Ultimate Homemade Almond Kringle Recipe (Flaky Danish Pastry!)

Prep Time: 1 hour | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 5 hours (including chilling) | Servings: 24 | Difficulty: Moderate

This show-stopping homemade almond kringle features incredibly flaky pastry layers wrapped around a rich, creamy almond filling and topped with sweet glaze. The Danish-style technique creates buttery, tender layers that melt in your mouth, while the toasted almond filling provides luxurious flavor and texture. What makes this recipe special is the cold butter method that creates those coveted flaky layers – just like a professional bakery! This impressive pastry solves the problem of wanting an elegant dessert that looks complicated but uses simple ingredients you likely have at home. Perfect for special occasions, holiday breakfasts, or whenever you want to create something truly memorable. Get ready to experience the most amazing homemade pastry that’ll have everyone asking for your secret!

Ingredients For Homemade Almond Kringle

For the Flaky Pastry Dough:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour – plus extra for dusting
• 1 teaspoon salt – fine table salt works best
• 1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks) – cut into ½-inch cubes, keep very cold
• ½ cup ice water – literally ice-cold for best results

For the Rich Almond Filling:

• 1 cup granulated sugar – regular white sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream – full-fat for richness
• 1 cup blanched slivered almonds – toasted and finely ground
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour – for thickening
• 1 teaspoon almond extract – pure extract recommended
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – pure vanilla for best flavor
• Pinch of salt – enhances all flavors

For the Sweet Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar – sifted for smoothness
• 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream – adjust for consistency
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract – optional for extra almond flavor
• Slivered almonds for garnish – toasted for crunch

Essential Equipment:

• Large mixing bowl
• Pastry blender or food processor
• Rolling pin
• Large baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Food processor (for grinding almonds)
• Medium saucepan

Ultimate Homemade Almond Kringle

Flaky Danish-style pastry filled with rich almond cream and topped with sweet glaze – perfect for special occasions

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Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Chilling Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 5 hours hrs

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American, Danish, European

Servings 24 slices

Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Pastry blender
• Rolling Pin
• Large baking sheet
• Food processor
• Medium saucepan
• Instant-read thermometer

Ingredients

  

Pastry Dough

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
• 1 teaspoon salt fine table salt works best
• 1 cup cold unsalted butter 2 sticks, cut into ½-inch cubes, keep very cold
• 0.5 cup ice water literally ice-cold for best results

Almond Filling

• 1 cup granulated sugar regular white sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream full-fat for richness
• 1 cup blanched slivered almonds toasted and finely ground
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour for thickening
• 1 teaspoon almond extract pure extract recommended
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract pure vanilla for best flavor
• 1 pinch salt enhances all flavors

Sweet Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar sifted for smoothness
• 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream adjust for consistency
• 0.25 teaspoon almond extract optional for extra almond flavor

Instructions

 

• Make dough: Whisk flour and salt in large bowl. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces. Add ice water gradually until dough comes together. Shape into rectangle, wrap tightly, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Prepare filling: Toast almonds at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until golden. Cool and grind finely in food processor. In saucepan, combine all filling ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and simmering (5-7 minutes). Cool completely.
• Assemble: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet with parchment. Divide dough in half. Roll each piece into 12×18-inch rectangle. Spread half the filling on each, leaving ½-inch border. Roll up jelly-roll style and shape into horseshoe. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake: Bake 25-35 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 200-210°F. Cool on baking sheet 10-15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
• Finish: Make glaze by whisking powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Drizzle over cooled kringles and garnish with slivered almonds. Let set 15-20 minutes before serving.

Notes

Dough can be made 2 days ahead or frozen up to 1 month. Keep butter very cold throughout process for flakiest results. Kringle can be frozen after baking – glaze after thawing.

Keyword almond kringle, almond pastry, danish pastry, flaky pastry, homemade kringle

Instructions

Part 1: Make the Flaky Dough (20 minutes + 2+ hours chilling):

1. Mix Dry Ingredients (2 minutes): In a large bowl, whisk together 2½ cups flour and salt until well combined.
2. Cut in Cold Butter (8 minutes): Add cold butter cubes to flour mixture. Using a pastry blender or fingertips, cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized butter pieces. (Work quickly to keep butter cold!)
3. Add Ice Water (5 minutes): Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing gently after each addition. Mix just until dough comes together in a shaggy mass. Don’t overmix!
4. Shape and Chill (5 minutes + 2+ hours): Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Gently gather into 1-inch thick rectangle. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Part 2: Prepare the Almond Filling (20 minutes):

5. Toast Almonds (10 minutes): Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread slivered almonds on baking sheet and toast 8-10 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool completely.
6. Grind Almonds (3 minutes): In food processor, finely grind toasted almonds until they resemble coarse meal. Don’t over-process into almond butter!
7. Cook Filling (7 minutes): In medium saucepan, combine sugar, heavy cream, ground almonds, flour, almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and simmers (5-7 minutes). Cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly.
8. Cool Completely: Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before using. Filling will thicken as it cools.

Part 3: Assemble and Bake (45 minutes):

9. Preheat and Prepare (5 minutes): Preheat oven to 375°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
10. Roll First Half (10 minutes): Remove dough from fridge and divide in half. Keep one half chilled. On floured surface, roll one piece into 12×18-inch rectangle, about ¼-inch thick.
11. Add Filling and Shape (10 minutes): Spread half the cooled almond filling over dough, leaving ½-inch border. Starting from long side, roll up jelly-roll style. Pinch seam to seal. Shape into horseshoe or oval and place on baking sheet.
12. Repeat with Second Half (10 minutes): Repeat rolling, filling, and shaping with remaining dough and filling.
13. Bake to Golden Perfection (25-35 minutes): Bake until golden brown and cooked through. Internal temperature should reach 200-210°F.
14. Cool Properly (15 minutes): Cool on baking sheet 10-15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Part 4: Glaze and Finish (15 minutes):

15. Make Glaze (5 minutes): Whisk together powdered sugar, milk/cream, and almond extract until smooth. Adjust liquid for desired consistency.
16. Glaze and Garnish (10 minutes): Drizzle glaze over completely cooled kringles. Sprinkle with slivered almonds while glaze is wet. Let set 15-20 minutes before serving.

FAQ For Homemade Almond Kringle

Storage and Serving Tips

Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 1 week. This kringle is absolutely divine served alongside our homemade cherry amaretto jam for a European-style breakfast, or paired with our garlic parmesan focaccia bread for an elegant brunch spread. For an extra special treat, serve warm slices with our cherry amaretto tiramisu for a show-stopping dessert table. The kringle is perfect for holiday mornings, special occasions, or anytime you want to impress guests with your baking skills.

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Save this recipe for your next special occasion – your family and friends will be amazed by this bakery-quality homemade Almond kringle!