We all have our food weaknesses. One of mine is puffed pastry.
There’s something about delicate, flaky, buttery layers of pastry that I find irresistible. However, if it sounds like I’m describing croissants, puff pastry is not the same type of dough that is used for croissants. It’s lighter and crispier, and you’ll find it used in everything from delicate desserts to savory pies.
So it’s not surprising that when I was stuck in line at Aldi behind a shopper with an overflowing cartload of groceries, I couldn’t resist picking up a box of Priano Sfogliatine Glassate Glazed Puff Pastry, which was sitting near the checkout– a tempting impulse buy. These cost $1.99 for a 7-ounce package.
These are an Aldi Find, featured during Italian Week, so they’re only available for a limited time, and Aldi does not offer shipping. They are still covered by the Twice as Nice Guarantee, however.
The Italian phrase sfogliatine glassate means “frosted sheets,” which describes these delicacies perfectly. Sheets of puffed pastry are topped with a sweet meringue and apricot jam before being baked to crispy perfection. If you like to bake, you can try making your own.
Priano Sfogliatine Glassate Glazed Puff Pastry nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
Three pieces equal one serving, and there are 7 servings in a box. A serving contains 150 calories, 8 grams of fat (3.5 grams saturated), 0 mg of cholesterol, 70 mg of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 9 grams of sugar (8 added), and 2 grams of protein.
The package states that they contain wheat, eggs, and milk, and may contain soy.
The package also warns to keep cool and dry and away from direct sunlight. I imagine that too much warmth or humidity would make them lose their crispness. I would not recommend trying to serve them warm, for the same reason.
The pastry itself is not sweet but light and flaky, while the topping is both crispy and very sweet. You can taste the apricot jam crossed over the sweet meringue topping. They remind me of rolled wafer cookies that are sometimes served with ice cream sundaes.
I served mine to my family as an after-lunch dessert on a recent Sunday. Everyone enjoyed them, especially my children, who ate multiple servings. The box barely survived the afternoon.
The Verdict:
These pastries are a delicious snack or dessert. They would be excellent paired with Aldi gelato to celebrate Italian Week.
