Puff pastry Neapolitans filled with chocolate and pastry cream

For 3 € 0.38 /pers. 408 kcal/100g

Today I come with a classic of Spanish pastry : Neapolitans. With two different fillings so you can choose, chocolate and pastry cream .

The Neapolitan ones take me back to childhood and Sunday snacks, when my grandparents came to visit my house with a tray loaded with pastries. Croissant , Swiss rolls and, my favorites, Neapolitans . At that time, the only ones with pastry cream were available, the most traditional ones, which is still my favorite filling.

Preparing them at home is not very scientific. Although I often say that there is nothing like homemade puff pastry , I always have a sheet of puff pastry from the supermarket in the freezer. I find it very comfortable to pull it in moments of whim like this.

If I crave some homemade Neapolitans, all I have to do is defrost the puff pastry , fill it, bake it and that’s it. The chocolate ones require zero effort, but for the cream ones you have to prepare the filling and let it cool. Something that I do without a problem because, as I have already said, it is my favorite filling.

Whatever you decide to make, don’t miss the opportunity to make Neapolitans at home. Freshly made they are an exquisite snack , but they hold up well until the next day (if you have leftovers) when you can have them for breakfast. ‌

Preparation of the quick pastry cream

1. We start by preparing the pastry cream with enough time in advance, as it has to be cold when we use it to fill the puff pastry. To make a pastry cream quickly using the microwave. In five minutes it is ready.
2. In a deep microwave-safe container, mix all the ingredients and stir well with a whisk to homogenize.
3. We cover with transparent plastic wrap and place in the microwave. We program three minutes at maximum power (780W in ours).
4. Remove from the microwave, stir with the whisk and cook again in the microwave at maximum power for two more minutes.
5. Remove from the microwave, stir to homogenize and cover with plastic wrap, in contact with the cream, so that a crust does not form. Let it cool before storing in the refrigerator where we will let it cool completely.

Preparation of the chocolate neapolitans

1. We cut the puff pastry sheet in half and then cut each half into three. We will obtain six equal rectangles. We filled three of them with chocolate and the other three with pastry cream.
2. We cut the chocolate into three equal pieces and place them in the center of each puff pastry rectangle. We fold one of the sides so that it covers the chocolate and we do the same with the other.
3. We turn and place on top of a tray covered with greaseproof paper. We reserve while we prepare the cream neapolitans.

Pastry cream Neapolitans

1. For the pastry cream Neapolitans we do the same, but covering the central part of each puff pastry rectangle with pastry cream (which will already be very cold).
2. We fold one of the sides so that it covers the cream and we do the same with the other.
3. We turn very carefully and place on top of the baking tray along with the other three chocolate Neapolitans. We beat the egg and brush the six Neapolitans.
4. We cook in the oven, preheated to 200º C with heat up and down, for 20-30 minutes or until we see that they are golden.
5. Meanwhile, prepare a syrup by cooking the water and sugar in a saucepan, over low heat, for 15 minutes.
6. When the Neapolitans are golden, remove the tray from the oven and, with the help of a brush, brush each one with syrup. Generously.
7. We decorate the Neapolitans with chocolate noodles and toasted flaked almonds and are ready to serve as a snack or breakfast along with a glass of very fresh milk.

Follow this recipe for puff pastry Neapolitans filled with chocolate and pastry cream step by step in the album.

Tips for perfect Neapolitans

• For the puff pastry to be handled well and not deformed, it is very important that it is very cold . Store it in the refrigerator until you need it.
• The filling chocolate can be milk, dark or white. To taste.
• If we place the baking tray in the lowest part of the oven, the puff pastry will be well cooked on the bottom . This applies to this recipe and any other that uses puff pastry or other filled doughs.
• Other filling options are jam, applesauce, quince paste, angel hair or simply chopped fresh fruit.
• The Neapolitans can be frozen once filled and before baking. When you feel like treating yourself, they are taken out and baked directly. In this case, the oven time will have to be increased by 5-10 minutes so that they are not raw inside.