Description
Sweet romance meets delicate pastry in these Chocolate Almond Puff Pastry Pretzel Hearts, perfect for Valentine’s celebrations. Rich chocolate and nutty almonds intertwine within golden, flaky layers, creating an irresistible dessert that melts hearts with each delicate bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Hearts
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (450 grams / 16 ounces) package frozen butter puff pastry, thawed
- 4 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup chopped milk chocolate
Binding and Coating:
- 1 egg
Topping:
- 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 425F (220C) and cover a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal pastry preparation.
- Separate the thawed puff pastry into eight uniform strips, then brush four strips generously with egg wash for enhanced golden color.
- Distribute mini chocolate chips evenly along the center of each egg-washed pastry strip, ensuring consistent chocolate coverage.
- Layer the remaining unused pastry strips atop the chocolate-laden strips, applying firm pressure to seal the layers together.
- Transform each assembled strip into a 14-inch elongated rope, carefully curving the rope to create elegant heart shapes, and pinch the pointed end to maintain structural integrity.
- Arrange the heart-shaped pastries onto the prepared baking sheet, then bake for 20 minutes until they achieve a rich, golden-brown appearance. Allow pastries to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven.
- Gently melt the chopped milk chocolate and delicately drizzle over the warm pastry hearts, then sprinkle toasted almond slices across the surface for added texture and flavor.
- Permit the pastries to cool completely, ensuring the chocolate sets and the delicate structure stabilizes before serving.
Notes
- Use chilled puff pastry straight from the refrigerator to ensure crisp, flaky layers that hold their shape during baking.
- Work quickly when shaping the hearts to prevent the pastry from becoming too warm and losing its structural integrity.
- Adjust chocolate amounts based on personal preference, experimenting with dark or white chocolate for varied flavor profiles.
- Toast almonds beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a delightful crunch that complements the chocolate’s richness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 235 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg