Sly Cakes

Sly Cakes are delicious and flaky puff pastry treats filled with a flavorful mixture of cooked apples, sultanas, muscovado sugar, mixed peel, and allspice. These individual pastry squares are a delightful combination of sweet and spiced flavors, encased in a golden and crispy puff pastry shell.

INGREDIENTS:

• 450g/1lb ready-to-roll puff pastry
• 2 cooking apples
• 50g/2oz butter
• 50g/2oz muscovado sugar
• 225g/8oz sultanas
• 50g/2oz mixed peel
• 2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• Icing sugar, to dust

PREPARATIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Lightly grease a non-stick baking tray.
2. Roll out the puff pastry to a thickness of 1cm/1/2in and trim it. Cut the pastry into 2 equal rectangles.
3. Place one rectangle on the greased baking tray.
4. Peel, core, and dice the cooking apples.
5. In a frying pan, melt the butter and add the diced apples. Fry the apples until they turn golden and start to soften.
6. Add the muscovado sugar to the frying pan with the apples and toss to coat the apples with the sugar.
7. Remove the frying pan from the heat and stir in the sultanas, mixed peel, and ground allspice.
8. Spread the apple mixture onto the pastry rectangle on the baking tray.
9. Place the other pastry rectangle on top of the apple mixture and press down lightly to seal.
10. Use a sharp knife to divide the pastry into 16 squares, pressing nearly all the way through the pastry.
11. Brush the tops of the pastry squares with the beaten egg yolk.
12. Bake the Sly Cakes in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until they turn golden and crisp.
13. Transfer the baked Sly Cakes to a wire rack to cool.
14. Dust the cooled Sly Cakes with icing sugar for a finishing touch.

YIELD: Serves 8

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Ensure that the puff pastry is rolled out to a consistent thickness to ensure even baking and a balanced pastry-to-filling ratio.
• Use a non-stick baking tray or line a regular baking tray with parchment paper to prevent the Sly Cakes from sticking.
• When frying the apples, stir occasionally to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking or burning.
• Press down lightly when placing the second pastry rectangle on top of the apple mixture to seal the pastry squares.
• Use a sharp knife to score the pastry squares almost all the way through, allowing them to easily separate after baking.
• Brushing the tops of the pastry squares with beaten egg yolk will give them a shiny and golden finish.

TIPS:

• Serve the Sly Cakes warm as a delightful dessert or a tasty treat with a cup of tea or coffee.
• Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg to the apple mixture for extra warmth and spice.
• Consider adding a drizzle of caramel or a scoop of vanilla ice cream when serving the Sly Cakes for an indulgent twist.
• Serve the Sly Cakes alongside a scoop of whipped cream or a dollop of custard for a creamy and rich accompaniment.
• Customize the filling by adding chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, for added texture and flavor.
• For a variation, substitute the ground allspice with ground cinnamon or ground ginger for different flavor profiles.

In conclusion, Sly Cakes are delicious and flaky puff pastry treats filled with a spiced apple mixture. These individual pastry squares feature a combination of cooked apples, muscovado sugar, sultanas, mixed peel, and ground allspice, encased in a golden and crispy puff pastry shell.

To prepare the Sly Cakes, ready-to-roll puff pastry is rolled out and cut into rectangles. The apple filling is made by frying diced cooking apples in butter and muscovado sugar, then adding sultanas, mixed peel, and ground allspice for added flavor. The apple filling is spread onto one pastry rectangle, and another pastry rectangle is placed on top. The pastry is divided into squares and brushed with beaten egg yolk for a shiny finish. After baking, the Sly Cakes are dusted with icing sugar for a touch of sweetness.

Serve the Sly Cakes warm as a delightful dessert or a tasty treat. Pair them with a cup of tea or coffee for a comforting indulgence. Customize the recipe by adding spices or nuts to the apple filling and consider serving with caramel drizzle or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for added decadence.

Enjoy the crispy and spiced goodness of Sly Cakes, savoring the sweet apple filling and the flaky puff pastry shell.