I’m not always a huge fan of nuts; however, I love almond paste and marzipan. There is something about the flavor of almond paste that I absolutely love. I’ve had Banket on my “Christmas to-do list” for the past couple years and this year I finally got the chance to make it. Banket is a flaky Dutch pastry that features almond paste in all it’s glory.
Banket – A Dutch Almond Pastry
- 2 Cups Flour
- ½ Cup Butter
- ½ Cup Shortening
- ½ Cup Water
- 1 Pound Almond Paste
- 2 Eggs + 1 Egg White for Wash
- ¾ Cup Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- Pinch Salt
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the butter, shortening, and flour until it forms a crumbly texture.
- Add in the water and mix until it forms a dough ball
- Chill Overnight (to make it easier to roll)
- Preheat the oven to 450*
- In another mixing bowl, combine the almond paste, 2 eggs, sugar, almond extract, and salt
- Divide the dough into 3-4 sections
- Roll on a floured surface into 12-15" strips about 4-5" wide
- Place filling on each on each strip. leaving about ½ inch all the way around
- Fold lengthwise and pinch the ends together
- Place on a (greased) cookie sheet seam end down about 2" apart (I like to use a Silpat instead of greasing)
- Brush with whipped egg white and sprinkle with sugar
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown
This pastry is absolutely delicious. The outside is light and flaky while the inside is soft and gooey. The filling is also nice and sweet without being too sweet. I made 4 rolls, sliced up two to enjoy during the long weekend and put the others in the freezer. I’m looking forward to enjoying them later this holiday season (maybe I’ll have to host a cookie exchange to share them with some of my friends).
For this recipe, I used butter which featured the “Real California Milk” seal. Right now, you can help natural disaster victims simply by tweeting now through the end of the year. You can learn more on the Real California Milk page. Real California Milk is donating $5 for each share, totaling up to $20k for Florida and $10k for California with the Great American Milk Drive.
Now that I’ve made Banket once, I’m sure I’ll be tapping into my Dutch heritage to make it again in the future. Do you have a traditional holiday recipe that you make every year?
Jessica Holoka says
I love anything almond! I might have to make this for Christmas!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
I haven’t tried something like these, but I am loving the sound already! These look really good – a perfect pair for a cup of tea or coffee. :D Thanks for sharing!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
These look so addicting!! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party! This Friday (December 1) we start the great cookie exchange on our blog. Would love to have you add these!
Sandra L Garth says
I’m always on the hunt for different baked goods and this looks like a winner to me. Your pictures are beautiful and thanks for the recipe!