Almond Puff Loaf

By á-17979

Ingredients

• First Layer
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter*, cut into pats or 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1/4 cup water
• If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Second Layer
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter*
• 1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature; warm them, in the shell, in hot tap water for 10 minutes if they're cold from the fridge
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Topping
• 2/3 cup jam or preserves
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup slivered or sliced almonds, toasted in a 350°F oven for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until they're a light, golden brown
• Icing
• 1/2 cup confectioners' or glazing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 teaspoons milk or water (approximately

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) a large cookie sheet.

1) First layer: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the butter, flour, and salt (if you're using it), working the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or fork, your fingers, or a mixer. Mix until everything is crumbly, then stir in the water. The dough will become cohesive, though not smooth.

2) Divide the dough in half; if you're using a scale, each half will weigh about 4 5/8 ounces. Wet your hands, and shape each piece of this wet dough into a rough log. Pat the logs into 10" x 3" rectangles on the sheet, leaving at least 4" (but preferably 6") between them, and 2" on each side. These puff up in the oven (hence the name), and you need to leave them room for expansion.

3) Second layer: In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the water and butter to a boil. Stir until the butter melts, then add the flour (and salt, if you're using it) all at once. Stir the mixture with a spoon till it thickens, begins to steam, and leaves the sides of the pan; this will happen very quickly

4) Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl, or the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat it at medium speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute, just to cool it down a bit.

5) Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat until the dough loses its "slimy" look, and each egg is totally absorbed.

Ingredients

Volume Ounces Grams
First Layer
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter*, cut into pats or 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup water
*If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Second Layer
1 cup water
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter*
1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3 large eggs, at room temperature; warm them, in the shell, in hot tap water for 10 minutes if they're cold from the fridge
1 teaspoon almond extract
*If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Topping
2/3 cup jam or preserves
1/2 to 2/3 cup slivered or sliced almonds, toasted in a 350°F oven for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until they're a light, golden brown
Icing
1/2 cup confectioners' or glazing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 teaspoons milk or water (approximately)
First Layer4 ounces (1 stick) butter*, cut into pats or 1/2-inch cubes4 1/2 ounces King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour2 ounces water*If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.Second Layer8 ounces water4 ounces (1 stick) butter*4 1/2 ounces King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour3 large eggs, at room temperature; warm them, in the shell, in hot tap water for 10 minutes if they're cold from the fridge1 teaspoon almond extract*If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.Topping7 ounces jam or preserves2 to 2 1/2 ounces slivered or sliced almonds, toasted in a 350°F oven for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until they're a light, golden brownIcing2 ounces confectioners' or glazing sugar1 teaspoon vanilla4 teaspoons milk or water (approximately)First Layer113g (1 stick) butter*, cut into pats or 1/2-inch cubes128g King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour57g water*If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.Second Layer227g water113g (1 stick) butter*128g King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour3 large eggs, at room temperature; warm them, in the shell, in hot tap water for 10 minutes if they're cold from the fridge1 teaspoon almond extract*If you're using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt.Topping198g jam or preserves57 to 71g slivered or sliced almonds, toasted in a 350°F oven for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until they're a light, golden brownIcing57g confectioners' or glazing sugar1 teaspoon vanilla4 teaspoons milk or water (approximately)Directions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) a large cookie sheet.

1) First layer: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the butter, flour, and salt (if you're using it), working the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or fork, your fingers, or a mixer. Mix until everything is crumbly, then stir in the water. The dough will become cohesive, though not smooth.

2) Divide the dough in half; if you're using a scale, each half will weigh about 4 5/8 ounces. Wet your hands, and shape each piece of this wet dough into a rough log. Pat the logs into 10" x 3" rectangles on the sheet, leaving at least 4" (but preferably 6") between them, and 2" on each side. These puff up in the oven (hence the name), and you need to leave them room for expansion.

3) Second layer: In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the water and butter to a boil. Stir until the butter melts, then add the flour (and salt, if you're using it) all at once. Stir the mixture with a spoon till it thickens, begins to steam, and leaves the sides of the pan; this will happen very quickly.

4) Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl, or the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat it at medium speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute, just to cool it down a bit.

5) Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat until the dough loses its "slimy" look, and each egg is totally absorbed.

6) Mix in the almond extract.

7) Divide the batter in half. Spread half the batter over one of the dough strips on the pan, covering it completely. Repeat with the remaining batter and dough.

8) With a spatula (or your wet fingers) spread the batter until it completely covers the entire bottom layer of dough. Smooth it out as best you can

9) Bake the pastry for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until it's a deep golden brown. Remove it from the oven, and transfer each pastry to a wire rack.

10) Topping: Spread each warm pastry with about 1/3 cup of jam or preserves. (Any flavor is fine, but our favorites are raspberry and apricot.)

11) Sprinkle the toasted almonds atop the jam. By this time, your beautifully puffed pastries are probably starting to sink; don't worry, this is all part of the plan.

12) Icing: Stir together the sugar, vanilla, and enough milk or water to form a thick but "drizzlable" icing.

13) Drizzle the icing atop the pastries.

14) Cut into squares or strips to serve.