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Date Rolls/Tarts ~ CNY 2011

 

These rolls/tarts are shaped like a pineapple but instead of pineapple paste, I put in unseeded dates, for a change.  'Wong Lai', that's Cantonese for pineapple which literally means 'luck coming' is auspicious for the coming Chinese New Year which will fall on 3rd February, Thursday, and this year is the year of the Rabbit. 



Pinch off some dough and roughly shape into a ball, flatten, place an seeded date in the centre and close up the dough.  Press the edges and shape one end tapered.  Snip with a pair of scissors on the front half of the tart.  Insert a clove  at the broad end to resemble a stalk.  Brush on egg glaze.
Baked date rolls.











Pastry is adapted from my   'Nastar'  post.

Ingredient
  • 350 gm plain flour
  • 50 gm cornflour
  • 130 gm butter
  • 100 gm margarine
  • 60 gm icing sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • Unseeded dates
  • 1/4  tsp salt
  • 1  tsp vanilla essence
  • Cloves
  • Egg glaze  -  1 whole egg , 1 egg yolk + a pinch of salt
Method
  1. Sift together the flour, salt and cornflour, set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar till light.
  3. Add in the egg yolks, one at a time.  Add in vanilla essence.
  4. Fold in sifted ingredients and mix into a firm dough.
  5. Pinch off some dough and roughly shape into a ball.
  6. Flatten the ball of dough and put in an unseeded date in the centre.  Close up the dough and press the edges together.  Using the finger and thumb, shape one end tapered.
  7. Using a pair of scissors, snip tiny 'v' shapes on the front half of the tart.  Snip in rows.
  8. Insert a clove at the broad end, to resemble a stalk.
  9. Place rolls/tarts on greased or paper lined trays.
  10. Glaze and bake in a preheated oven @ 180 deg C for about 15 mins.
  11. Move to wire rack to cool.


I'm submitting this post to   Aspiring Bakers #3 : My favourite CNY Cookie (Jan.2011)
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Comments

  1. dinewithlenyJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    what a creative way to upgrade pineapple tarts. Yours look so beautiful, I don't think I will ever have the patience to shape and cut them like you do. Your pastry sure looks like it's gonna melt in your mouth the moment you put them in. =)....I'd love to have one of these, haha

    ReplyDelete
  2. ReanaclaireJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    Cheah, can order from you or not? for CNY.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. ann lowJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    WOW Cheah! This sounds so special and delicious. You're very creative! Send me some please ;DD

    ReplyDelete
  4. j3ss kitch3nJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    beautifully done cheah!!! if its up to me to snip the spikes i think the dough would be cut into half! hehe! you are not submitting this?

    ReplyDelete
  5. SharonJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    These look amazing! And that tart pastry looks so perfect. I always love eating these during CNY, though I like pineapple that little bit better ;). The way you shape them is fantastic though, I've never seen them quite this good!

    ReplyDelete
  6. My Little SpaceJanuary 12, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Great, Cheah, you're back already and on your CNY cookies project! Date is such a terrific sub for pineapple jam and it's not too sweet. :o) Looking forward for more. Have a great day.
    Cheers, Kristy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Quay Po CooksJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Cheah,
    These look absolutely gorgeous! Another of my favorite CNY cookies! My sister in law always buy me a box every year. Since I love this so much, I should try making them myself now that I have your recipe ya? Unfortunately I just not a baker so I guess I will settle buying them again. BTW, great shots! love the photos.

    ReplyDelete
  8. MaryMohJanuary 12, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    Wow...your pineapple tarts look really pretty. They do look like mini pineapples. Love that you use dates inside...something different.

    ReplyDelete
  9. lenaJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    hey madam, very nicely cut and shaped! can i know the unseeded dates, are they the same as kurma dates where they sell for hari raya?

    ReplyDelete
  10. ElinJanuary 13, 2011 at 7:22 AM

    Love them with dates. Something different:) btw beautiful pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    I love dates and these look great! You really take the time to make some beautiful food.

    ReplyDelete
  12. JeannieJanuary 13, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    I like the shape of these tarts but too much work for me, tried making them once but ended up rolling them up into nastar after a few lol! Yours look gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sokehah cheahJanuary 14, 2011 at 2:03 AM

    dinewithleny
    Thanks, just substitute for a change.

    Claire
    Not that professional to take orders :)

    Ann
    Thanks. Can courier to you!

    Sharon
    Thanks, I like pineapple paste too, but sometimes need to experiment for a change.

    Kristy
    You have a great day too and I look forward to your posts too.

    j3ss kitch3n
    Oops forgot to link to your page. Just edited, will mail to you later.

    Quay po cooks
    You can shape them into something simpler.

    MaryMoh
    Thanks. The pastry with dates are also delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sokehah cheahJanuary 14, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Lena
    Yes, they are, I removed the seed.

    Thank you, Elin

    A Busy Nest
    Dates are nutritious too and thanks for dropping by.

    Jeannie
    Your round ones look nice too, more easy to make.

    ReplyDelete
  15. ShirleyJanuary 17, 2011 at 2:12 AM

    They are beautiful Cheah, thats a great way to do date rolls!

    ReplyDelete

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