Description
Homemade currant squares bring nostalgic family bakery charm straight to your kitchen, blending sweet-tart berries with buttery pastry. Delicate crumble topping and rich currant filling promise a delightful slice of comfort you’ll savor with every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 500 grams (17.6 ounces) Currants
- 120 grams (4.2 ounces) Salted Butter
- 240 grams (8.5 ounces) Brown Sugar
Pastry Ingredients:
- 300 grams (10.6 ounces) Plain Flour
- 150 grams (5.3 ounces) Salted Butter, cold
- 75 milliliters (2.5 fluid ounces) Ice Cold Water
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons Mixed Spice
- Caster Sugar for topping
Instructions
- Blend chilled butter into flour using fingertips until mixture resembles coarse sand-like texture.
- Introduce cold water gradually, kneading until cohesive pastry forms. Refrigerate dough for 15 minutes to stabilize.
- In a saucepan, gently melt butter with brown sugar and warming spice, creating a rich caramel-like base. Fold currants into the warm mixture.
- Carefully roll out half the pastry and press into baking tray, ensuring even coverage across bottom and edges.
- Distribute currant filling uniformly across pastry base, creating a consistent layer.
- Roll remaining pastry and delicately drape over filling. Crimp and seal edges thoroughly to prevent leakage.
- Bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes until pastry turns golden brown and filling bubbles slightly.
- Immediately dust surface with fine caster sugar while still warm, allowing sugar to slightly melt and create delicate glaze.
- Allow pastry to cool completely at room temperature before slicing into precise square portions.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use chilled butter and work quickly to create a crumbly, flaky pastry texture that melts in your mouth.
- Currant Flexibility: Swap currants with raisins, sultanas, or mixed dried fruit for a personalized twist that suits your taste preferences.
- Prevent Soggy Bottom: Lightly dust the base pastry with ground almonds or breadcrumbs to absorb excess moisture and ensure a crisp crust.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace wheat flour with a gluten-free blend to make this recipe suitable for those with dietary restrictions, maintaining the same delicious flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg