These sweet cardamom and almond puff pastry twists are delicate and airy snack that are addictive and easy to make!
These cardamom and almond puff pastry straws are inspired by the ever-so-popular savory cheese straws.
You start with store-bought puff pastry, then add some sugar, cardamom, and crushed almonds to these twists, giving them a holiday flair. They look and taste fancy, but they are so quick and easy to make!
Cardamom & Almond Puff Pastry Twists
There are just a few steps to making these cardamom and almond puff pastry twists.
The only thing that needs some time, is thawing the puff pastry.
1. Thaw puff pastry.
Thaw the puff pastry sheet in the fridge overnight for on the countertop for 20-30 minutes.
2. Prepare the almond and cardamom mix
There are only a few ingredients in these twists – almond, cardamom, and sugar.
Chop or grind the almond – using a spice grinder or food processor is the easiest. You want them to be quite fine, but not as fine almond flour.
Then, mix in ground cardamom, sugar, and salt.
3. Fill and Twist
Start by rolling out the puff pastry sheet a little. Add the mixture to one side of the puff pastry sheet. Then, fold it over.
Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut into strips about 1/2 inch wide. Then, carefully twist and place them onto the baking sheet immediately.
4. Bake the twists
Bake at 425ºF for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
Tips for Cardamom and Almond Puff Pastry Twists
- When working with puff pastry, the temperature is essential. If the sheets are cracking, let them thaw a little more. If the sheets feel warmer than room temperature, pop them in the fridge for a few minutes.
- If the almond and sugar mixture is not sticking to the puff pastry sheets, brush a little water to coax it to stick.
- While making the puff pastry twists, some of the almond-sugar mixture may fall out; this is normal. If you want, you can sprinkle it over the twists once you have placed them on the cookie sheet.
- Roasted, unsalted almonds would work best for this recipe. That way, you can control the salt in the mixture.
- Make sure to prepare your baking sheet before making the twists. They are difficult to move afterward.
How to store Cardamom and Almond Puff Pastry Twists?
You can store these Cardamom and Almond Puff Pastry Twists in an airtight container. They taste best in the first week or so but will keep at room temperature for about 2 weeks.
If you give this recipe a try, we’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @thespicemess
Cardamom and Almond Puff Pastry Twists
Ingredients
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 1/2 cup roasted unsalted, or lightly salted almonds
- 2-3 tablespoons Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Cardamom powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt optional
Instructions
- Thaw puff pastry on the countertop for at least 20 minutes or in the refrigerator overnight
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pre-heat oven to 425ºF.
- Roughly chop almonds into smaller pieces using a spice grinder or food processer. It should roughly be the size of coarse sugar granules, but not so fine that it is almond flour.
- In a small bowl, combine chopped almonds, cardamom powder, sugar, and salt, if using.
- Once the puff pastry has thawed, roll out the puff pastry, and spread almond cardamom mixture on half of the pastry sheet. Brush a little water if the mixture is not sticking.
- Fold the sheet over.
- Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut into strips and carefully twist. Place onto the baking sheet. Continue with the remaining strips.
- Bake at 425ºF for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.