Travesseiros de Sintra

Travesseiros de Sintra are delicious Portuguese pastries from the town of Sintra. Here’s a classic recipe for these sweet treats:

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 250g all-purpose flour
• 125g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 50g sugar
• 1 large egg
• A pinch of salt

For the Filling:

• 200g almond meal
• 150g granulated sugar
• 1 large egg white
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)

For Assembly:

• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough:
   1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
   2. Add the cold, cubed butter and rub it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
   3. Stir in the sugar.
   4. Beat the egg and add it to the mixture. Mix until the dough starts to come together.
   5. Knead the dough briefly on a floured surface until smooth.
   6. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Prepare the Filling:
   1. In a bowl, mix the almond meal and sugar.
   2. Stir in the egg white, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until the mixture forms a smooth paste.
3. Assemble the Pastries:
   1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
   2. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 2-3 mm thickness.
   3. Cut the dough into rectangles or squares, about 10×10 cm.
   4. Place a small spoonful of almond filling in the center of each rectangle.
   5. Fold the dough over the filling to form a pillow shape (like a small, closed envelope) and seal the edges by pressing them with a fork.
   6. Place the pastries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Bake:
   1. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastries are golden brown.
5. Finish:
   1. Allow the pastries to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar.

Enjoy your homemade Travesseiros de Sintra!