Cinnamon Puff Pastry Crown

The cinnamon puff pastry crown is a tasty and theatrical dessert, ideal to serve for a snack or the end of a meal. Here is what you will need and how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 1 rectangular sheet of puff pastry
• 30 g of melted butter
• 50 g of brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder
• 1 beaten egg for brushing
• Powdered sugar for decorating (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. Roll out the puff pastry on a work surface.
3. Mix the brown sugar with the cinnamon and set aside.
4. Brush the pastry with melted butter, then evenly sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture over the entire surface.
5. Roll up the pastry on itself starting from the long side until a log is formed.
6. Cut the log in half lengthwise leaving one of the ends intact so you can braid the two halves.
7. Gently braid the two parts of the log, with the cut side facing up, until a “braid” is formed.
8. Carefully transfer the braid to a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
9. Connect the two ends of the braid to form a crown.
10. Brush the crown with the beaten egg.
11. Bake and cook for about 20-25 minutes or until the crown is golden and crispy.
12. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar if desired.

Serve your cinnamon puff pastry crown warm or at room temperature, it will be delicious accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee. The addition of powdered sugar is optional, but it gives a nice finish and an extra touch of sweetness.

Curiosity

Cinnamon is a spice that is very present in Italian pastry, especially in Christmas sweets like panforte or spiced biscuits. Although not native to Italy, its use has been well adopted in traditional recipes, imparting warm and enveloping flavors to many sweet dishes.