Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (2024)

I have been wanting a chance to make it with my mother and document it for the blog, but she lives in Michigan and with me in Florida for the last 21 years it just never happened. When my parents visit in February she will bring me some almond paste and one year she did show me how to assemble it, but the filling and dough was already made. The one time we did make it back to Michigan for Christmas a couple of years back, of course it was already made and ready to eat.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (1)
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Grandma Bouwman's Banket
Crust:
1 pound butter/oleo, soften at room temp (I used cold butter, like you would making pie crust)4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar (optional) I skipped the sugar3/4 cup milk - make sure it's coldMix well until crumbly, add milk. Form into dough using fork, divide into eight balls.
Roll out each ball to form rectangle, put almond filling on crust.

My take on this: I used a pastry cutter like you would when making pie crust, cutting in the butter until you get a crumbly oatmeal-like texture. Use cold butter and cold milk or water so it will be nice and flaky...form into dough try not to over-work the dough. After talking to my mother she said another old recipe she had has you refrigerate the dough and filling overnight. My personal tip would be to form it into the eight balls, and then flatten them first before refrigerating them.

Filling:
1 pound almond paste (2 cups)
2 cups sugar (you could probably use a little less, but I use a scant 2 cups)3 eggs (I think next time I will us 2 eggs)Mix well, put in fridge to harden. Add flour to make it less sticky when putting it on crust.
My take on this: I had a block of almond paste that mom brought down from Michigan. They can get it every where up there...if you can't find almond paste, you can make your own almond paste try this one here
My mom told me to beat the eggs and sugar first then add the almond paste after breaking it into crumbles.Bake 10 minutes at 425° then 15 minutes at 350°
I found I had to bake this longer. If you want to bake it like a pie you can bake it high heat for 15 minutes then turn it down and bake another 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown. Make sure your dough is nice and cold. I would brush an egg wash on before baking next time, I didn't on these and they came out fine, but sometimes my grand mother would.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (2)This was the almond paste mixture after it was in the refrigerator overnight.

When I was trying to mix the almond paste my mom suggested to beat the eggs first with a hand mixer, so I did, I think I did it too much and it became a little frothy, then I added the crumbled almond paste and sugar. I think I should of added the sugar with the eggs, then added the almond paste. Mine turned out fine, but it was different from my mother's. I think 2 eggs would work fine in it. I didn't add any extra flour because it was very spreadable this way...maybe because of the three eggs. Maybe I should stick to it this way, my mom would spread it with her hands and flour her fingers, and place little pieces around all over the dough. It was sticky to work with!

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (3) I just used a rubber spatula to spread it on. My mom cautioned me not to have too much filling do it won't ooze out on the baking pan. She said she added too much last year and she didn't like the way it turned out.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (4) You are supposed to roll the dough out into rectangles, but I got it as close as I could, and they still turned out even without smooth edges. You can cut and paste it, the dough seems to handle it well.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (5) To keep it a family tradition I got my daughter involved...of course she asked to roll some of her own...so I had to stand back and let her do it!!
And she did great! Of course I have such a small area it's so difficult to have two people in the kitchen at the same time. It was also 80° out and seemed very hot with to oven on, I know my grandma and mom didn't have to deal with weather like that in Michigan at Christmas time! :)

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (6) The dough is rolled out thin sorta like a pie dough would be...dusting the work surface and rolling pin with flour as you go. After you roll up the filling inside the logs, seal it with water. Since I used a little more filling than my mother did I made sure it was sealed well and gave it a little pinch too.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (7) I have baked the "logs" that my mom gave me (they freeze really well) at 350° or 375° for 30 - 35 minutes. I didn't know the directions at that time, so I think you can do it that way without having to start out baking it at high heat and turning it down. Just keep any eye on it until its a nice golden brown.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (8) If you don't have a stoneware baking pan or pizza stone, line your cookie sheet with parchment paper so it browns up nicely. I didn't use an egg-wash in this batch.

After the first batch was done baking I had to call my mom again to see how long I had to wait before I can cut into them. I couldn't wait... mmm...so good and reminds me of my mom's...

...they were nice and flaky, the almond filling didn't ooze out (of course I like it oozing out a little when it caramelizes up a little) .

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (9) It is so good for breakfast the next morning, not too sweet, delicate flavor.

Even though I kept calling my mom several times throughout the process...and she said "why don't you wait until I get there in February" I think it turned out pretty good.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (10) I do think that it is easier to cut if you can wait until it cools completely. I gave one (log) to my aunt and uncle when we met them for dinner, after all it is his mother's recipe...they are going north for Christmas. She says it's been awhile since she's had it she's never made it...I hope they enjoy it as much as we do.

Banket (Dutch Pastry with almond filling) family recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use almond filling instead of almond paste? ›

The almond paste and almond filling are very different products and should not be used interchangeably in a recipe. The Almond Filling is a jam-like filling for cakes, pastries, and cookies. The Almond Paste is usually mixed or cut into a recipe for an almond flavor, or as a layer in tarts and pies.

What are almond pastries called? ›

Frangipane – Almond custard. Friand – Small almond cake. Gâteau Basque – French pastry. Gugelhupf – German yeast cake. Galette de Rois – Type of cake associated with Epiphany -- french puff pastry filled with frangipane.

What is the difference between almond paste and marzipan? ›

Almond paste has twice the amount of almonds in it compared to marzipan, making it coarser in texture and less sweet than its counterpart. Their consistency also differs as marzipan is smooth and pliable, almost clay-like, while almond paste is somewhat gritty and spreadable, almost like a cookie dough.

What is Kerstrans? ›

Kerstkrans is a Dutch cake made for celebrating St. Nicholas Day.

What does almond paste do in baking? ›

You can put anything in a cinnamon bun, but almond paste is a pretty amazing addition. Just a thin layer adds a nice richness to the dough without adding too much sweetness; unlike marzipan, almond paste has a more concentrated almond flavor that allows you to control the level of sugar in a baked good.

What is almond filling made of? ›

Regardless of its murky origins, Frangipane, "Crème d'Amande" in French, or Almond Cream, is made from only 5 ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, ground almonds and flour. It's beaten together to create a smooth, creamy almond filling.

What do you call a sweet filling made from almonds in baking? ›

Use this classic pastry cream as a filling for tarts, cakes, and more.

What is frangipane filling made of? ›

What is frangipane? A creamy mixture of ground almonds, butter, sugar and eggs that is sometimes used to fill tarts. Halved stone fruit, such as apricots and plums, can be baked on top to make a delicious dessert.

What's the difference between marzipan and frangipane? ›

In essence, frangipane is an almond filling, sometimes called frangipane cream. It isn't the same as marzipan, which is an almond-sugar paste that's so dense it can be formed into decorative shapes and painted in bright colors.

What is marzipan called in America? ›

Also called almond candy dough, marzipan is an agreeable, multi-purpose combo of the first two, with a subtle almond flavor and unmatched malleability. Be sure to try these marzipan cake recipes.

Why is marzipan so expensive? ›

Marzipan comes from nuts—it's traditionally made with ground almonds. In order to maintain quality standards, many countries regulate the percentage of almonds a recipe must have for it to be legally called "marzipan." This discourages the use of apricot kernels as a cheap substitute for almonds.

Why does marzipan not taste like almonds? ›

Marzipan and almond paste are made from ground almonds and sugar but differ mainly in texture, sweetness, and use. Almond paste is coarser, less sweet, and used as a filling in baked goods. Marzipan is smoother, sweeter, and often used for decorative purposes in confectionery, such as cake covering and sculpting.

What do Dutch eat for Christmas? ›

Dutch Christmas dinners usually consist of venison, goose, hare, or turkey with plenty of vegetables and Kerstbrood (Christmas bread). The Dutch also celebrate by eating gourmetten, a hot plate on which diners place a set of mini pans containing their choice of meat or vegetables.

What is a substitute for almond paste? ›

How To Make allergy alternate for almond paste
  • let cream cheese come to room temp, Cream in sugar until super creamy,gently mix in egg yolk and imitation almond flavoring until smooth. Use in any recipe that calls for almond paste.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share!

What is the difference between almond meal and almond paste? ›

They are both made with mostly almond flour and sugar. ➤ The main difference is that almond paste has less sugar and is primarily used as a filling in baked goods.

Is almond meal the same as almond paste? ›

Almond paste can also technically be made at home as it is a paste-like mixture of almond meal and sugar. Sometimes the almond flavor of the paste is boosted with the addition of almond extract or by adding almond oil back into the product.

Can you use almond pulp to make almond flour? ›

Spread wet almond pulp on a lined baking tray and put into the oven for about 1-1.5 hours (until the mixture is completely dry to the touch). Every half an hour, stir the mixture with a spoon to make sure that it dries out evenly. Don't worry if there are any odd lumps, they will go during grinding phase.

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