Croatian Cream Horns (Šaumrole)

Preheat oven to 375° F.

1. Cut soft butter into small pieces. Work butter into the flour using your fingers. Make a well in the center. Add ice water and work all ingredients together to form soft smooth dough.

2. Roll the dough to an oblong shape ½ inch thick. The dough should be evenly thick. Cut cold butter into cubes and arrange evenly on the dough. Fold narrow sides of dough into center. Roll out again to rectangle shape. The butter will mix in with the dough. Fold the dough again and then wrap and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

3. Repeat the same method of rolling, folding and 30 minutes chilling, 4 to 5 times. This is how the puffy layers in the dough are formed.

4. At the final stage, roll out the dough to a 1/2 – inch thickness, and using a sharp knife, cut long strips about ¼ inch wide.

5. Wrap around the cream horn mold (cannoli molds). Keep baking tray chilled before putting puffed pastry dough on. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until puffy and golden. Cool before filling.

6. In large bowl, whip egg whites until stiff, gradually adding sugar. Add a few drops of lemon juice for flavour. Fill cream horns, using pastry bag. Keep in refrigerator until serving.

*You can triple the recipe in about the same amount of time as the single recipe. Puff pastry keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days and it also can be frozen for 6 to 8 months. Purchase frozen puff pastry if you don’t have time to make your own.

*Use low-fat pudding or fat-free whipped topping as filling.