These "Sugar" Crusted Almond Pastries are sweet and flavorful despite actually being sugar-free! They are a great low carb treat for Sunday brunch or an afternoon snack.
This was one of my favorite recipes growing up. As a teenager messing up my mom's kitchen was my favorite pastime. I loved cooking but hated doing the dishes. And teenagers. I'll just leave it at that.
My mom had a Pillsbury's Best of the Bake-Off cookbook that was my go-to for easy recipes. The Sugar Crusted Almond Pastries in that book were one of my top choices. They are very simple, just sugar, slivered almonds, and butter on top of canned crescent rolls. At this point in my life, sugar and crescent rolls are out so I needed to work on my own low carb version.
These are wonderful with a cup of coffee or tea. I'll admit that I ate a few for lunch today. It wasn't the healthiest lunch ever but it was a delicious lunch. Tomorrow I'll have a nice big salad to make up for it.
My husband also gave these two big thumbs up. He's not a big dessert guy so when he'll eat a second and a third of something I know it is good.
How to make Almond Pastries
The closest thing I've had to a crescent roll is the pastries I've made with a mozzarella dough. I knew that with that dough I could replicate the pastries I adored. This dough is based on my Chocolate Crescent Cookies and Cinnamon Rolls with a few minor changes.
Mozzarella in Pastry Dough?
The dough I used for these was inspired by the first mozzarella dough I ever saw. The Cheese Danish on Up Late Anyway.
If you’ve ever made a fathead pizza before you can make these bars. My trick for this type of dough is to mix it in the food processor. This helps incorporate all of the melted gooey cheese without leaving strands that don’t get mixed it.
If you don’t have a food processor you can certainly mix it by hand but it will take some elbow grease.
Pastry Dough Ingredients:
mozzarella
cream cheese
butter
almond flour
almond extract
egg
Almond Pastry Topping Ingredients:
slivered almonds
butter
More Low Carb Pastries:
Healthy Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
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Ingredients
Pastry Ingredients:
- 4 oz mozzarella
- 1 oz cream cheese
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ cup almond flour
- 1 tbsp Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 egg
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup slivered almonds
- 2 tbsp butter softened
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes) divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a small baking sheet. Mine is a 7 x 9.5 toaster oven size. An 8 x 8 baking dish would work as well.
- Put the cheese and one tablespoon of butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave one minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds. Stir. At this point, all the cheese should be melted. Microwave 30 more seconds until uniform and gloopy (it should look like cheese fondue at this point). Mix in the egg, almond extract, 1 tbsp sweetener, and almond flour. You may need to knead it by hand to thoroughly incorporate the ingredients. Once it is a uniform color press it out into the baking pan.
- You can use the same bowl to mix the almonds, softened butter, and ¼ cup sweetener. Spread this out on top of the dough. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tbsp sweetener.
- Cool for at least 10 min. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published on May 11, 2016. Revised and Republished July 26, 2019.
Becky says
YUM!!!! These were very, very good and very simple to make. I didn't change anything with the recipe except for substituting Swerve granular for the sweetener. I used an 8 x 8 pan and baked these in my toaster oven. Turned out great!! I'll definitely be making these again. I enjoy so many of your recipes and this will be added to the list.
RJG says
Does it stay out on counter or in fridge?
Taryn says
These are fine on the counter for about 2 days. Longer than that they should be refrigerated.
RJG says
Amazing!! I will definitely make again!
AmyT says
sounds delicious! in step 2 should the butter be added also? before or after microwaving? thanks!
Taryn says
Yes, the one tablespoon of butter is added to the cheese before microwaving. I will edit the instructions to clarify.
Nancy says
This recipe is so good! I’ve made it more times than I can count. It has all my priorities...... super quick, very few carbs for a treat, and uses a small quantity of sweetener as that stuff is pricy. Thanks!
K says
What is the baking mix it says to add? It says ... add sweetener and baking mix.
Taryn says
I just edited the post to clarify. You can use just almond flour or a homemade baking mix of equal parts almond flour, coconut flour, and ground golden flax.
Elina says
Absolutely phenomenal! Love your recipes with the mozzarella cheese crust. It fills my craving for something crispy! I made them with pecans because since almonds and I don't get along well. Thank you Taryn for sharing your gift of baking and cooking THM way with us!
Taryn says
I'm so glad! Sometimes I worry I use that type of dough too much but I love it too 🙂