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Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes

Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes

Flaky, buttery puff pastry cradles a velvety almond frangipane and sweet sliced plums, finished with a warm drizzle of lemon-thyme infused honey. It brings the cozy magic of a Parisian morning bakery right into your sunny California kitchen.

Marguerite Lavigne
Marguerite Lavigne
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
6
medium
breakfast
breakfastbakingplumsfrench-bistro+1

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Timeline

50 minutes
0m15m30m45m
Preheat & Prep
5m
Make Frangipane
8m
Score Pastry
5m
Assemble Danishes
7m
Bake Danishes
25m
Warm Thyme Honey
5m
Gaze & Serve
5m

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ripe red or black plums(pitted and thinly sliced)
  • 1 sheet all-butter puff pastry(thawed but chilled)
  • 0.5 cup almond flour
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter(softened)
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg(beaten, split for filling and egg wash)
  • 1 tsp Meyer lemon zest(finely grated)
  • 0.5 tsp vanilla bean paste(or extract)
  • 0.25 cup honey(preferably wildflower or orange blossom)
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme leaves(regular thyme works great too)
  • 2 tbsp sliced almonds(for sprinkling)
  • 1 pinch flaky sea salt

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

    5 min

    Tip: A nice hot oven is key to getting that instant puff and shatteringly crisp layers.

  2. 2

    In a bowl, beat 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 tbsp granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk in 0.5 large egg, 1 tsp Meyer lemon zest, 0.5 tsp vanilla bean paste, and 1 pinch flaky sea salt. Stir in 0.5 cup almond flour until a creamy frangipane paste forms.

    8 min

    Tip: Using half the egg in the paste leaves the remaining half ready to brush on as an egg wash.

  3. 3

    Unroll 1 sheet all-butter puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 6 equal rectangles. Using a sharp paring knife, gently score a 1/2-inch border inside each pastry rectangle without cutting all the way through.

    5 min

    Tip: Scoring the borders creates a beautiful frame that rises up around the luscious fruit center.

  4. 4

    Spread the frangipane mixture evenly inside the scored borders of each pastry rectangle. Fan out 1 lb ripe red or black plums slices across the frangipane. Brush the exposed pastry borders with the remaining 0.5 large egg egg wash, then sprinkle with 2 tbsp sliced almonds.

    7 min

    Tip: Overlap the plum slices generously—they will shrink slightly as their natural juices cook down.

  5. 5

    Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the pastry borders are deeply golden brown and the plums are tender and bubbling.

    25 min

    Tip: If the almond slices start browning too quickly near the end, loosely tent the baking sheet with foil.

  6. 6

    While the pastries are baking, combine 0.25 cup honey and 1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme leaves in a small saucepan over low heat. Warm for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant and fluid, then remove from heat.

    5 min

    Tip: Infusing warm honey with citrusy herbs gives that gorgeous West Coast aromatic twist.

  7. 7

    Generously brush the warm lemon-thyme honey over the hot, freshly baked plums. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving alongside a steaming double espresso.

    5 min

    Tip: Pastries are at their peak crunchy perfection while still warm from the oven!

Chef's Notes

Late summer plums from the farmers market bring a gorgeous tart-sweet pop that balances rich brown butter notes and soft almond frangipane. Don't skip the lemon thyme honey finish—it ties the whole California-meets-Paris morning together!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes take to make?

Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes takes about 45 minutes total. That includes 20 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 6 servings.

What skill level is needed for Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes?

This recipe is rated medium — it's intermediate, requiring some cooking experience.

What ingredients do I need for Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes?

The main ingredients are: ripe red or black plums, all-butter puff pastry, almond flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, large egg, Meyer lemon zest, vanilla bean paste, honey, fresh lemon thyme leaves, sliced almonds, flaky sea salt.

What type of meal is Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes?

Rustic Late-Summer Plum & Lemon-Thyme Danishes is categorized as: breakfast.