A little champagne adds a hint of romance to this classic pastry dough. Strawberries are the sweet surprise hidden inside for your loved one.
Ingredients
Filling
6 Tbsp sugar
15-20 strawberries
1 tsp lemon zest
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Pastry
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 lb lard
2 eggs, beaten
cold water
1 Tbsp champagne
1 tsp sugar
Method
Strawberry Filling
- Quarter strawberrries and mix with sugar, zest and vanilla.
Pastry
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix flour and lard with pastry cutter until dough resembles coarse oatmeal.
- Beat 1 egg in measuring cup.Add champagne to egg. Fill with water to 1-cup mark. Whisk.
- Slowly add egg mixture to dry ingredients until forming a ball.
- Separate dough into six sections. Roll out each section to 1/2″ thickness.
Assembly
- Slice dough into shape of a house (5″x3″ rectangle with triangular roof). Cut another 5″x3″ rectangle for front of envelope.
- Score edges of dough and brush with beaten egg.
- Place 1 heaping Tbsp of filling in centre of house-shaped dough. Place second rectangle over filling. Match and seal corners by gently pushing together. Fold over triangle to seal love letter.
- Brush outside with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake on greased pan for 15-20 mins.
Yield 6 servings