Crumble, also referred to as streuesel, adds a mouthwatering buttery texture wherever it goes. Paired with our cherry filled puff pastries, you’ll be in veritable dessert heaven. Trust us that this needn’t be a complicated affair. All you need to do is grab a roll of puff pastry, some jarred cherries, butter, and flour. Once you’re done baking, well, there’s arguing with the results.
Our Recipe for Puff Pastry Crumble Squares
As you may know, dessert squares can be as dressed up or down as you please. Sometimes you need to go all in and make the dough yourself. Today, however, we are aiming for simplicity and opting for a ready-made puff pastry sheet. This not only lightens your load, but also makes for an easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for whenever the mood strikes, hunger calls, or guests unexpectedly arrive.
You may even already have the ingredients for the recipe in your kitchen: Puff pastry, jarred cherries, flour, and butter are all you need. The only thing you should prep in advance is making sure that your butter is properly soft before starting.
We suggest starting by making the cherry filling. In a pot, simmer the jarred cherries with their juice, sugar, and cornstarch. Once the cherry mix has properly thickened, let it briefly cool before spreading it onto the puff pastry. Of course, you can make the filling with any fruit. Raspberries, blueberries, but also apples or pear sauce would work just as well.
No matter which fruit route you go, once the filling has been spread it’s time to move onto the crumble. In a bowl, simply mix the sugar, flour, and softened butter together. If you want to refine the dough, add cinnamon or vanilla, or add chopped or ground nuts for a little something extra.
The charm of this pastry lies in its flavor and versatility. Our crumble squares work with just about any fruit and are perfect as a delicious dessert or simply as a snack for in between. With their crumble top, rich filling, and easy preparation, they are sure to become a regular not in your culinary symphony.
Make your home a veritable bakery with our baked goods recipes, like our strawberry buttermilk scones, whoopie pies, and hazelnut pastry rolls with lemon glaze.
Puff Pastry Streusel Squares
Ingredients
- 1 jar sour cherries
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 package puff pastry
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (convection) or 375°F (conventional) and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- Start by preparing the cherry filling for the puff pastry streusel squares. Drain the cherries and save the juice for later. In a saucepan, bring the juice and 1 tablespoon of sugar to a boil.
- In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 1-2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Remove the saucepan from the heat as soon as the juice boils. Stir in the cornstarch until smooth. Add the cherries and bring to a boil again, stirring constantly.
- The second step is to prepare the streusel. Combine the softened butter, flour, and remaining sugar. Knead the mixture with your hands or a hand mixer until streusel forms, it should be crumbly. The longer you knead, the smaller and finer the streusel will be.
- Now it's time to make the streusel squares. Roll out the puff pastry and cut it into equal-sized squares. Spread the cherry filling generously over the puff pastry and sprinkle it with the streusel.
- Place the streusel squares on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.