How to Make a Pastry Fruit Filled Ring

Fruit-filled pastry is crusty with a rich filling.

For those looking to impress guests at their next brunch or dinner party, a fruit filled pastry ring is the ideal centerpiece. Flaky pastry wrapped around layers of fresh fruit is moist and delectable. The extra step of connecting the ends of the pastry to form a circle adds an extra element that can be filled with fresh fruit or flowers. Although pastry can be time consuming and a bit tricky to master, the result is well worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• Large mixing bowl
• Sifter
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• 1/2 cup sweet butter, plus extra for greasing
• 2 1/4 pounds apricots or other preferred fresh fruit
• Sharp knife
• Peeler
• Rolling pin
• Cookie sheet
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Instructions

Filling Preparation

1. Rinse the fruit in the sink and strain off any excess water.

2. Peel the fruit and discard skin.

3. Cut the fruit in half and remove pit or seeds. Cut into slices, and set aside.

Pastry Preparation

1. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl. Make a well by pushing the flour back away from the center leaving a hole in the middle of the flour.

2. Add the egg, 1/4 cup of the sugar, 6 tablespoons of the butter, a dash of salt and one to two tablespoons of water to the well.

3. Knead the dough with your fingers until dough is smooth and elastic.

4. Set dough aside and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Assembly

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F and grease the cookie sheet with some of the butter.

2. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Create a very thin rectangle.

3. Place fruit along one of the long sides, and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar.

4. Roll the pastry up like a jelly roll, and pinch the seam closed.

5. Place the dough seam-side down onto prepared cookie sheet, and bring the two ends together to form a circle. Pinch the ends together to complete.

6. Cut two-thirds into the side of the pastry with scissors, spaced every 1 inch. Gently separate and twist slightly so that each slice lays at an angle against the next.

7. Bake in the oven for one hour. Dust the finished pastry with powdered sugar if desired. To create a centerpiece, fill the inner circle with fresh fruit or flowers.

References

• "The Silver Spoon"; Phaidon Press Inc.; 1997
• All Recipes: Cinnamon Pecan Ring Recipe