If you need a dessert fast, opt for these impressive Apricot Puffs. They're flaky, just a little sweet, and easy to make with thawed puff pastry. The puffs also are considerably cheaper to make than buying the bakery or frozen boxed versions. A little apricot jam provides the filling for the pastries, and you can add nuts, if you like. I often opt for walnuts, but the puffs also are good with pecans, pistachio nuts, or almonds. Or leave out the nuts. You do need to thaw the puff pastry in advance, but, otherwise, the puffs take only a minute or two to make. The puffs air fry in 10-12 minutes and come out golden and sugar-crusted. I often leave the puff pastry out to thaw during dinner and make the puffs after dinner for a post-shower snack with coffee. Try the puffs with a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside or plain with a cup of coffee or tea. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Apricot Puffs -- Makes 2
2 small, thawed pieces of puff pastry, each about 4-inches square
2 i/2 teaspoons of apricot jam (yes, you can use other jams), divided
1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts
Sugar to sprinkle
Cut a small piece of baking parchment to fit your air fryer basket. Put a teaspoon of jam in the center of each puff pastry square (you can spread it a little, if you want) and sprinkle half of the walnuts on each square. Moisten the edges of each square with a little water and fold the squares over the jam/walnuts to form triangles. Rub the remaining jam over the tops of the pastry triangles. Sprinkle a little sugar on top of each triangle. Spritz the tops of the triangles with a little non-stick cooking spray (this holds the sugar in place in the air fryer). Put the triangles in the air fryer basket, put the basket in the air fryer, and air fry the puffs at 320 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let the puffs cool a little before serving warm, preferably with ice cream.
