Puff Pastry 2 Ways

Chocolate croissants and applerose tarts

Photography by Lucy Munene

By Lucy Munene

Introducing the Lazy Cook! We’re here to show you how to make picture perfect food that tastes just as good as it looks and doesn’t take 3 hours to prepare. Pastries are a great addition to any brunch spread and they are great snacks to have when you want to satisfy any cravings. Skip the line at your local cafe and make your own croissants and tarts.

CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS

The hardest part of this recipe will be trying not to eat all the leftover chocolate.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 packet of frozen puff pastry (We recommend Lyons Maid)

• 1 packet of cooking chocolate

• 1 egg

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and defrost puff pastry at room temperature for 20 minutes. Roughly chop up two squares of cooking chocolate.

2. Divide the puff pastry into triangles. You should get 4 large triangles and 2 small ones.

3. Place a teaspoon of chopped chocolate chunks onto the widest part of the triangle and roll it up to meet the tip of the triangle. Fold the corners in to make that distinct croissant shape.

4. Brush the tops of the croissants with a lightly beaten egg.

5. Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes.

APPLE ROSE TARTS

Give yourself an hour for these. Half an hour for baking and half an hour to put your feet up and slowly enjoy the fruits of your labour.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 packet of frozen puff pastry (We recommend Lyons Maid)

• 2 Pink Lady apples

• 1 Bottle of Caramel sauce

• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder

• ½ cup of Lemon juice

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and defrost puff pastry at room temperature for 20 minutes. Cut your apples into 2 large pieces then remove the core.

2. Place the apple face down and cut thin crescent shaped slices.

3. Place the slices in a bowl of water mixed with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

4. Cut the puff pastry into 5 inch strips. Mix your caramel and cinnamon together then brush this mixture onto the strips.

5. Drain the apples and then add them one by one onto the strips, overlapping each one over the other. Leave the top half of the apple out of the pastry.

6. Once all the apple slices are arranged, fold the lower half of the strip over and roll the strip up slowly to form your flower tart. Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes. Dust with icing sugar and enjoy.