Pithiviers
Almond cream sealed between two discs of puff pastry, the top scored in curves from the centre. The scoring is what everyone recognises it by.
Image note: Illustration, generated by AI · not a photograph of this dish
The Method for Pithiviers
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Beat the butter and sugar until pale, then beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the ground almonds, flour, rum, vanilla and salt.
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Chill the frangipane 30 minutes so it firms up.
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Cut two discs from the pastry, one 24 cm and one 26 cm. Lay the smaller on a lined tray.
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Mound the frangipane in the centre, leaving a 3 cm border, and brush that border with beaten egg.
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Lay the larger disc over the top and press the border down firmly with the back of a knife, then scallop the edge.
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Chill 60 minutes. Brush the top with egg and score curved rays from the centre to the edge, cutting only through the top layer.
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Bake at 200°C / 400°F for 45 minutes, until deep brown and puffed. Dust with sugar and give it 3 minutes more to glaze.
Related guide: Prep, cook and total time.
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Keep an Eye on These
- Seal and scallop the edges hard. Frangipane escapes.
- Chill before baking so the pastry puffs.
- Score the top layer only.
About This Recipe
The edges must be sealed by pressing down with the back of a knife and then scalloped, because frangipane expands considerably and will find any weakness — a leaked pithiviers burns onto the tray and deflates. Chill it hard before baking as well, which sets the butter in the pastry so it puffs in sheets rather than melting out. Score only through the top layer; cutting through releases the filling.
What to Serve It With
Crème fraîche · Coffee · A glass of cider
Storing Leftovers
Two days at room temperature. Refresh at 180°C / 356°F for 8 minutes. It freezes unbaked for 2 months.
Quick Answers
How long does Pithiviers take to make?
35 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour 30 minutes of chilling the frangipane and the assembled pastry, so allow 2 hours 50 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 8.
Pithiviers Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central figures (SR Legacy). A calculation, not a laboratory analysis: brands, cuts and how you measure change the real numbers. The calories include 1 g of alcohol a serving, which is not part of the protein, carbohydrate or fat. How the figures are worked out.
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Compiled by Turab
Checked by script for timings, diet labels and nutrition arithmetic. How the recipes are checked. Found a mistake? Tell us.
First published ; last changed .