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    Home » European Vegetarian Desserts

    Published: Mar, 2023. Updated: Nov, 2022 by Iryna Bychkiv | This post may contain affiliate links. Read more here

    Banketstaaf (Dutch Christmas Log)

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    Jump to Recipe

    Banketstaaf is an amazingly simple Dutch almond pastry that takes only 10 minutes to assemble. The oven will do the rest of the work.  
    Flaky puff pastry is stuffed with a mixture of sweet almond paste and orange zest, rolled into a log, and baked until crispy perfection. Banket is an easy and delicious Dutch Christmas food made in no time.  

    Also, try my Vegan Banket Recipe.

    Banketstaaf (Sweet Puff Pastry Dessert With Almond Paste

    Don't you just love desserts that require minimal effort but are irresistibly delicious? No kneading or proofing is required.

    I certainly do. One of my favorite ways to make a quick and scrumptious dessert is to use puff pastry, which is a staple in my freezer.

    Jump to:
    • What is Banket?
    • Here's Why This Recipe Works
    • Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storage Tips
    • Similar Recipes
    • Recipe

    A few years ago, I made German Hausfreunde Cookies, which are essentially sandwich cookies with almond paste. And although there were a few steps involved, the result totally overcame my expectations.

    Since then, I started using almond paste or Marzipan in baking more often.

    One of the recipes that has become very popular with my readers is of Dutch heritage and is called Banketstaaf or Banket.

    It is a delicious Dutch Almond Pastry that is a must during the holidays.

    Banket (Puff Pastry And Marzipan Log)

    What is Banket?

    Banket is a traditional Dutch dessert that is so popular around Christmas time. The dough is usually made from flour, eggs, and butter. However, puff pastry can also be used.

    What makes Banket Dutch almond pastry so amazingly delicious? 

    Marzipan filling! Lots of it! Just like in my British Simnel Cake, this Banket recipe has plenty of this delicious almond filling.

    And who doesn't like Marzipan?

    If you've ever tried European sweets (think Mozartkugel), you know that Marzipan is a very popular ingredient in many recipes.

    For this particular Banketstaaf recipe, I used Almond Paste.

    Here's Why This Recipe Works

    • quick and easy. If you've ever worked with puff pastry, you know how easy it is. This Banket Dutch Almond Pastry is not an exception. It's perfect for Christmas baking or last minute dessert idea;
    • crowd-pleaser. Everyone loves Banket. Imagine biting into a crispy baked puff pastry filled with aromatic almond paste filling. Totally irresistible.
    • perfect for Christmas cookie exchange. This Dutch almond pastry makes a great gift during holiday season.

    Instructions

    1. Roll out puff pastry for Banket

    Preheat the oven to 425 F and cover a rectangular baking sheet with parchment paper.

    On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry into a large rectangle, 2 inches shorter than the length of your baking sheet. (See the notes regarding the puff pastry at the bottom of the recipe card.)

    Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the pastry in half lengthwise.

    1. Shape the Almond Paste

    In a medium bowl, combine the almond paste with the orange zest and knead with a fork until well blended.

    Divide almond paste into 2 even pieces and roll each piece into a log approximately 1 inch shorter than the length of puff pastry.

    1. Form the almond pastry

    Place one almond log along the center of each long strip of dough. Brush the sides of the Dutch almond pastry with a beaten egg.

    how to fold puff pastry over almond logs

    Fold 2 shorter ends of the puff pastry to cover the almond log. Fold 2 longer ends over the almond log and flip the log so that the seam was at the bottom.

    Repeat with the 2-second sheet of puff pastry.

    1. Bake

    Transfer the Dutch almond pastry to a prepared baking sheet and brush with the beaten egg. (You can also brush with the egg yolk). Bake Dutch Banket for 25 minutes until golden brown.

    1. Decorate Banket

    Meanwhile, put apricot jam in a microwave-safe dish and heat for 20-30 seconds until the jam is runny.

    Brush Dutch Banketstaaf with the apricot jam, sprinkle with almond slivers, and dust with confectioners sugar.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between Almond Paste and Marzipan?

    They are essentially the same thing, however, Almond Paste has a slightly higher amount of almonds and less sugar than Marzipan.
    You can find Almond Paste in practically every grocery store in the baking aisle.

    Do you need to add sugar to the almond paste?

    Almond paste typically contains around 50% of sugar. Adding additional sugar to almond paste will result in Banket being too sweet.

    What is a Banket made of?

    The dough for Banket is usually made of flour, butter, egg, and ice-cold water. However, puff pastry can also be used with great success.

    Storage Tips

    Baked Dutch Banket is best eaten right away. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and consume them the next day.

    As you can see Banket recipe is such an easy almond paste dessert. It requires just a few simple steps and the result will certainly delight you.

    If you love recipes using almond pastry filling, give this Banket - Dutch Almond pastry a try. It's so good and pairs great with your morning tea or coffee.

    Similar Recipes

    • German Christmas Cake
      German Christmas Cake (Stollen Recipe)
    • Risalamande Recipe
      Risalamande (Danish Rice Pudding)
    • Finnish Christmas Cookies With Prune Jam (Joulutorttu)
    • Trdelnik Recipe (Czech Walnut Cinnamon Pastry)

    If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment below and rate it. I always appreciate the feedback. Also, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

    If you're looking for a quick overview of the recipe, please check out my Banket web story.

    Recipe

    Banketstaaf

    Banket (Dutch Christmas Log)

    Banketstaaf is an amazingly simple Dutch almond pastry that takes only 10 minutes to assemble. Oven will do the rest of the work.  Flaky puff pastry is stuffed with a mixture of sweet almond paste and orange zest, rolled into a log and baked until crispy perfection. Banket is an easy and delicious Dutch Christmas food made in no time. 
    4.58 from 57 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Dutch
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 317kcal
    Author: Iryna Bychkiv
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    Ingredients

    • 14 oz sheet puff pastry defrosted
    • 10 oz almond paste
    • 1 orange zested
    • 1 egg beaten
    • 3 tablespoon apricot jam
    • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoon sliced almonds
    • 3 tablespoon flour

    Instructions

    Roll out puff pastry for Banket

    • Preheat the oven 425 F and cover a rectangular baking sheet with a parchment paper.
    • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry into a large rectangle, 2 inches shorter than the length of your baking sheet.
    • Cut the pastry in half lengthwise.

    Shape the Almond Paste

    • In a medium bowl, combine the almond paste with the 
orange zest and knead until blended*. (See the notes regarding the almond paste)
    • Divide almond paste into 2 even pieces and roll each peace into a log approximately 1 inch shorter than the length of puff pastry.

    Form the almond pastry

    • Place one almond log on one half of puff pastry. Brush the sides of the pastry with a beaten egg.
    • Fold 2 shorter ends of the pastry to cover the almond log. Fold 2 longer ends over the almond log and flip the log so that the seam was at the bottom.
    • Repeat with the 2 second sheet of puff pastry.

    Bake

    • Transfer the Dutch almond pastry on a prepared baking sheet, brush with the beaten egg and bake for about 25 minutes until slightly brown on top. (You can also brush with the egg yolk).

    Decorate Banket

    • Meanwhile put apricot jam in a microwave-safe dish and heat for about 20-30 seconds until jam is runny.
    • Brush baked logs with the apricot jam, sprinkle with sliced almonds and dust with confectioners sugar.
    • Serve with a cup of hot tea or coffee!

    Notes

    *In this recipe I used a 7 oz Almond paste pack from Odense (I bought 2 of those) and a 14 oz puff pastry sheet from Dufour.
    If you buy puff pastry in a 17.3 oz pack from Pepperidge Farm with 2 sheets inside, I recommend either using just 1 puff pastry sheet and reducing the amount of Almond Paste to 7 or 8 oz per sheet, or using both puff pastry sheets and increasing the amount of Almond Paste to 14 oz.
    Storage tips. Baked Dutch Banket is best eaten right away. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and consume them the next day.
    ---Nutritional Information Should Be Considered An Estimate---

    Nutrition

    Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.4g | Protein: 5.5g | Fat: 19.7g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 127mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1.3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Lavender.And.Macarons or tag #lavenderandmacarons!
    Pinterest Image of Dutch Banket dessert
    Iryna Bychkiv
    Website

    Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
    Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.

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    Comments

    1. Petro says

      December 07, 2024 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      good rececipe

      Reply
    2. Janis says

      June 13, 2022 at 7:24 pm

      How long do these stay fresh and do they have to be refrigerated? Do they get soft at room temperature or remain flaky for a couple of days?

      Reply
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