Almond Bear Claws

Ingredients list for Almond Bear Claws

• ? cup Almond paste
• as required Pastry dough
• 1 cup Almonds
• ½ cup Sugar
• a pinch Salt
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 2 Egg whites
• ½ teaspoon Almond extract
• for dusting Refined flour (maida)
• 1 Egg
• for dusting Icing sugar

Method

1. Beat the almond paste in a bowl. Add ground almonds, sugar and salt and beat until smooth.
2. Add the butter, egg whites and almond extract and beat till light and fluffy. Spread the mixture on a cling film and freeze.
3. Using half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle that is about eight inches wide and one-fourth inch thick. Trim the edges of the dough. Cut the dough in half lengthwise to make two four inch wide strips.
4. Preheat the oven to 200º C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
5. Beat the egg with one tablespoon water.
6. Cut the frozen almond mixture and place on the edge of the strips. Fold each strip over the filling and press gently to seal it. Brush each with beaten egg and cut into three to four pieces. Make half inch slits into sealed edges to make claws and place them on the lined baking tray. Brush again with beaten egg.
7. Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for twenty-five to thirty minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
8. Dust with icing sugar and serve.