep butter ice-cold to achieve the flakiest, most delicate pastry texture possible.
• Use fresh, ripe apricots for the most vibrant and intense fruit flavor in your pastries.
• Macerate fruit with sugar to draw out natural juices and enhance overall sweetness.
• For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free pastry flour blend.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 30 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg