Travesseiro
Travesseiro, meaning 'pillow' in Portuguese, is a traditional pastry from Sintra, Portugal. It features a delicate, flaky puff pastry encasing a rich and creamy almond filling. These pastries are a beloved specialty, often enjoyed with coffee or as a sweet treat.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g All-butter puff pastry(Store-bought or homemade. Ensure it's thawed if frozen.)
- 200 g Blanched slivered almonds(For a finer texture, you can grind these into a coarse meal.)
- 6 Egg yolks(Large eggs.)
- 200 g Granulated sugar
- 50 ml Water(For the sugar syrup.)
- 1 tsp Lemon zest(Optional, but adds a nice brightness.)
- for dusting Powdered sugar(Confectioners' sugar.)
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water Egg wash(For brushing the pastry.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the almond cream filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ground almonds (or slivered almonds), egg yolks, and granulated sugar. Mix thoroughly until a thick paste forms. If using lemon zest, stir it in now. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Prepare the puff pastry: Lightly flour your work surface. Unroll or unfold the puff pastry sheet. If it's a block, roll it out to about 1/8-inch (3mm) thickness. Cut the pastry into approximately 4x6 inch (10x15 cm) rectangles. You should get about 8 rectangles.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 3
Assemble the Travesseiros: Place a generous tablespoon of the almond cream filling onto one half of each pastry rectangle, leaving a small border around the edges. Lightly brush the edges of the pastry with the egg wash. Carefully fold the other half of the pastry over the filling to create a sealed pillow shape. Press the edges firmly with your fingers or a fork to seal. Ensure there are no gaps where the filling can escape during baking.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Bake the pastries: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the assembled Travesseiros on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tops of the pastries with the remaining egg wash. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed up, deeply golden brown, and crisp. The filling should be set and lightly caramelized.
⏱️ 20-25 minutes - 5
Cool and serve: Remove the Travesseiros from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for at least 10-15 minutes. Just before serving, generously dust the tops with powdered sugar. Serve warm.
⏱️ 15 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For authentic flavor, use high-quality all-butter puff pastry.
- ✓Ensure the pastry is well-sealed to prevent the almond cream from leaking out during baking.
- ✓Travesseiros are best enjoyed fresh, ideally within a few hours of baking.
- ✓This pastry is a classic accompaniment to Sintra's famous Queijadas.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- For a richer filling, add a tablespoon of almond liqueur (like Amaretto) to the almond cream mixture.
- Adjust the amount of almonds to your preference; more almonds will result in a denser filling.