DRIED FRUIT PASTELITOS

Dried Fruit Pastelitos image

This recipe came to The Times in 2011 from Natividad Manzanares of Los Ojos, N.M., who bakes them for her family's Easter gathering. Shortening or lard makes for a supremely tender, flaky crust, but be careful not to overwork the dough.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Categories dessert

Time 2h

Yield About 20 squares

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 pound mixed dried fruit, like prunes, apples and apricots
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or grated nutmeg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening or lard
1 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Steps:

To make the filling, combine the dried fruit and 1 1/2 cups water in a pot over medium-low heat and simmer until fruit is almost mushy, 20 to 30 minutes. Add a little water if needed. Drain the liquid. Working in batches if necessary, put fruit and orange juice in a blender and purée until smooth. Return to the pot, add 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and cloves or nutmeg, and simmer over medium-low heat until thick and jammy.
To make the crust, heat oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Using your fingertips, rub in the shortening or lard. Make a well in the center and add 4 to 6 tablespoons water, a small amount at a time, and work it into a dough.
Divide dough in half and roll each half on a lightly floured board to fit a shallow square or rectangular baking pan, about 9 by 12 inches. Line the pan with one sheet of pastry. Spread the fruit mixture evenly over the pastry, leaving a half-inch border. Place second sheet of pastry over the fruit mixture. Cut the pastry edges to just fit inside the rim of the pan. Press the edges of pastry together to seal around the edges. Brush top with milk. Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the pastry. Poke holes in pastry with a fork. Bake 30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and cut into square.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 182, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 20 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 107 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 1 gram